Mineral Nutrition In Plants
Mineral : Mineral is any substance which is required by plants for physiological functioning and it is mostly taken from the soil. What are Essential Elements ? Any element that is important for a physiological role in plant and the absence of this element prevents the plant from completing its life cycle is an essential element. According to Arnon and Stout three criteria must be met for an element to be considered essential, these are: A plant must be unable to complete its life cycle in the absence of the essential element. The function of the essential element cannot be replaced by another element i.e. deficiency of any one element cannot be met by supplying other element. The essential element must be directly involved in plant metabolism. Essential elements are divided into two categories : Macroelements and Microelements Macroelements: The mineral/element is required in large quantity, conc > 1ppm. Also known as major elements. Macroelements consists of Phosphorous (P), Potas...