What Kind of Nourishment Do Plants Need?

Non-Minerals

• All plants require three non-mineral nutrients: carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. These three elements are the most abundant in plants’ dry weight, according to the University of Texas at Arlington. Plants obtain carbon from the air when foliage takes in carbon dioxide through stomata, or pores, on leaf surfaces. Plant roots take in hydrogen and oxygen from water in the soil. These three nutrients are essential to the photosynthesis process.

Macronutrients

• Plants need more macronutrients than other minerals, which is why three elements – nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium – commonly are found in fertilizers. Plants obtain these primary nutrients through the soil. Nitrogen is an important component in protein-forming amino acids, which are necessary for enzyme activity, and is required for photosynthesis and plant growth. Phosphorus also is found in plant proteins and is necessary for energy transfer, storage, respiration and photosynthesis. Plants tend to store phosphorous in seeds, shoots, tips and other areas of new growth. Potassium serves as an enzyme activator that is necessary to plant growth; it plays significant roles in photosynthesis and helps to control water transpiration.

Secondary Nutrients

• Secondary nutrients include calcium, magnesium and sulfur. These minerals also are found in the soil and sometimes are supplied through fertilizers. Calcium helps formation of strong cell walls and regulates membrane structure and permeability. Like potassium, magnesium helps to kick-start enzymes. It’s also a component in chlorophyll and plants with magnesium deficiency often have discolored foliage. Sulfur is necessary to both chlorophyll production and in the creation of amino acids and proteins.

Micronutrients

• Plants require smaller amounts of boron, chlorine, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum and zinc. Some also require cobolt and nickel. Usually, plants naturally obtain enough of these micronutrients from the soil and don’t require amendments, though deficiencies can occur in highly alkaline soils. Cobolt and molybdenum are necessary to the nitrogen fixation process, while zinc helps to regulate enzymes and metabolic systems. Copper acts as a catalyst for certain enzymes related to respiration and chorine aids in oxygen creation during photosynthesis. Iron plays a role in chlorophyll production and boron helps to regulate sugar and carbohydrate-related metabolic functions.