Macronutrients and Micronutrients in Garden Plant Cultivation

Introduction

Plants, like all living organisms, require a set of essential chemical elements for healthy growth, development, and reproduction. These elements are called nutrients. Based on the quantity plants need, they are divided into:

Macronutrients: Required in larger quantities. These include primary macronutrients: Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Potassium (K), and secondary macronutrients: Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Sulfur (S).
Micronutrients (Trace Elements): Needed in much smaller quantities, but equally important. These include: Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Boron (B), Molybdenum (Mo), Chlorine (Cl), and Nickel (Ni). Cobalt (Co) is essential for nitrogen fixation in legumes but is not generally considered essential for all higher plants.

A deficiency in any of these nutrients can lead to reduced growth, yield, fruit quality, and increased susceptibility to diseases and pests.

Analysis of Individual Nutrients

1. Nitrogen (N)

Category: Primary Macronutrient

Importance for the plant:

A fundamental building block of amino acids, which form proteins (enzymes, structural proteins).
Essential for the formation of nucleic acids (DNA, RNA), which carry genetic information and control protein synthesis.
A key component of chlorophyll, the molecule responsible for photosynthesis (capturing light energy).
Part of some plant hormones and vitamins.
Promotes rapid vegetative growth (leaves, stems).

Seasonal Importance:

Spring: Extremely important for rapid initial growth of leaves and stems after overwintering or germination. Supports the formation of a large leaf area for photosynthesis.
Summer: Necessary for maintaining vegetative growth, forming new leaves, and supporting fruit development (through sufficient photosynthesis).
Autumn: For perennial plants, its importance decreases as the plant slows growth and prepares for winter. Some nitrogen may move to storage organs. Excess nitrogen in autumn can reduce frost resistance.

Highest need: During the period of most intensive vegetative growth, which is usually late spring and early summer.

Crops with higher need: Leafy vegetables (lettuce, spinach, cabbage, kale), corn, cereals, grasses. Reason: These crops produce a large amount of green matter (leaves and stems), which is rich in proteins and chlorophyll.

Conclusion: Nitrogen is the engine of plant growth, crucial for the formation of green matter and essential biological molecules.

2. Phosphorus (P)

Category: Primary Macronutrient

Importance for the plant:

Crucial for energy transfer and storage in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate).
A component of nucleic acids (DNA, RNA) and phospholipids (the basis of cell membranes).
Supports the development of the root system, especially in early growth stages.
Essential for flowering, the formation of flower buds, fruits, and seeds.
Improves fruit quality and accelerates ripening.

Seasonal Importance:

Spring: Critical for the rooting of young plants and initial growth. Supports the formation of flower buds.
Summer: Important for the process of flowering, fertilization, and the development of fruits and seeds. Provides energy for these demanding processes.
Autumn: Involved in the ripening of fruits and seeds, the storage of reserves, and root growth in perennials before winter.

Highest need: In the early stages of growth (root development) and during the reproductive phase (flowering, fruit and seed formation).

Crops with higher need: Root vegetables (carrots, parsley, celery – for root development), legumes (peas, beans – for seed formation and energy-intensive nitrogen fixation), fruit trees, and fruiting vegetables (tomatoes, peppers – for flowering and fruit development). Reason: These crops either invest a lot of energy in underground parts or have high energy demands during flowering and seed/fruit formation.

Conclusion: Phosphorus is crucial for energy metabolism, reproduction, and healthy root development of the plant.

3. Potassium (K)

Category: Primary Macronutrient

Importance for the plant:

Regulates water management in the plant (opening and closing of stomata).
Activates more than 60 enzymes involved in metabolism.
Participates in photosynthesis and the transport of sugars (assimilates) from leaves to fruits, seeds, or storage organs.
Increases plant resistance to stress (drought, cold, diseases).
Improves fruit quality (size, color, sugar content, shelf life).
Strengthens cell walls, increasing tissue firmness.

Seasonal Importance:

Spring: Supports overall growth and resilience of young plants.
Summer: Critical during fruit formation and filling (sugar transport). Increases resistance to summer drought and heat.
Autumn: Important for fruit ripening, tissue maturation, and preparing perennial plants for winter (increases frost resistance).

Highest need: During periods of rapid growth and especially during the development and ripening of fruits or storage organs.

Crops with higher need: Potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, fruit trees (apples, pears), grapevines, bananas. Reason: These crops produce large fruits or tubers with high water and sugar/starch content, requiring efficient assimilate transport and good water regulation, which potassium provides.

Conclusion: Potassium is essential for water balance, sugar transport, fruit quality, and overall plant resilience.

4. Calcium (Ca)

Category: Secondary Macronutrient

Importance for the plant:

A basic component of cell walls (calcium pectates), responsible for their strength and stability.
Important for the function and stability of cell membranes.
Essential for cell division and growth (especially root and shoot tips).
Participates in the activation of some enzymes and signal transduction in the plant.
Very immobile in the plant (does not move from older to younger parts).

Seasonal Importance:

Spring: Essential for the formation of new cells and tissues during intense growth.
Summer: Important for fruit growth and prevention of disorders caused by its deficiency (e.g., blossom end rot in tomatoes and peppers, bitter pit in apples).
Autumn: Contributes to tissue firmness before winter.

Highest need: During periods of active cell division and growth (root, stem, leaf growth, fruit development). Requires continuous supply through roots due to low mobility.

Crops with higher need: Apples, tomatoes, peppers, brassicas (cabbage, broccoli), legumes. Reason: Prevention of specific physiological fruit disorders (blossom end rot, bitter pit), need for strong cell walls in brassicas and legumes.

Conclusion: Calcium is crucial for the structural integrity of cells and tissues, especially during active growth.

5. Magnesium (Mg)

Category: Secondary Macronutrient

Importance for the plant:

Central atom of the chlorophyll molecule, essential for photosynthesis.
Activator of many enzymes, especially those involved in energy metabolism (ATP synthesis) and protein synthesis.
Participates in the transport of phosphorus in the plant.
Is mobile in the plant (can move from older to younger leaves).

Seasonal Importance:

Spring: Needed for chlorophyll formation in new leaves and initiating photosynthesis.
Summer: Maintains high levels of photosynthesis during periods of intense sunlight and fruit growth.
Autumn: Before leaf fall, some magnesium may move to perennial parts of the plant.

Highest need: During periods of intense growth and high photosynthetic activity (late spring, summer).

Crops with higher need: Potatoes, tomatoes, corn, grapevines, cereals, leafy vegetables. Reason: High demands on photosynthesis due to the production of large biomass or fruits with high sugar/starch content.

Conclusion: Magnesium is at the center of photosynthesis and plays an important role in the energy metabolism of the plant.

6. Sulfur (S)

Category: Secondary Macronutrient

Importance for the plant:

A component of some essential amino acids (cysteine, methionine) and thus of proteins.
Participates in chlorophyll formation.
A component of some vitamins (biotin, thiamine) and coenzyme A (important in metabolism).
Responsible for the characteristic taste and smell of some plants (garlic, onion, brassicas – glucosinolates).
Important for the formation of disulfide bridges in proteins, which affects their structure and function.

Seasonal Importance:

Spring: Needed for protein and enzyme synthesis during rapid growth.
Summer: Maintaining protein synthesis, forming specific compounds (e.g., in brassicas).
Autumn: Less important for active growth, can be stored.

Highest need: During periods of active vegetative growth, when there is a high need for protein synthesis.

Crops with higher need: Brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale), onion family vegetables (onions, garlic, leeks), legumes (for protein synthesis). Reason: Formation of specific sulfur compounds (glucosinolates, alliin) or high protein content.

Conclusion: Sulfur is essential for the formation of important amino acids, proteins, and specific compounds affecting plant taste and defense.

Micronutrients

7. Iron (Fe)

Category: Micronutrient

Importance for the plant:

Essential for chlorophyll synthesis (though not a direct component).
Key component of enzymes and proteins involved in respiration and photosynthesis (electron transport – cytochromes, ferredoxin).
Participates in nitrogen and sulfur metabolism.
Relatively immobile in the plant.

Seasonal Importance:

Spring: Important for chlorophyll formation in new leaves.
Summer: Maintaining photosynthetic capacity.
Autumn: Less important.

Highest need: During periods of rapid leaf growth. Requires continuous supply.

Crops with higher need: Acid-loving plants (blueberries, rhododendrons, azaleas – iron is less available in alkaline soils), citrus, fruit trees, legumes (for nitrogen fixation enzymes), spinach. Reason: Sensitivity to soil pH affecting Fe availability, high demands on photosynthesis or nitrogen fixation.

Conclusion: Iron is essential for chlorophyll formation and key energy transfer processes in the plant.

8. Manganese (Mn)

Category: Micronutrient

Importance for the plant:

Activates many enzymes.
Crucial for photosynthesis – essential for water photolysis (splitting of water molecules within photosystem II).
Participates in chlorophyll synthesis, nitrogen metabolism, and the synthesis of some vitamins.
Important in protection against oxidative stress.

Seasonal Importance:

Spring and Summer: Most important during periods of active photosynthesis.
Autumn: Less important.

Highest need: During periods of high photosynthetic intensity.

Crops with higher need: Cereals (oats, barley), soybeans, peas, potatoes, spinach, onions, fruit trees (apples, cherries). Reason: Key role in photosynthesis and enzyme activation. Its availability is affected by soil pH (less available in alkaline and well-aerated soils).

Conclusion: Manganese plays a critical role in photosynthesis and the activation of many enzyme systems.

9. Zinc (Zn)

Category: Micronutrient

Importance for the plant:

Component or activator of a large number of enzymes (e.g., alcohol dehydrogenase, carbonic anhydrase).
Essential for the synthesis of auxin (indoleacetic acid – IAA), an important growth hormone.
Participates in carbohydrate metabolism, protein, and DNA synthesis.
Important for the stability of cell membranes.

Seasonal Importance:

Spring: Critical for initial growth, leaf, and shoot formation (due to auxin synthesis).
Summer: Maintaining growth.
Autumn: Less important.

Highest need: In the early stages of vegetative growth.

Crops with higher need: Corn, legumes (beans), citrus, fruit trees (especially apples, peaches, pecans), hops, flax. Reason: High sensitivity to auxin deficiency in early stages, specific enzymatic requirements. Deficiency is more common in alkaline soils or soils with high phosphorus content.

Conclusion: Zinc is vital for the synthesis of plant hormones and the function of many key enzymes.

10. Copper (Cu)

Category: Micronutrient

Importance for the plant:

Component of enzymes involved in redox reactions (e.g., cytochrome oxidase in respiration, plastocyanin in photosynthesis).
Participates in carbohydrate and nitrogen metabolism.
Important for the lignification of cell walls (lignin formation – tissue strength).
Affects flowering, seed, and fruit development.

Seasonal Importance:

Spring and Summer: During active growth, tissue lignification, and reproductive processes.
Autumn: Less important.

Highest need: During active growth phases. Needed in very small amounts, easily toxic in excess.

Crops with higher need: Cereals (especially wheat, barley, oats), vegetables (lettuce, spinach, onions), root vegetables, citrus. Reason: Specific enzymatic requirements, role in lignification. Deficiency is more common in organic or sandy soils.

Conclusion: Copper, in small amounts, is essential for key enzymatic reactions and tissue strength.

11. Boron (B)

Category: Micronutrient

Importance for the plant:

Crucial for the synthesis and structure of cell walls (together with calcium).
Important for the integrity of cell membranes.
Essential for sugar transport in the plant.
Participates in nitrogen and phenol metabolism.
Critical for flowering, pollen germination, fertilization, and the development of seeds and fruits.
Very immobile in most plants.

Seasonal Importance:

Spring: Important for cell division, growth of new tissues, and especially for flowering (pollen germination).
Summer: Critical for fertilization, fruit and seed development, and sugar transport to fruits.
Autumn: Less important for growth, but continuous supply is important due to low mobility.

Highest need: During flowering and the development of fruits and seeds. Requires continuous supply.

Crops with higher need: Oilseed rape, sugar beet, alfalfa, clover, brassicas, celery, apples, pears, grapevines, sunflowers. Reason: High demands on cell wall formation, sugar transport to storage organs (roots, fruits), and especially for reproductive processes (flowering, seed formation). The difference between deficiency and toxicity is small.

Conclusion: Boron is essential for cell wall integrity, sugar transport, and successful plant reproduction.

12. Molybdenum (Mo)

Category: Micronutrient (needed in the smallest quantities).

Importance for the plant:

Key component of two important enzymes:
- Nitrate reductase: Converts nitrates (NO₃⁻) to nitrites (NO₂⁻), which is the first step in nitrogen assimilation in most plants.
- Nitrogenase: An enzyme used by symbiotic bacteria (e.g., Rhizobium in legume root nodules) to fix atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) into ammonia (NH₃).

Seasonal Importance:

Spring and Summer: Most important during periods of active nitrogen uptake and metabolism.
Autumn: Less important.

Highest need: During periods of intensive nitrate assimilation or atmospheric nitrogen fixation.

Crops with higher need: Legumes (peas, beans, soybeans, alfalfa, clover – for N₂ fixation), brassicas (cauliflower, broccoli), spinach, lettuce, citrus. Reason: Necessity for nitrogen-metabolizing enzymes. Deficiency is more common in acidic soils.

Conclusion: Molybdenum, in extremely small amounts, is critically important for nitrogen metabolism in plants.

13. Chlorine (Cl)

Category: Micronutrient

Importance for the plant:

Participates in photosynthesis (water photolysis, similar to manganese).
Regulates osmosis and maintains ion balance (charge neutralization) in cells.
Affects the opening and closing of stomata (together with potassium).

Seasonal Importance:

Spring and Summer: During active photosynthesis and water balance regulation.

Highest need: During active growth. Deficiency is very rare in nature (due to atmospheric depositions, irrigation water). Sometimes toxicity can be a problem (especially in saline soils).

Crops with higher need: Most crops get enough chlorine from the environment. Higher demands are shown by, e.g., kiwi, coconut palm, oil palm. Some crops are sensitive to excess (tobacco, some fruit trees).

Conclusion: Chlorine plays a role in photosynthesis and osmotic regulation, but its deficiency is rare.

14. Nickel (Ni)

Category: Micronutrient (most recently recognized essential element).

Importance for the plant:

Key component of the enzyme urease, which breaks down urea (often used as fertilizer) into ammonia, usable by the plant.
Participates in nitrogen metabolism.
May play a role in iron uptake and seed germination.

Seasonal Importance:

Important throughout the plant's life, especially if urea is the nitrogen source, or during germination and seed development.

Highest need: The need is very low.

Crops with higher need: Legumes, pecans, plants fertilized with urea. Reason: Role of urease in nitrogen metabolism. Deficiency is extremely rare.

Conclusion: Nickel is needed for the function of the enzyme urease, important for urea utilization.

15. Cobalt (Co)

Category: Not generally essential for all higher plants, but is essential for nitrogen-fixing microorganisms. Therefore, it is indirectly essential for leguminous plants.

Importance for the plant:

Essential for symbiotic bacteria (e.g., Rhizobium) to synthesize vitamin B12, which is a cofactor for the enzyme nitrogenase needed for atmospheric nitrogen fixation.

Seasonal Importance:

Spring and Summer: During nodule formation and active nitrogen fixation in legumes.

Highest need: During active symbiotic nitrogen fixation.

Crops with higher need: All legumes (pulses like peas, beans, soybeans; forage crops like alfalfa, clover). Reason: Necessity for symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria.

Conclusion: Cobalt is critically important for the process of atmospheric nitrogen fixation in leguminous plants.

Summary

Plants require a balanced intake of a wide range of nutrients for their life. Macronutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S) are needed in larger quantities and form the basic building blocks of organic molecules, participate in energy metabolism, cell structure, and water regulation. Micronutrients (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B, Mo, Cl, Ni) are needed in much smaller quantities but are equally essential, as they often function as cofactors or components of enzymes that catalyze vital biochemical reactions, including photosynthesis, respiration, and nitrogen metabolism. Cobalt is specifically important for nitrogen fixation in legumes.

The need for individual nutrients varies depending on the plant species, its developmental stage (vegetative growth, flowering, fruit formation), and the season. In spring, the needs for rapid growth dominate (N, P, Mg, S, Fe). In summer, potassium is key for fruit quality and water management, phosphorus for seed development, calcium and boron for fruits, and all elements for maintaining photosynthesis. In autumn, for perennials, potassium plays a role in frost resistance and phosphorus for roots.

Overall Conclusion

Ensuring optimal plant nutrition is crucial for achieving high yields, good fruit quality, and overall plant health. Not only is the sufficiency of each nutrient important, but also their correct ratio, as an excess of one nutrient can block the uptake of another (antagonism). The deficiency of any essential nutrient acts as a limiting factor for growth, even if all other nutrients are in optimal amounts (Liebig's Law of the Minimum). Understanding the functions of individual nutrients and the needs of specific crops at different growth stages allows for targeted fertilization and soil management, leading to more sustainable and efficient cultivation.

Be aware that organic fertilizers can increase your yield by a maximum of 30%, mineral fertilizers by a maximum of 50%, and a combination of both by a maximum of 70%. What's the right answer from my perspective, do you know???? Only chelated fertilizers on leaves. Think of fertilizers simply as follows:

Organic are soil-building, most important, but nutrients are less available. Think of them as taking a pill – it works, but the effectiveness is weaker.
Mineral are fast, targeted, and ideal for supplementing elements that are very difficult or impossible to obtain from organic fertilizers, or to supply them in sufficient quantities is an superhuman effort. Think of them as an intramuscular injection – high and relatively targeted effectiveness.
Chelated foliar fertilizers are targeted, ultra-fast, best when the plant is acutely lacking something. Think of them as an intravenous injection – highest effectiveness, targeted, but use minimally and only when necessary.

If you don't know what to buy, purchase organo-mineral fertilizers designed for the specific plant. They usually dissolve gradually and have a suitable NPK ratio. Supplement micronutrients with a foliar fertilizer. We recommend and use Mikromax; one sachet will last you a really long time.