Nutrients

Nutrients and beneficial elements

Plant nutrients are essential for plant growth and development. According to current scientific knowledge, there are 14 essential plant nutrients, which are divided into macro- and micronutrients. Plants furthermore absorb other elements, which scientists call beneficial elements. Here is information on these groups and the important functions of potassium, magnesium, boron, manganese & Co.

Macronutrients

High nutrition demand

Macronutrients are present in plant tissues in comparatively high concentrations and the requirement for healthy growth corresponds to several kg of plant nutrient/ha. There are six macronutrients: potassium, magnesium, sulfur, nitrogen, phosphorus, and calcium.

Potassium

Potassium is vital for the plant as it affects the various metabolic processes in many ways. The functions of potassium include involvement in photosynthesis and in the activation of enzymes, synthesis and transport of carbohydrates, natural resistance of plants against pests and diseases as well as frost and drought stress.

Magnesium

Alongside nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, the central importance of magnesium is often underestimated. Magnesium promotes root growth and yield formation and decisively protects the plant from stress caused by drought, high temperatures and high light irradiation.

Sulfur

Sulfur increases nitrogen use efficiency and is essential for protein synthesis. It is important for production of innate plant defence substances. In oilseeds and legumes sulfur fertilization often results in enormous increases in yield. Onions, leek, and garlic require S for the production of aromatic flavor compounds.

Nitrogen

Nitrogen is required by plants in comparatively high quantities for their growth and development. It is present in the soil in various forms and is subject to a number of transformation processes. Nitrogen plays a key role as a component of proteins.

Phosphorus

Phosphorus is the constituent part of many plant compounds and affects the entire plant metabolism. The availability of phosphorus in the soil depends largely on the pH value. 

Micronutrients

Small amount with great effect

Micronutrients occur in plant tissue in comparatively low concentrations. The plant requirement is several grams of plant nutrient per hectare. They are also referred to as trace elements. Today, eight micronutrients are known: boron, chlorine, iron, copper, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, and zinc. Here is information on the functions of the most relevant micronutrients:

Boron

Boron improves stability and function of cell membranes and supports plant growth by stimulating cell division. The requirement of the various crops for boron is very different.

Copper

As a component of several enzymes, copper has a positive effect on the plant metabolism. For instance, it regulates the photosynthetic electron transport.

Manganese

Manganese either stimulates, or is a component of many enzymes and, therefore, greatly affects the metabolism of the plant. It affects photosynthesis, synthesis of fatty acids and carbohydrate metabolism.

Zinc

Zinc activates or is a component of several enzymes and therefore affects many metabolic processes in the plant. For instance, as an essential component of RNA polymerase it affects RNA and protein synthesis.

Beneficial Elements

Helpful, but replaceable

Unlike macro- and micronutrients, beneficial elements are not essential for plant growth and development. They can perform important functions in yield, quality, or stress tolerance, but can be replaced by other elements. Nevertheless, they often play an important and essential role in humans and animals living on plants. Examples are sodium, selenium, or silicon.

Sodium

Sodium increases fodder productivity and keeps animals healthy and fertile. Within the plant, sodium controls osmotic pressure in the cells which results in a more efficient use of water.

Nutrients and beneficial elements

When is a nutrient essential?

Plant nutrients - unlike beneficial elements - are essential for plant growth and development. Macro- and micronutrients meet the criteria applying to them:

If plant nutrients are not available in sufficient quantities, this leads to a specific deficiency symptom.
Each plant nutrient has at least one function within the plant that has been scientifically proven and for which it cannot be replaced by any other element.
If a plant nutrient is completely lacking, growth comes to a standstill and the plant cannot complete its life cycle.

According to these criteria, there are 14 essential plant nutrients according to current scientific knowledge. In addition, plants take up other elements that are not essential for their growth and development and do not meet the three criteria for essential plant nutrients mentioned above. These substances are referred to as "benefical elements".

Crops

Balanced fertilization of crops

For all important crops, we provide you with the decisive recommendations for targeted nutrient supply - for the best quality and high yields.

KALI-TOOLBOX

Optimize your fertilization

Use our free interactive tools to quickly and easily optimize your fertilization: Identify and correct nutrient deficiencies with the 1x1 of deficiency symptoms, determine fertilizer requirements with the Liebig nutrient calculator, and calculate different forms of nutrients in fertilizers with the nutrient converter.