The science of plant food Part II

 

In the previous section, you’ve learned about the various nutrients that are essential to the growth of your plants. In this section, let’s learn about the function of the important nutrients and what will happen to your plants in their absence.

 

                                                  1. Nitrogen

 

Nitrogen is considered the most significant element among all the other plant nutrients. That’s why you’ll likely notice that Nitrogen maintains the highest proportion in the LYKO nutrient solution. It is mainly responsible for the vegetative growth of your plants (development of leaves and stems) and for the formation of proteins, amino acids, and enzymes that are used in building new cell walls. Nitrogen is crucial throughout the different plant stages.

 

Deficiency symptoms: 

Plants stay short and leaves tend to be pale green yellow in color, especially in older foliage.

 

2. Phosphorus

 

Function:

Phosphorus is an essential component of DNA in plants. It is crucial for tissue formation and cell division, and it plays a critical role in the development of flowers, fruits, seeds, and roots during plant growth. Since Phosphorus affects the formation of DNA in plants, it is especially important at the early phase of seedlings.

 

Deficiency symptoms:

Plants are usually stunted and dark green in color. Symptoms typically occur among older leaves first, and plant maturity gets delayed.

 

 

3. Potassium

 

Function:

Potassium is required in large amounts during the development of plants and in the production of plant food. It is involved in vital processes such as protein synthesis, enzyme activation, and photosynthesis.

 

Deficiency symptoms:

The older leaves become yellowed with scattered dark spots that are brown or black in color. This is often followed by tissue death. Severe deficiency stunts the plant, and all foliage becomes yellowed and curled.

 

 

Secondary Macronutrients:

                                                1. Calcium

Function:

Calcium is directly responsible for cell formation and development. With insufficient calcium, leaf tips and edges will turn brown and even die.

 

Deficiency symptoms:

Young leaves are often affected first before older leaves—they become distorted and stay small in size. You will also notice the presence of spotted or necrotic (dead) areas in the leaves. Bud development is inhibited, and root tips may die. Tip burn on lettuce is a symptom of calcium deficiency but may also be caused by other factors not associated with a solution deficiency.

 

 

 

2. Magnesium

 

Function:

Magnesium is essential to chlorophyll production, helping generate oxygen through photosynthesis. It is needed in large amounts among fast-growing plants.

 

Deficiency symptoms:

The symptoms of a plant lacking magnesium may appear similar to those of a potassium deficiency. The key difference is that a magnesium-deficient plant will almost always yellow around the edges of its leaves (vs. brown, which is commonly observed in plants with potassium deficiency).

 

 

3. Sulfur

 

This is a structural component of two of the 21 amino acids that create protein in plants.

 

Deficiency symptoms:

Deficiency of sulfur is not common among plants. One of the apparent symptoms is yellowing of the leaves, which is first seen on new growth.

 

Learning about all these plant nutrients and the symptoms created when they’re lacking will help you diagnose plant problems easily. We hope this will be helpful in your hydroponic journey as you keep your plants growing healthy and well.