Essential Mineral Plant Nutrients: their concentration in plants, functions and classification
Name
Chemical symbol
Range of Concentration (%)
Nutrient category
Function in plant
Nitrogen
N
0.5-6
Proteins, amino acids
Phosphorus
P
0.15-0.5
Nucleic acids, ATP
Potassium
K
0.8-8
Catalyst, ion transport
Sulfur
S
0.1-1.5
Amino acids
Calcium
Ca
0.1-6
Cell wall component
Magnesium
Mg
0.05-1 Concentration (ppm)
Part of chlorophyll
Iron
Fe
20-600
Chlorophyll synthesis
Copper
Cu
2.0-50
Component of enzymes
Manganese
Mn
10-600
Activates enzymes
Zinc
Zn
10-250
Activates enzymes
Boron
B
0.2-800
Molybdenum
Mo
0.1-10
Cell wall component Involved in N fixation, nitrate reduction
Nickel
Ni
0.05-5
Enzymatic – plant urease
Chlorine
Cl
10-80,000
Photosynthesis reactions
Cobalt
Co
0.05-10
Essential in N-fixing systems
Silicon
Si
0.1-10
Essential for some (rice), quasi-essential for many
0.001-8
Essential for some (palms, sugar beet), quasi-essential for many
Sodium
Na
Primary macronutrients Secondary macronutrients
Micronutrients
Sources: nd Epstein and Bloom. 2005. Mineral Nutrition of Plants: Principles and Perspectives, 2 edition. Allen V. Barker; D. J. Pilbeam (2007). Handbook of plant nutrition. CRC Press.