Mineral nutrient available in plants

In contribution to the presence of water, sunlight, and carbon dioxide present in the air, plants still requires 13 mineral nutrients that are naturally gotten from the soil. The macronutrients nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K) are needed by plants in relatively large amounts, also often have to be added to the soil. The intermediate amounts of the secondary nutrients present are magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), and sulfur (S) are needed by plants for necessary growth to occur. Traces or micronutrients which are boron (B), chlorine (Cl), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo) and zinc (Zn) are needed in small amounts and are seldom deficient in the soil that is Wisconsin in nature.

In a healthy plant, the essential mineral elements which are present are in adequate levels and in correct proportion to other elements. Plant productivity or fruit quality diminishes if; one or more of the required elements is not present in sufficient quantity (deficiency), if one or more elements are present in too great a quantity (toxicity) and if the level of one or more elements is out of balance with other nutrients.

The listed nutrients above perform a variety of functions in plants which ranges from being structural components of cell walls and membranes to activating enzyme systems. Close to 95% of the dry weight of a typical plant is made up of carbon, oxygen and hydrogen. The soil supplied minerals which are made up of only 5% of a plants total dry weight. The nutrition of plants and animals is very different. While animals need proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals to stay in a healthy condition, plants also need only water, sunlight and the 13 essential nutrients listed in the first paragraph. No scientific evidence supports the use of vitamins or other similar supplements for the growth of the plant. A plant does not need to be fed. They simply need adequate supplies of water, sunlight as well as minerals. While fertilizers can be added to soils to improve their fertility, the best plan is to establish your crop planting on a fertile soil. The soil pH should be between 6 and 7 for optimum production. Ag limestone must be incorporated to be effective because lime only moves about ½ inch per year if top is dressed. Plants can make best use of soil applied nutrients if these nutrients are distributed within the soil rooting volume.