Role of Nutrients in Plants, Its Deficiency and Management

Plants like all living beings need energy source. The energy needed by the plants are uptaken in the form of 17 essential elements. Among which Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen are derived from surrounding. The remaining 14 essential necessary elements are supplied either from rhizosphere and soil organic matter or by important organic or inorganic fertilizers or value added soil amendments. Plants start showing nutrient deficiency when they do not get the necessary nutrients. More nutrient use can also show poor growth because of toxic chemicals in soil. So, required amount of use and the placement of nutrients is necessary. Soil and plant tissue tests have been developed to assess their’ nutrient content. By analysis, plant scientists determined the nutrient need of plant in a given soil. In addition to the levels of available nutrients, soil pH shows its role in nutrient availability and elemental toxicity in soil. In the majority, disease effect in crop plants has been reduced by fertilizer application. This is due to the host plant tolerance or resistance mechanisms involve these nutrients. When the plants were deficient, the application of nutrients significantly reduced disease.