Nutrient demanded by plant and their used efficiency

All plants that have the same species respond similarly to nutrient stress, plants that are of similar species will often show significant differences in their nutrient use efficiency. This results from differences in growth rate, root distribution, phase of development, and efficiency of nutrient intake as well as utilization. This implies that in any given environment, plants from one species can at time become nutrient-deficient, while those which are from another species growing in the same environment, while the ones next to them may not show any form of deficiency symptoms.

Nutrient status is also affected in growth rate. When the nutrient which supply is barely inadequate for growth under existing environmental conditions, some plants then tend to adjust their growth rate to match that which is supported by the available nutrient supply without the displaying of typical visual deficiency symptoms.

Agricultural systems differ from natural systems in that crop plants have been selected primarily for the purpose of rapid growth under low stress conditions. This rapid growth rate results in a high nutrient demand by these plants and a higher incidence of nutrient deficiency unless the supplemental fertilizers are supplied to the plants. It is not in uncommon cases to find agricultural crops showing severe signs of nutrient deficiency, with native plants growing in the same environment the plant showing little or no indication of nutrient stress. In agriculture systems, chronic deficiency symptoms develop mostly in crops with little or limited fertilization. In the case of acute nutrient deficiency, symptoms most times often occur when new crops with a higher nutrient demand are introduced, or less productive lands are brought under cultivation for the production of rapidly growing crop.