Role of nutrients in plants
The nutrients play an important role and perform several functions. nutrients participate in various metabolic processes in the plant cells such as permeability of cell membrane, maintenance of osmotic concentration of cell sap, electrontransport systems, buffering action, enzymatic activity nutrient act as major constituents of macromolecules and co-enzymes.
The various forms and functions of essential nutrient elements (Macronutrients and Micronutrients) are as follows:
| Nutrient element | Forms and function |
|---|---|
| Nitrogen | Nitrogen is absorbed mainly as NO3– though some are also taken up as NO2– or NH4+. Nitrogen is required by every parts of a plant, particularly the meristematic tissues and the metabolically active cells. Nitrogen is one of the major constituents of proteins, nucleic acids, vitamins and hormones. |
| Phosphorus | Phosphorus is absorbed by the plants from soil in the form of phosphate ions (either as H2PO4– or HPO42– ). Phosphorus is a constituent of cell membranes, certain proteins, all nucleic acids and nucleotides and is required for all phosphorylation reactions. |
| Potassium | Potassium is absorbed as potassium ion (K+). In plants, this is required in more abundant quantities in the meristematic tissues, buds, leaves and root tips. Potassium helps to maintain an anion-cation balance in cells and is involved in protein synthesis, opening and closing of stomata, activation of enzymes and in the maintenance of the turgidity of cells. |
| Calcium | Plant absorbs calcium from the soil in the form of calcium ions (Ca2+). Calcium is required by meristematic and differentiating tissues. During cell division it is used in the synthesis of cell wall, particularly as calcium pectate in the middle lamella. It is also needed during the formation of mitotic spindle. It accumulates in older leaves. It is involved in the normal functioning of the cell membranes. It activates certain enzymes and plays an important role in regulating metabolic activities. |
| Magnesium | Magnesium is absorbed by plants in the form of divalent Mg2+. It activates the enzymes of respiration, photosynthesis and are involved in the synthesis of DNA and RNA. Magnesium is a constituent of the ring structure of chlorophyll and helps to maintain the ribosome structure. |
| Sulphur | Plants obtain sulphur in the form of sulphate (SO42−) . Sulphur is present in two amino acids – cysteine and methionine and is the main constituent of several coenzymes, vitamins (thiamine, biotin, Coenzyme A) and ferredoxin. |
| Iron | Plants obtain iron in the form of ferric ions (Fe3+). Iron is required in larger amounts in comparison to other micronutrients. Iron is an important constituent of proteins involved in the transfer of electrons like ferredoxin and cytochromes. It is reversibly oxidised from Fe2+ to Fe3+ during electron transfer. It activates catalase enzyme, and is essential for the formation of chlorophyll. |
| Manganese | Manganese is absorbed in the form of manganous ions (Mn3+). Manganese activates many enzymes involved in photosynthesis, respiration and nitrogen metabolism. The best defined function of manganese is in the splitting of water to liberate oxygen during photosynthesis. |
| Zinc | Plants obtain zinc as Zn2+ ions. Zinc activates various enzymes, especially carboxylases. Zinc is also needed in the synthesis of auxin. |
| Copper | Copper is absorbed as cupric ions (Cu2+). Copper is essential for the overall metabolism in plants. Like iron, it is associated with certain enzymes involved in redox reactions and is reversibly oxidised from Cu+ to Cu2+. |
| Boron | Boron is absorbed as BO33− or B4O72− . Boron is required for uptake and utilisation of Ca2+, membrane functioning, pollen germination, cell elongation, cell differentiation and carbohydrate translocation. |
| Molybdenum | Plants obtain it in the form of molybdate ions MoO22+ . Molybdenum is a component of several enzymes, including nitrogenase and nitrate reductase both of which participate in nitrogen metabolism. |
| Chlorine | Chlorine is absorbed in the form of chloride anion (Cl-). Along with Na+ and K+, it helps in determining the solute concentration and the anioncation balance in cells. Chlorine is essential for the water-splitting reaction in photosynthesis, a reaction that leads to oxygen evolution. |