Secondary Nutrients & Trace Elements
Secondary Nutrients (Ca, Mg & S)
Promote healthier cell walls. Studies published in Plant Physiology suggest that calcium, a secondary nutrient, contributes to stronger cell walls, enhancing plant defense mechanisms
Calcium (Ca):
• Helps to neutralize organic acids, which form during cell metabolism in plants.
• Improves the absorption of other nutrients by roots and their translocation within the plant.
• Required for cell wall and membrane formation.
• When calcium is deficient, new tissue such as root tips, young leaves, and shoot tips often have improper cell wall formation causing visual distortion in new growth.
Magnesium (Mg):
• Central core of the chlorophyll molecule in plant leave tissues. Enhance Greenery of PLANTS.
Helps to activate specific enzyme systems & Protein synthesis.
• Magnesium deficiency results in shortage of chlorophyll results in poor and stunted plant growth.
Sulfur (S):
Sulphur is essential for many growth functions in plants including
• Work against different stresses,
• Activation of enzymes which aid in biochemical reactions in the plants.
• Increase NPK nutrients uptake, promote biological nitrogen fixation, Nitrogen metabolism
• Synthesis of Protein with amino acids like cysteine, cystine and methionine.
• Oil synthesis & Increase the oil content of seeds.
Trace Elements (Fe, Cu, Zn, B, Cl, & Ni)
Micronutrients are required by plants in small amounts and act as natural stimulants and boosts plant resilience. Micronutrients like zinc and nickel are essential for various plant functions, and deficiencies can lead to stunted growth and susceptibility to disease.
Iron (Fe):
• Required for a wide range of biological functions.
• Iron is involved in the synthesis of chlorophyll.
• Important roles in the electron-transport chains of photosynthesis and respiration.
• Essential for the maintenance of chloroplast structure and function.
• Serves as a component of many vital enzymes such as cytochromes of the electron transport chain.
Copper (Cu):
• Cu is a cofactor for a variety of enzymes
• Plays an important role in photosynthesis, respiration, the antioxidant system, and signal transduction.
Zinc (Zn):
• Required for the metabolism of plants.
• Enzyme functions and
• Ion-Transport.
Carbohydrate, protein, and chlorophyll formation is significantly reduced in zinc-deficient plants.
Boron (B):
• Plays an important role in regulating plants’ hormone levels
• Promotes proper growth.
• Increases flower production and retention, pollen tube elongation, seed and fruit development.
• Helps in seed germination.
Chlorine (Cl):
• Participates in several physiological metabolism processes.
• Functions in plant growth and development, Osmotic and stomatal regulation, Evolution of oxygen in photosynthesis
• Disease resistance and tolerance.
Nickel (Ni):
• Lowest required of all element essential for plant growth and development.
• A component of some plant enzymes, most notably urease.
• Absence of nickel, can result in accumulation of toxic levels of urea within the tissue forming necrotic legions on the leaf tips.
Ni deficiency results in
• Reduced growth, induction of senescence, leaf and meristem chlorosis.
• Alterations in N metabolism and reduced Fe uptake.