Macro nutrients in plants

In agriculture maintaining the fertile soil with the nutrients necessary for the development of crops is fundamental, there are a great diversity of nutritional elements that are important for the growth and development of plants, these are classified as mentioned in the previous post in macro and micro nutrients, among the macronutrients that are required in greater quantities are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), of which we will describe some of their general functions and the symptoms that can be visualized in plants when there is a deficiency of some of them.

Let's start talking about nitrogen, since plants need it for their growth and reproduction, among its functions according to Castillo (2005), are to provide the dark green color to plants, promote plant growth, increase the protein content in the products of food crops, in the soil it is micro nutrient of the organisms that act in the decomposition of organic matter.

As for the symptoms that the plant presents when it has the deficiency of this nutrient is the yellowing and falling of the older leaves, the growth of the aerial part and the roots is reduced, the stems are short and thin, because the leaves are small these fall prematurely and the lateral growth stops and the color of the plants is slightly green.

This element is associated with several vital functions of plants, according to Bravo (2000), it is responsible for certain growth characteristics such as the use of sugar, starch, photosynthesis and the formulation of the nucleus in cell division, in the formation of fats and albumins and in the transmission of hereditary factors. Among its general functions, there are the stimulation of the radical system that allows the general development of the plant, it is also considered indispensable for the formation of seeds.

On the other hand, among the visual symptoms of deficiency of this element is usually manifested by a reddish or purple coloring of the older leaves, the roots stop their growth and have little branching, plants with tender short stems when the deficiency appears in the last growing seasons.

Potassium apparently is not an integral part of plant components such as protoplasm, fats and cellulose, its function seems to be rather catalytic. According to Urbano (2008), among its general functions are to provide the plant with vigor and resistance to diseases. it helps plants to produce proteins, is essential in the production of starches, sugars and oils, improves the quality of crops, controls and regulates the activity of various mineral elements.

On the other hand, the visual systems when this nutrient is absent can vary according to the degree of scarcity of the element, in general, the deficiency presents with a mottled yellowing on the edges of the leaves, then on the tips marginal burning and tissue death in the most advanced cases, small spots of dead tissues. Excess potassium can lead to a deficiency of Magnesium, Manganese, Zinc and iron.

Dear readers, soil nutrition is important for the growth of crops, as it was evident in this article the nutritional elements play a fundamental role in the metabolic functioning of plants, also expressing some symptoms when there are deficiencies of any of them, from agrotecnia we hope that the shared content will be useful for you, in the next installment we will describe other elements that are considered necessary for plants.