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The Role of Secondary Nutrients in Plant Growth: by Kadiresan Kadir

The document discusses secondary nutrients which play a crucial role in plant growth and development. It defines secondary nutrients as calcium, magnesium, and sulfur and explains their importance and roles. It also covers sources, deficiency symptoms, and application methods of secondary nutrients.

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kadiresan2005
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42 views7 pages

The Role of Secondary Nutrients in Plant Growth: by Kadiresan Kadir

The document discusses secondary nutrients which play a crucial role in plant growth and development. It defines secondary nutrients as calcium, magnesium, and sulfur and explains their importance and roles. It also covers sources, deficiency symptoms, and application methods of secondary nutrients.

Uploaded by

kadiresan2005
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Role of Secondary Nutrients in

Plant Growth
Secondary nutrients play a crucial role in the growth and development of plants. While primary nutrients
like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are well-known, secondary nutrients play a crucial, yet often
overlooked, role in supporting plant health and maximising crop yield.

by KADIRESAN KADIR
The Definition and Importance
of Secondary Nutrients
Secondary nutrients are essential elements required for plant growth
that are needed in smaller amounts than primary nutrients. They
include calcium, magnesium, and sulfur, and are equally as important
as primary nutrients in maximising crop yield and plant health.
Types of Secondary Nutrients
Calcium (Ca) Magnesium (Mg) Sulfur (S)
Calcium is essential for plant Magnesium is a component of Sulfur plays a vital role in the
cell walls' structural strength chlorophyll, which is necessary synthesis of protein, enzymes,
and helps in the uptake of for photosynthesis. It aids in and vitamins. It also
nitrogen and potassium. It also the uptake of other essential contributes to root growth,
promotes root and leaf growth nutrients, such as phosphorus, promotes seed production,
and works to neutralize soil and assists in the production of and enhances the plant's ability
acidity. proteins and enzymes. to resist disease.
Sources of Secondary Nutrients
Calcium limestone, gypsum, dolomite, and lime

Magnesium epsomite, kieserite, and dolomite

Sulfur gypsum and elemental sulfur


Symptoms of Secondary Nutrient
Deficiencies

1 Calcium 2 Magnesium 3 Sulfur


Stunted growth, wilting of Yellowing in between Chlorosis, stunted growth,
shoots, poor fruit veins of older leaves, and decreased
development, and reduced growth, and photosynthesis.
yellowing of leaves. interveinal chlorosis.
Methods of Secondary Nutrient
Application
Foliar Application Soil Application Seed Treatment
Foliar application involves Soil application involves adding Seed treatment involves
spraying fertilizer solutions the fertilizers into the soil coating or soaking seeds in
directly on the leaves, and it is where the plant roots can fertilizer before planting. The
ideal for correcting nutrient easily absorb them. It is the technique enhances early
deficiencies quickly. However, most common method of seedling growth and helps
it is essential to apply the fertilizer application, and it is provide nutrients to the
fertilizer during the early hours ideal for providing long-term embryonic leaves before they
of the day or late in the evening nutrition to plants. However, emerge.
to avoid scorching the leaves. soil amendment application
must be done carefully to
avoid over-fertilization and
possible nutrient toxicity.
Conclusion and Key Takeaways
While secondary nutrients are often viewed as less important than primary nutrients, they are equally
crucial for optimal plant growth and developement. Calcium, magnesium, and sulfur play different but
essential roles in supporting plant health, and an imbalance could result in slow growth, decreased
yields, and increased susceptibility to pests, and diseases.

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