Nutrients

This section draws inspiration from a presentation by Joel Williams on Advanced Plant Nutrition, covering the essential primary, secondary, and micronutrients necessary for optimal plant growth.

Table of Contents

- Primary nutrients

- Secondary nutrients

- Micronutrients (Tertiary/Trace)

Video Highlights:

- Overview of the lecture (1:34)

- Introduction to Mulder's chart (6:50)

- Discussing foliar application (8:01)

- General overview on plant nutrition (32:31)

- Detailed breakdown of nutritional elements (36:23)

- Concluding remarks (54:26)

Creating complex nutrient solutions from various chemicals and substances is advised only for those with advanced experience. Typically, a base fertilizer is purchased, which already comprises all essential nutrients, excluding Calcium and Magnesium, in a well-balanced proportion.

For a brief and practical summary, explore the Greens and Machines video on Hydroponics nutrients. Lorimer Campbell's video offers an in-depth tutorial on preparing hydroponics solutions.

Liebig’s Law of Minimum

It's crucial to recognize that all nutrients, whether primary, secondary, or micro (tertiary/trace), hold equal significance. Their ratio is what truly counts. Primary elements like Nitrogen [N], Phosphorus [P], and Potassium [K] are needed in larger quantities. However, trace elements, even in minor amounts, play a pivotal and equal role in photosynthesis. A deficiency in any essential nutrient results in subpar plant growth, despite the abundance of the rest. are abundant.

Mulder's chart

This chart reveals the interactions among plant nutrients, emphasizing the necessity for a balanced approach.

- Antagonistic: An excess of a certain nutrient can hamper the absorption and availability of others.

- Synergistic: A high level of one nutrient increases the need for another.

Chelation

Chelators, derived from carbon sources such as molasses, seaweed, fish extract, humic acids, or fulvic acids, enhance nutrient absorption by mitigating their negative charge, thus making them more accessible for plant uptake. Fulvic acids are particularly effective in foliar applications as they enhance leaf permeability, optimizing nutrient absorption.

Mobility

After absorption, plants must transport nutrients to areas of need. Some elements are immobile, unable to relocate after absorption. Contrarily, mobile elements can be transferred from older sections to support new growth.Mobile elements (Deficiencies on old leaves) : Nitrogen [N], Phosphorus [P], Potassium [K], Magnesium [Mg], Chlorine [Cl], Zinc [Zn], Molybdenum [Mo], and Nickel [Ni]Immobile elements (Deficiencies on new leaves): Calcium [Ca], Sulfur [S], Boron [B], Copper [Cu], Iron [Fe], and Manganese [Mn]

Leaf sink-source dynamic

Young leaves (Sink): Exclusively import nutrients from older leaves until they are mature and become a source for newly developing leaves.Old Leaves (Source): Exclusively export nutrients to younger leaves and once mature cannot receive nutrients from younger leaves.

Primary nutrients

Nitrogen [N]

Mobile. Vital for building DNA, chlorophyll, and proteins, Nitrogen is a key contributor to yield, aiding in photosynthesis and the production of amino acids and proteins.Synergists: Molybdenum [Mo], Nickel [Ni], Sulfur [S]Available as: Ammonium sulfate, Calcium nitrate, Amino acids, Fish hydrolysate, Urea (Foliar)

Phosphorus [P]

Somewhat mobile. Crucial for ATP, energy storage, root development, and accelerating tissue maturity, Phosphorus also enhances plant resistance to pathogens, pests, and diseases. Antagonists: Aluminium [Al], Calcium [Ca], Iron [Fe], Zinc [Zn]Synergists: Magnesium [Mg]Available as: Phosphorus acids (pH down solution), Monopotassium phosphate, Micronised rock phosphates

Potassium [K]

Highly mobile. Essential for catalyzing reactions, part of enzyme systems, and crucial for Nitrogen use, Potassium improves fruit size and quality. Antagonists: Calcium [Ca], Magnesium [Mg], Nitrogen [N], Phosphorus [P], Sodium [Na]Synergists: Manganese [Mn], Silicon [Si]Available as: Potassium sulfate, Potassium chloride, Potassium nitrate, Potassium silicate

Secondary nutrients

Calcium [Ca]

Highly immobile. Essential for strong, structural, rigid tissues resistant to pests and diseases, Calcium forms a barrier protecting the plant. Antagonists: Nitrogen [N], Phosphorus [P], Potassium [K], Magnesium [Mg]Synergists: Boron [B], Silicon [Si]Available as: Calcium nitrate, Calcium chloride, Liquid lime/gypsum

Magnesium [Mg]

Somewhat mobile. A key chlorophyll component, Magnesium catalyzes protein synthesis and enhances photosynthesis. Antagonists: Calcium [Ca], Potassium [K]Synergists: Phosphorus [P], Nitrogen [N]Available as: Magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt), Magnesium nitrate, Micronised magnesite

Sulfur [S]

Mobile. Integral for Nitrogen utilization and protein, enzyme, and vitamin formation, Sulfur also strengthens root development and disease resistance. Antagonists: Zinc [Zn], Molybdenum [Mo]Synergists: Selenium [Se]Available as: Ammonium sulfate, Potassium sulfate, Magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt), trace mineral sulfates

Micronutrients (Tertiary/Trace)

Silicon [Si]

Highly immobile. Deposited in cell walls, makes the plant more resilient against pest and disease by creating a barrier between the outside world and the plant itself. Increases Calcium uptake, boosts the plant's immune system, improves frost, heat, drought, salinity, sodium, and heavy metal resistance.

Boron [B]

Highly immobile. Integrated into the cell walls, it fortifies the plant's defenses against pests and diseases by forming a defensive shield. It plays a crucial role in the transportation of sugars throughout the plant and in synthesizing basic structural elements such as lignin and polyphenols. It is essential for the growth tips and every stage of the reproductive process including the development of flowers, fruit, seeds, and pollen.Foliar: Recommended to apply 1 week before moving into flowering till going into flowering.Antagonists: Calcium [Ca] (if ratio is incorrect), Nitrogen [N], Potassium [K]Available as: Sodium borate, Boric acid

Copper [Cu]

Immobile. It activates various defense compounds against diseases, is crucial for the creation of lignin as a primary defense and antimicrobial substances as a secondary defense. Copper strengthens the plant's outer layer and assists with respiration. It also plays a part in the metabolism of proteins and carbohydrates..Foliar: Used to sterilize the leaf surface, protect against disease.Antagonists: Nitrogen [N], Phosphorus [P]Synergists: Molybdenum [Mo]Available as: Copper sulfate

Zinc [Zn]

Immobile. It's influential in setting the leaf's size, which is vital for sunlight absorption, and aids in producing auxin. Zinc is also involved in chlorophyll production. Foliar: Added as Zinc oxide.Antagonists: Phosphorus [P], Calcium [Ca], Magnesium [Mg]. Available as: Zinc sulfate, Zinc oxide (Foliar)

Manganese [Mn]

Mobile. It's crucial for germination, seed development, and acts as a vital nutrient for combating diseases through both primary and secondary plant defenses. Manganese is important for lignification and healing of damages through callus formation. Antagonists: Calcium [Ca], Copper [Cu]Synergists: Potassium [K]Available as: Manganese sulfate

Iron [Fe]

Immobile. It's instrumental in chlorophyll synthesis and assists in amalgamating Nitrogen and Magnesium to form the chlorophyll pigment. Its uptake. Antagonists: Calcium [Ca], Copper [Cu], Manganese [Mn], Phosphorus [P], Zinc [Zn]Synergists: Potassium [K]Available as: Iron sulfate, Iron chelate

Molybdenum [Mo]

Mobile. Necessary for protein synthesis and effective utilization of Nitrogen (turning nitrate into ammonia for amino acids synthesis). It also facilitates the absorption of Nitrogen gas from the air, which aids the supporting bacteria or microbes. Available as: Sodium molybdate

Cobalt [Co]

Immobile. Plays an integral role in the fixation of Nitrogen, transforming Nitrogen and air into ammonia. It is a component of vitamin B12, which is essential for cell division. Available in the form of Cobalt sulfate.

Nickel [Ni]

Mobile. It is critical for the use of urea, converting it to amino acids and proteins, and has a role in Nitrogen metabolism. When sprayed with urea, it prepares the plant for a more energy-efficient conversion into proteins.

Nutrient ratios

Exploring various liquid and solid fertilizers revealed unique nutrient concentrations. When a fertilizer specifies a nutrient in compound form (e.g., Nitrogen as Nitrate [NO3], Ammonium [NH4], or Urea [(NH2)2CO]), calculating the actual weight of the nutrient is necessary by dividing the atomic weight of the element by the compound's molecular weight. For instance, Nitrate [NO3] has only 22.5% Nitrogen content: The molecule weighs 62 grams per mole, consisting of Oxygen (3x ~16 grams) plus 14 grams of Nitrogen. Thus, a fertilizer with 5% Nitrate contains only 1,125% Nitrogen.