ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS

Chemical element required for normal plant growth

without which plants cannot complete their life cycles.
(Brady and Weil, 1999)
Primary macronutrients
They are mineral elements usually not
available in large enough quantities for best
growth

The primary macronutrients are N, P, and K

N, P, and K are mostly added to soils by
fertilizer

Importance of knowing nutrients as ions
Because roots absorb nutrients in ion form

Examples
K

K
+

S

SO
4
2-


Because soil particles adsorb nutrients in ion
form
Note

Absorb: take in something like sponge
absorbing water

Adsorb: to attract a thin layer of molecules to
a surface, where they stick
Nutrient uptake
Nutrient uptake
When plant roots (root hairs) take cations
such as NH
4
+
, Ca
2+
, Mg
2+
, Na
+
, and K
+
, the
root cells release H
+
into the soil

When plant roots take anions such as NO
3
-
,
H
2
PO
4
-
, HPO
4
2-
, SO
4
2-
, the roots release OH
-

into the soil

Ions Transport Across Root Membrane
Electrogenic Pumps
Mechanisms of nutrient absorption
OR uptake by plant roots

Root interception
Mass flow
Diffusion


1. Root interception

Interception of nutrients in soil solution by
the extension of root systems

Root interception contributes to only small
amount of nutrients (<1%) taken up by
plants because roots have very little contact
with soil


2. Mass flow

Absorption of nutrient ions by plant roots due
to flowing of water containing the ions
towards plant roots

Results from transpirational water uptake by
plants



3. Diffusion
Movement of ions toward roots from
surrounding soil

i.e. ions diffuse through soil water instead of
being carried with the water


Diffusion
Movement of ions by random kinetic
motion of molecules, sometimes
referred to as Brownian Movement.
When a concentration gradient
exists, net movement occurs by
diffusion from locations of high
concentration to locations of low
concentration.

Distant of diffusive nutrient movement:
0.1 15mm

Note
Interception, mass flow, and diffusion occur at the
same time

Relative importance of interception, mass flow, and
diffusion depends on:
Plant species
Specific nutrient
Soil texture
Soil moisture

Example
H
2
PO
4
-
, HPO
4
2-
and K
+
are better taken up by plants
via diffusion than mass flow

Generally, diffusion is the most important
mechanism

Root interception contributes least to nutrient uptake

Factors influencing nutrient uptake
Light
Oxygen
Soil moisture
Soil temperature
Amount of nutrient ions applied or in soils
Good rooting system
Rhizosphere organisms


Light
Nutrient uptake involves energy
consumption by roots. Roots get this energy
from plants through photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis is affected by light. Therefore
anything that affects photosynthesis affects
nutrient uptake
Example
Plants growing under low light make less
sugar to send to roots, so they take up fewer
nutrients
Oxygen
Plants use oxygen for respiration so any
condition that limits or affect oxygen supply
will limit nutrient uptake
Example
Poor drainage and soil compaction slow
movement of oxygen into the soil. Therefore,
these conditions also limit the ability of plants
to absorb nutrients
Soil moisture
When a soil dries, it lowers nutrient uptake
because lack of water retards nutrient flow
toward root hairs by mass flow and diffusion

Example
Phosphorus in most cases move in soils by
diffusion, so P uptake is sharply reduced in
dry soils
Soil temperature
Rates of all chemical reactions both in soils
and plants depend on temperature
Examples
Plants respire less in cold soils, so plants
have less energy to take up nutrients

Root growth is slow in cold soil therefore
limiting root interception of nutrients
Soil temperature
Rates of all chemical reactions both in soils
and plants depend on temperature
Examples
Low temperature slows decomposition of
organic matter to release more nutrients, so
nutrient uptake in cold soils is low

Phosphorus and Fe deficiencies are common
in spring when soils are cold and wet
Amount of soil nutrient ions
Increase in amount of ions in the soil via or
through fertilization improves absorption

Example
When K is high in soils, plants take up more
than they need (luxury consumption)

Note: If something happens to slow uptake,
the excess K stored in the plant cells is used
Rooting system
Nutrient uptake is fast when plants grow well
to produce a lot of roots

Poor drainage, compaction, and low nutrients
status reduce root growth, so these affect
nutrient uptake

Rooting system
Examples
Deep rooted plants need less fertilization
than shallow rooted plants

Soils with restricted zones such as high
water table, bedrock, plowpan, can use
shallow rooted plants

Organisms
Examples
Nematodes or root-rotting fungi damage
ability of roots to take up nutrients

Micorrhizal infections improve availability of
nutrients more

Insects feed on plant roots to disrupt nutrient
uptake
Raises fertility Lowers fertility

High clay content High sand content
High humus content Loss of organic matter
Good structure Compaction
Warm soil Cold soil
Deep soil Shallow soil
Moist soil Dry or wet soil
Good drainage Excess irrigation or drainage
Fertilization Erosion
Desirable microbes Root damaging
Near neutral pH pH too acid or alkaline