Transcript Minerals Micronutrients and Microbes

Minerals and Microbes
Base Exchangeable Cations
Calcium (Ca)
++
60% - 70%
Magnesium (Mg) 10% - 20%
++
Potasium (K) +
3% - 5%
Sodium (Na)
1% - 4%
Hydrogen (H)+
8% - 10%
Ca & Mg together
should add to
80% of exchange
capacity
See Phosphorus
(P)
See Chlorine (Cl)
Exchangeable
Hydrogen
Other Major Nutrients (anions)
Phosphorus (P)- Equal to
Potasium (K) as
in actual P =
actual K
Sulphur (S)½ of
Phosphorus up
to 200ppm
Chlorine (Cl)-
1X to 2X Sodium
P needs highly
bio-active soil to
keep it available
Needed for good
fungi and amino
acids
Major Minor Elements
Iron (Fe)+
FE: 100 – 200
ppm
Manganese (Mn)+
Zinc (Zn)+
Copper (Cu)+
Boron (B)
Fe and Mn are
synergistic as
are Cu and ZN
Mn: ½ of Ca up to
50 ppm
Zn: 1/10 of P up to
50 ppm
Cu: ½ of Zinc
1/1000 of Calcium Boron is
(up to 4ppm)
essential for
Calcium
utilisation
Major Minor Elements
Iron (Fe)+
FE: 100 – 200
ppm
Manganese (Mn)+
Zinc (Zn)+
Copper (Cu)+
Boron (B)
Fe and Mn are
synergistic as
are Cu and ZN
Mn: ½ of Ca up to
50 ppm
Zn: 1/10 of P up to
50 ppm
Cu: ½ of Zinc
1/1000 of Calcium Boron is
(up to 4ppm)
essential for
Calcium
utilisation
Trace Elements
Chromium (Cr)+
Cobalt (Co)+
Iodine (I) Molybdenum
(Mo)+
Selenium (Se)Tin (Sn)+
Vanadium (V)+
Nickel
All of these are There are
essential in small probably 30 or
amounts. 1 so other
2ppm is enough. elements needed
in a perfect soil.
(Cobalt 2-10ppm) They may be
found in various
Some of the
soil supplements
trace elements
such as seaweed
(e.g. Mo, Se) can
be toxic to plants
and soil
organisms in
quantities above
2ppm. Take it
easy.
Nitrogen


· Necessary for formation of amino acids, the
building blocks of protein
· Essential for plant cell division, vital for plant
growth

· Directly involved in photosynthesis

· Necessary component of vitamins

· Aids in production and use of carbohydrates

· Affects energy reactions in the plant

Deficiencies can reduce yield , cause yellowing
of the leaves , stunt growth and stress the
plants immune system.
Phosphorus




Involved in photosynthesis, respiration, energy
storage and transfer, cell division, and
enlargement
Promotes early root formation and growth
Improves quality of produce and water-use
efficiency
Deficiency symptoms include stunted plant
growth, a reduce in yields of fruit and flowers ,
as well as incorrect or whispy formation of
flowers . Too much Phosphorus , can cause
problems with the uptake of zinc and other
elements
Potassium - K


· Carbohydrate metabolism and the break down
and translocation of starches
Increases photosynthesis and water-use
efficiency

Essential to protein synthesis and fruit formation

Activates and controls enzymes' reaction rates

Improves quality of seeds and fruit

Increases disease resistance

Deficiencies result in low yields, spotty and or
curled leaves and a potential scorched or burn
look to the leafs
Calcium - Ca

Utilized for Continuous cell division and
formation

Involved in nitrogen metabolism

Reduces plant respiration

Aids translocation of photosynthesis from
leaves to fruiting organs

Increases fruit set

Essential for nut development in peanuts

Stimulates microbial activity

Symptoms of deficiencies include black spots
on the leaves and potentially fruits
Sulphur - S

Integral part of amino acids

Helps develop enzymes and vitamins

Promotes nodule formation on legumes

Aids in seed production


Necessary in chlorophyll formation (though it
isn’t one of the constituents)
Deficiency symptoms include yellowing
between the veins of older leaves and drooping
leaves
Magnesium - Mg

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
· Key element of chlorophyll production
· Improves utilization and mobility of
phosphorus
· Activator and component of many plant
enzymes

· Directly related to grass tetany

· Increases iron utilization in plants

· Influences earliness and uniformity of maturity

Deficiency symptoms include yellowing
between the veins of older leaves and drooping
Boron (B)

· Essential of germination of pollen grains and
growth of pollen tubes

Essential for seed and cell wall formation

Promotes maturity

Necessary for sugar translocation

Affects nitrogen and carbohydrate

symptoms of deficient plants are death in young
leaves, plants can fail to set seed or produce
viable pollen , fruit formation is effected ,
discolored roots , crackled and flecked brown
spots on your leafs.
Chlorine



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Involved in the regulation of movement of water
and other solutes into and out of cells
Essential for cell division in leaves and in the
regulation of opening and closing stomata
Involved in photosynthetic transfer of oxygen
and nitrogen metabolism
Symptoms of issues can include yellowing of
the veins in older leaves, wilting of the leaves
and stunted root growth. Too much chlorine is
very detrimental to plants as with build up it can
become a deadly toxin to the plant
Copper - Cu
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Catalyzes several plant processes
Major function in photosynthesis and
reproductive stages
Indirect role in chlorophyll production
Increases sugar content, intensifies colour and
improves flavour of fruits and vegetables
Symptoms of a copper deficiency include
necrosis of new growth tips, stunted growth and
leaves may develop black necrosis spots .
Copper deficiency can have a huge impact on
flower/fruit and seed production.
Iron - Fe

Promotes formation of chlorophyll

Acts as an oxygen carrier

Reactions involving cell division and growth

The main symptom of iron deficiency is a
yellowing building out from the veins of the
leaves. It is probably one of he more common
of the micro-nutrient deficiencies though is often
caused by pH issues rather than an actual lack
of iron provided a full spectrum nutrient is being
used or the organic equivalent
Manganese

Functions as a part of certain enzyme systems

Aids in chlorophyll synthesis

Increases the availability of P and CA

symptoms of a deficiency can include necrosis
spots on leafs and black necrosis of new tips
Zinc - Zn

Aids plant growth hormones and enzyme
system

· Necessary for chlorophyll production

· Necessary for carbohydrate formation

· Necessary for starch formation

· Aids in seed formation

Deficiency symptoms can include a reduction
in leaf size, white leaf tips and shortened internodes.
Nickel



Required for the enzyme urease , which most
plants use to break down urea into usable forms
of nitrogen
also necessary for iron absorption
Plants grown without a suitable supply of nickel
will gradually reach a deficient level at the time
of sexual maturity which will of-course effect
any planned reproduction.
Molybdenum



Required to form the enzyme "nitrate reductas"
which reduces nitrates to ammonium in plant
Aids in the formation of legume nodules
Needed to convert inorganic phosphates to
organic forms in the plant
Sodium


Involved in water movement throughout the
tissue of the plant
incorrect ratios can be very detrimental to the
plant if it is allowed to build up.
Cobalt

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Cobalt: is required for nitrogen fixation and root
nodules
Essential for the manufacture of the vitamin B12
deficient levels can easily result in nitrogen
deficiency.
Silicon

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
improve heat and drought tolerance
increase resistance to insects and fungal
infections.
can help to compensate for toxic levels of
manganese, iron, phosphorus and aluminum as
well as build a barrier against zinc deficiency .
produce stronger, tougher cell walls creating a
barrier from mouth of sucking insects .