2018-2019 Horticultural Catalog

Essential Nutrients
essential nutrients
Primary Macronutrients
Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) are considered
the “primary” nutrients. “Secondary” Macronutrients are
Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg) and Sulfur (S). Macronutrients
are necessary for healthy growth and sustained vigor, but they
must be balanced correctly.
Nitrogen
• Essential for plant growth; part of every
living cell
• Necessary for chlorophyll synthesis
• Directly responsible for increasing protein content in plants
• Must be present in sufficient amounts to facilitate
nutrient uptake
Signs of deficiency:
• Plant is pale green
• Lower leaves may appear yellow to brown
• Symptoms appear first on older leaves, but may then spread
throughout the plant
Phosphorus
• Captures and converts sunlight into
essential plant compounds
• Stimulates root development
• Promotes improved flower and seed production
• Promotes increased stalk and stem strength
Signs of deficiency:
• Plant may appear dark green, with purple or red hues
• Lower leaves may appear yellow to dark green
• Symptoms appear first on older leaves, but may then spread
throughout the plant
7 14.007
N
NITROGEN
15 30.974
P
PHOSPHORUS
19 39.098
K
POTASSIUM
Potassium
• Enhances enzyme actions, aiding
in photosynthesis
• Maintains turgor, reduces water loss
• Increases root growth, improves drought tolerance
• Known as “quality nutrient” for overall effects on general
plant quality
Signs of deficiency:
• Leaves appear wilted or scorched
• Edges or spots on leaf are necrotic
• Symptoms appear only on older leaves
The Other Essentials
We don’t often think of oxygen and moisture as “nutrients”.
Without them, of course, plants wouldn’t survive. Structural, or
non-mineral, nutrients --- Carbon (C), Hydrogen (H) and Oxygen
(O) are obtained from air and water. Each is necessary for
the plant to convert into carbohydrates (sugars and starches),
which help to build strength in cell walls and to support stems
and leaves. Think of these as the most basic plant food.
6 12.011
C
CARBON
1 1.0079
H
HYDROGEN
8 15.999
OOXYGEN
Secondary Macronutrients
Calcium
• Stimulates root and leaf development
• Affects uptake and activity of
other nutrients
• Helps form compounds that compose
cell walls, strengthening plant structure
• Balances organic acids; activates plant enzyme systems
Signs of deficiency:
• New leaves appear deformed
• Left edges and tips are necrotic
• Terminal bud appears healthy
• Symptoms appear first on young leaves
Magnesium
• Captures sun’s energy, facilitating
photosynthesis
• Carries Phosphorus; is required for better
root formation
15 40.078
Ca
CALCIUM
12
Mg
24.305
MAGNESIUM
• Mobile within plant; moving from older to younger tissues
Signs of deficiency:
• Leaf edges appear yellow, but remainder is green
• Symptoms appear only on older leaves
16 32.065
S
SULPHUR
Sulfur
• Critical for photosynthesis and
winter hardiness
• Appears in every cell; required for
synthesis of amino acids and proteins
• Aids in seed production
• Aids in efficient nitrogen fixation in leguminous plants
Signs of deficiency:
• Entire leaf appears yellow
• Yellow coloration may spread to entire plant
• Symptoms appear first on young leaves
Complete
Plant
Nutrition
Plants take up
inorganic minerals
and water through
leaves and roots to
manufacture (via
photosynthesis) organic
compounds, which
become leaves, stems,
roots, flowers and fruits.
The manufacturing
site is the chlorophyll
molecule. Given all
the right ingredients
plants produce the
food, flowers, oxygen
and trees upon which
we depend on.
Courtesy of Dyna-Gro
198 800-325-3055
www.hummert.com