Plant Nutrition : Macronutrients

(N, P, K, S, Mg and Ca)

Tanah, dan bukan air, merupakan materi

yang menyusun tanaman
Woodward compared
plant growth in water
containing different
amounts of mineral
matter to test the
assumption that water
is a plants sole
requirement

Some thoughts and

experiments
concerning
vegetation (1699)

Spring
water

Rain
water

Thames River
water

Weight gain:
55%

62%

93%

Woodward
Woodward concluded
concluded
that
that mineral
mineral matter
matter
nourishes
nourishes plants,
plants, laying
laying
the
the foundation
foundation for
for the
the
study
study of
of plant
plant mineral
mineral

Law of the Minimum: Nutrient

in least supply limits growth
Carl Sprengel
1787 - 1859

Justus von Liebig

1803 - 1873

Growth is
determined by
whichever
nutrient is
present in
shortest supply

Stamp issued 150

years after his birth
Biodiversity Heritage Library

Lawes & Gilbert began investigating plant nutrition

at Rothamsted 1843
Joseph Henry Gilbert John Bennett Lawes
1817 - 1901
1814 - 1901

Lawes estate is now

Rothamsted
Research, the longestrunning agricultural
experiment station

Lawes
Superphosphate
factory pioneered the
production of
chemicallyImages used by permissionfertilizers
of Rothamsted Research
synthesized

Plants assimilate mineral nutrients from their

surroundings
Nutrient
assimilation can
occur across the
surface of the plant
or through the root
system of vascular
plants
K
+

NO3-

NO3-

NO3-

K+

K+
PO43-

K+

K+
K+

PO43-

PO

K+

K+

34

NO

PO43PO43-

PO43-

Plants assimilate mineral nutrients mainly as

cations or anions
MACRONUTRIENT
mol / g ElementS
Assimilated

MICRONUTRIENTS
Element

form

mol / g
(dry wt)

Assimilated
form

Potassium
(K)

K+

Iron (Fe)

Fe3+, Fe2+

0.002

Nickel (Ni)

Ni+

1000

Nitrogen (N)

NO3-, NH4+

Mn2+

60

Phosphorus
(P)

HPO42-,
H2PO4-

Manganese
(Mn)

0.1

Copper (Cu)

Cu2+

30

Sulfur (S)

SO42-

0.001

80

Magnesium
(Mg)

Mg2+

Molybdenum MoO42+
(Mo)

Boron (B)

H3BO3

Chlorine (Cl)

Cl-

0.3

Zinc (Zn)

Zn2+

(dry wt)

250

125

Calcium (Ca) Ca2+

Charged
Chargedions
ionsrequire
require
transport
proteins
transport proteinsto
to
cross
crossmembranes
membranes

However, larger and more complex nutrients also can be

taken up

Carnivorous plants
can obtain nutrients
by digesting trapped
animals

Other, noncarnivorous plants

can obtain
nutrients from
proteins and even
microbes,
although these
processes are very
inefficient

Schmidt, S., Raven, J.A. and Paungfoo-Lonhienne, C. (2013). The mixotrophic nature of photosynthetic plants. Funct. Plant Biol. 40: 425-438 by permission of CSIRO Publishing; Adlassnig, W., Koller-Peroutka, M.,
Bauer, S., Koshkin, E., Lendl, T. and Lichtscheidl, I.K. (2012). Endocytotic uptake of nutrients in carnivorous plants. Plant J. 71: 303-313. Hill, P.W., Marsden, K.A. and Jones, D.L. (2013). How significant to plant N
nutrition is the direct consumption of soil microbes by roots? New Phytol. 199: 948-955.

Vascular plants assimilate mineral nutrients

mostly via roots

By increasing surface area for

absorption, root hairs
functionally resemble microvilli
of an animals intestinal
epithelium

Membrane transporters facilitate nutrient uptake

Barberon, M. and Geldner, N. (2014). Radial transport of nutrients: the plant root as a polarized epithelium. Plant Physiol. 166: 528-537.

Roots have several adaptations

to enhance nutrient capture
Biochemica
l responses

Fungal
symbiotic
partners

Developmen
tal
responses

Prokaryotic
symbiotic
partners

Schmidt, S., Raven, J.A. and Paungfoo-Lonhienne, C. (2013). The mixotrophic nature of photosynthetic plants. Funct. Plant Biol. 40: 425-438 by permission of CSIRO publishing.

Elemen Essential

Klasifikasi elemen essential;

Ketiadaan elemen tersebut menyebabkan
tumbuhan
tidak mampu menyelesaikan daur hidupnya
_ Tidak dapat digantikan oleh elemen lain
_ Efek yang ditimbulkan adalah secara langsung
_ Dibedakan menjadi :
* makronutrient (10 -3 to 10 -2 mol/L)
* mikronutrient (10-7 mol/L)

1. Essential Nutriens of Plants

Element

Chemical
symbol

Atomic
weight

Ionic forms
Absorbed by plants

Approximate dry
____ concentration_____

Mccronutrients
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Potassium
Magnesium
Sulfur
Calcium

N
P
K
Mg
S
Ca

14.01
30.98
39.10
24.32
32.07
40.08

NO3-, NH4+
PO43-, HPO42-, H2PO4K+
Mg2+
SO42Ca2+

4.0 %
0.5 %
4.0 %
0.5 %
0.5 %
1.0 %

Fe
Mn
Zn
Cu
B
Mo
Cl

55.85
54.94
65.38
63.54
10.82
95.95
35.46

Fe2+, Fe3+
Mn2+
Zn2+
Cu2+
BO32-, B4O72MoO42Cl-

200 ppm
200 ppm
30 ppm
10 ppm
60 ppm
2 ppm
3000 ppm

Micronutrients
Iron
Manganese
Zinc
Copper
Boron
Molybdenum
Chlorine

Essential But Not Applied

Carbon
C
12.01
CO2
40 %
Hydrogen
H
1.01
H2O
6%
Oxygen
O
16.00
O2, H2O
40 %
________________________________________________________________
Plant tissues also contain other elements (Na, Se, Co, Si, Rb, Sr, F, I) which are not
needed for the normal growth and development.

Beneficial elements
Tidak diperlukan secara absolut untuk
survival tetapi dapat memacu
pertumbuhan dan vigor
Contoh :

Selenium (SeO42-)
Rubidium (Rb+)
Strontium (Sr2+)
Aluminium (Al3+)

Klasifikasi nutrien berdasarkan fungsi biokimiawi

Klasifikasi nutrien berdasarkan fungsi biokimiawi

Klasifikasi nutrien berdasarkan fungsi biokimiawi

 Senyawa organik yg mengandung N yang

diperlukan untuk metabolisme sel :
Vitamin, cofactors, hormones, chlorophyll,
fitokrom
Senyawa metabolit sekunder yang
mengandung N : alkaloids (morphine,
nicotine, quinine)
Non photosynthetic pigmen contain N :
betacyanin

Nitrogen: The most abundant mineral

element in a plant

The most abundant element in

the earths atmosphere
The 4th most abundant element
in a plant (after C, H and O)
Often the limiting nutrient for
plant growth

N is in amino acids
(proteins), nucleic
acids (DNA, RNA),
chlorophyll, and
countless small
molecules

Blank, L.M. (2012). The cell and P: From cellular function to biotechnological application. Curr. Opin. Biotech. 23: 846 851.From:
Buchanan, B.B., Gruissem, W. and Jones, R.L. (2000) Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Plants. American Society of Plant Physiologists.

Nitrogen is one of
the three major
macronutrients
found in most
fertilizers

Nitrogen can be found in many inorganic forms

Species
R-NH2

Name

Oxidation
State

Organic nitrogen, urea

NH3, NH4+ Ammonia,

ammonium ion

-3

NO2-

-3

N2

Nitrogen

N2O

Nitrous oxide

+1

NO

Nitric oxide

+2

HNO2,
NO2-

Nitrous acid,
nitrite ion

+3

NO2

Nitrogen dioxide

+4

HNO3,
NO3-

Nitric acid, nitrate ion

+5

Nitrificatio
n

NO3Nitrate

reduction

NO2-

NO
N2O

Aerobic
reactions

NH3

Anaerobic
reactions

Nitrogen
fixation

N2

Adapted from Robertson, G.P. and Vitousek, P.M. (2009). Nitrogen in agriculture: Balancing the cost of an essential resource. Annu. Rev. Environ. Res. 34: 97-125.

A. Nitrogen (N)
1) Soil Nitrogen Cycle

Fiksasi Nitrogen : transformasi N dari

atmosfir menjadi N tersedia bagi tumbuhan perlu
bakteri yg mampu memfiksasi N :
Rhizobium (symbiotic) found in legumes (bean, soybean)
Azotobacter (non-symbiotic bacteria)

Nitrifikasi di tanah : dekomposisi bahan organik

menjadi amonium dan nitrat, diperantarai oleh
bakteri yang mampu melakukan amonifikasi dan
nitrifikasi
Ammonifying bacteria : (Actinomycetes)
Nitrifying bacteria : (Nitrosomonas)

Plant residue
NO3(Protein, aa, etc)

NH4+
Ammonium

(Nitrobacter)

NO2
Nitrite

Fungsi N bagi tumbuhan :

Komponen protein, enzim, asam amino,
asam nukleat, klorofil
C/N rasio ( karbohidrat : nitrogen rasio)
C/N rasio tinggi : tanaman cenderung dalam
fase
reproduktif
C/N rasio rendah : tanaman cenderung dalam
fase
vegetatif
Transaminasi : NO3 ---- NH2 ----- asam glutamat-----asam
amino lain ------- protein / enzim
20

Gejala defisiensi dan toksisitas N

Defisiensi : pertumbuhan terhambat,
daun tua menjadi kuning
Kelebihan N : pemanjangan tunas /
batang
daun hijau gelap,
sukulen

21

Pupuk N
- Ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3)
Calcium nitrate [Ca(NO3)2]
Potassium nitrate (KNO3)
Urea [CO(NH2)2]

- Kebanyakan tumbuhan menyukai 50:50 NH4+ : NO3NH4+-form of N lowers soil pH

NO3--form of N raises soil pH
- Pupuk organik (manure, plant residue) :
* slow acting
* dapat diaplikasikan lewat daun

22

Defisiensi Nitrogen

Tomato

Symptoms
- kerdil
- Daun tua hijau kekuningan
- Kadang semua daun menjadi
hijau muda dan mengalami
klorosis di ujungnya
- Daun mati jika sangat
kekurangan N
-Daun menjadi sempit, pendek,
tegak, hijau kekuningan
- Seluruh tanaman dapat menjadi
kekuningan
- Mengurangi anakan
- Mengurangi jumlah bulir

Corn

Gejala kekurangan Nitrogen (N)

Daun tua menjadi kuning- nitrogen

mudah tertransport didalam sel

B. Phosphorus (P)
1) keberadaan dalam tanah
- Mineral apatite [Ca5F(PO4)3]
- Relative stabil
- Sulit terserap

2) Fungsi bagi tumbuhan

- Komponen asam nukleat (DNA, RNA), phospholipids, coenzymes,
energy phosphate bonds (ADP, ATP)
- Biji memiliki kandungan P tinggi

3)Defisiensi dan toksisitas

- P bersifat mobile / mudah tertransport (Deficiency occurs in older
leaves)
- Defisiensi : dark, purplish color on older leaves
- kelebihan P: causes deficiency symptoms of Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn

4) Pupuk
- Superphosphates (may contain F)
Single superphosphate (8.6% P): CaH4(PO4)2
Triple superphosphate (20% P): CaH4(PO4)2
- Ammonium phosphate:
(NH4)2PO4, NH4HPO4
- Bone meal
- Available forms: PO43-, HPO42-, H2PO4P absorption influenced by pH

high-

Defisiensi Phosphor
Symptoms
- Tanaman kerdil
- Perkembangan tanaman lambat

Cabernet sauvignon grapes, CA

Corn

-Beberapa spesies seperti tomat,

selada, jagung menunjukkan warna
keunguan pada daun, tangkai daun
atau batang
- under severe deficiency conditions,
there is also a tendency for leaves to
develop a blue-gray luster
- Pada daun yang tua jika defisiensi P
sangat besar akan terbentuk jaring
warna coklat pada tulang daun
- Terbentuk spot nekrosis

C. Potassium (K)
1) Keberadaan di tanah
- terdapat cukup banyak pada mineral tanah
- konsentrasi rendah pada tanah organik/humus

2) Fungsi bagi tummbuhan

- Activator banyak enzim-enzim
- pengatur pergerakan air melewati membran dan stomata

3) Deficiency and Toxicity

- Deficiency:

Leaf margin necrosis and browning

- Toxicity:

Older leaves are more affected

Leaf tip and marginal necrosis

4) Fertilizers
- Potassium chloride (KCl)- murate of potash
- Potassium sulfate (K2SO4)
- Potassium nitrate (KNO3)

Necrosis pada tepi daun Poinsettia

akibat defisiensi Potassium (K)

Potassium deficiency
Soybean
Symptoms
- mottled or marginal chlorosis, which
then develops into necrosis on tips,
margins and between veins
- symptoms initially on more mature
(older) leaves
- leaves may curl and crinkle
- stems may be slender and weak, with
abnormally short internodal regions
- in K-deficient corn, nodes may have
increased susceptibility to root-rotting
fungus present in the soil
- this together with stem weakness
results in bending of stems to the
ground (lodging)

Corn

Defisiensi Macronutrients N, P, pada daun

selada

Contr
ol

Defisiensi Macronutrient pada tanaman

kacang-kacangan

D. Calcium (Ca)
1) Soil Relations
- Present in large quantities in earths surface (~1% in US top soils)
- Influences availability of other ions from soil

2) Plant Functions
- Component of cell wall
- Involved in cell membrane function
- Largely present as calcium pectate in meddle lamela
Calcium pectate is immobile in plant tissues

3) Deficiency and Toxicity

- Deficiency symptoms in young leaves and new shoots (Ca is immobile)
Stunted growth, leaf distortion, necrotic spots, shoot tip death
Blossom-end rot in tomato

- No Ca toxicity symptoms have been observed

4) Fertilizers
- Agricultural meal (finely ground CaCO3MgCO3)
- Lime (CaCO3), Gypsum (CaSO4)
- Superphosphate
- Bone meal-organic P source

Blossom End Rot of Tomato

Calcium Deficiency

Right-Hydroponic tomatoes grown in the

greenhouse, Left-Blossom end rot of tomato
fruits induced by calcium (Ca++) deficiency

Sulfur
Disulphite bridge (-S-S-) stabilize
tertiary protein structure
Sulphydryl groups (-SH) ada di
bagian aktif enzyme
Iron-sulphur protein (ferredoxin)
involved in electron transfer
Flavour (Brassicaceae, onions, garlic)

E. Sulfur (S)
1) Soil Relations
- Present in mineral pyrite (FeS2, fools gold), sulfides (S-mineral complex),
sulfates (involving SO4-2)
- Mostly contained in organic matter
- Acid rain provides sulfur

2) Plant Functions
- Component of amino acids (methionine, cysteine)
- Constituent of coenzymes and vitamins
- Responsible for pungency and flavbor (onion, garlic, mustard)

3) Deficiency and Toxicity

- Deficiency:

light green or yellowing on new growth (S is immobile)

- Toxicity: not commonly seen

4) Fertilizers
- Gypsum (CaSO4)
- Magnesium sulfate (MgSO4)
- Ammonium sulfate [(NH4)2SO4]
- Elemental sulfur (S)

F. Magnesium (Mg)
1) Soil Relations
- Present in soil as an exchangeable cation (Mg 2+)
- Similar to Ca2+ as a cation

2) Plant Functions
- Core component of chlorophyll molecule
- Catalyst for certain enzyme activity

3) Deficiency and Toxicity

- Deficiency: Interveinal chlorosis on mature leaves
- Excess:

(Mg is highly mobile)

Causes deficiency symptoms of Ca, K

4) Fertilizers
- Dolomite (mixture of CaCO3MgCO3)
- Epsom salt (MgSO4)
- Magnesium nitrate [Mg(NO3)2]
- Magnesium sulfate (MgSO4)

Defisiensi Magnesium (Mg) pada Poinsettia

Interveinal Chlorosis on Mature

Micronutrients
Micronutrient elements

Iron (Fe)
Manganese (Mn)
Boron (B)
Zinc (Zn)
Molybdenum (Mo)
Copper (Cu)
Chlorine (Cl)

Usually supplied by irrigation water and soil

Deficiency and toxicity occur at pH extremes

Influence of pH on Nutrient Availability

3. Micronutrients
A. Iron (Fe)
- Komponen of cytochromes (needed for photosynthesis)
- Essential for N fixation (nitrate reductase) and respiration
- Deficiency
Symptom: Interveinal chlorosis on new growth
Fe is immobile
Iron chlorosis develops when soil pH is high
Remedy for iron chlorosis:
1) Use iron chelates
FeEDTA (Fe 330) Stable at pH < 7.0
FeEDDHA (Fe 138) Stable even when pH > 7.0

2) Lower soil pH
Iron is in more useful form (Fe2+)

Gejala defisiensi Iron (Fe)

1

A
1-Piggyback Plant, 2- Petunia, 3Silver Maple, 4-Rose (A-normal, BFe-deficient)

B. Manganese (Mn)
- Required for chlorophyll synthesis, O2 evolution during photoshynthesis
- Activates some enzyme systems
- Deficiency: Mottled chlorsis between main veins of new leaves
(Mn is immobile), similar to Fe chlorosis
- Toxicity: Chlorosis on new growth with small, numerous dark spots
Deficiency occurs at high pH
Toxicity occurs at low pH
- Fertilizers:
Manganese sulfate (MnSO4)
Mn EDTA (chelate) for high pH soils

C. Boron (B)
- Involved in carbohydrate metabolism
- Essential for flowering, pollen germination, N metabolism
- Deficiency: New growth distorted and malformed, flowering and fruitset
depressed, roots tubers distorted
- Toxicity: Twig die back, fruit splitting, leaf edge burns
- Fertilizers: Borax (Na2B4O710H2O), calcium borate (NaB4O7 4H2O)

D. Zinc (Zn)
- Involved in protein synthesis, IAA synthesis
- Deficiency: (occurs in calcarious soil and high pH)
Growth suppression, reduced internode lengths, rosetting,
interveinal chlorosis on young leaves (Zn is immobile in tissues)
- Toxicity: (occurs at low pH) Growth reduction, leaf chlorosis

Micronutrient Toxicity on Seed Geranium

B
Cu
Fe
Mn
Mo
Zn
Cont

0.2
5

0.5

Concentration (mM)

E. Molybdenum (Mo)
- Required for nitrate reductase activity, vitamin synthesis
Nitrate reductase
NO

NH2

Mo
Root-nodule bacteria also requires Mo
- Deficiency: Pale green, cupped young leaves (Mo is immobile)
Strap leafe in broad leaf plants
Occurs at low pH
- Toxicity: Chlorosis with orange color pigmentation
- Fertilizer: Sodium molybdate

F. Copper (Cu)
- Essential component of several enzymes of chlorophyll synthesis, carbohydrate
metabolism
- Deficiency: Rosette or witchs broom
- Toxicity: Chlorosis
- Fertilizers: Copper sulfate (CuSO4)

G. Chlorine (Cl)
- Involved for photosynthetic oxygen revolution
- Deficiency: Normally not existing (Only experimentally induced)
- Toxicity: Leaf margin chlorosis, necrosis on all leaves
- Fertilizer: Never applied
(Cl- is ubiquitous!)

Molybdenum Deficiency on Poinsettia

Iron deficiency

Tomato

Symptoms
- strong chlorosis at the base of the
leaves with some green netting
- deficiency starts out with
interveinal chlorosis of the
youngest leaves, evolves into an
overall chlorosis, and ends as a
totally bleached leaf
- bleached areas often develop
necrotic spots
- because iron has a low mobility,
iron deficiency symptoms appear
first on the youngest leaves
- iron deficiency is strongly
associated with calcareous soils
and anaerobic conditions, and it is
often induced by an excess of
heavy metals

Influence of the pH on the availability of nutrient

elements in organic soils
- main losses of nutrients from
agricultural systems due to leaching
that carries dissolved ions, especially
nitrate, away with drainage water
- in acid soils, leaching may be
decreased by the addition of lime
a mix of CaO, CaCO3 and Ca(OH)2
to make the soil more alkaline,
because many elements form lesssoluble compounds when the pH is
higher than 6
- width of the shaded areas in the graph
indicates the degree of nutrient
availability to the plant root

1. Bagaimana cara
senyawa esensial
diserap dan
didistribusikan
dalam tumbuhan?
Arabidopsis
2. Bagaimana caranya
sel tumbuhan
mengontrol
pergerakan ion dan
air?
3. Bagaimana caranya
tumbuhan bertahan
terhadap kelebihan
ion atau logam
toksik?
4. Bagaimana caranya
sel-sel tumbuhan

Ion uptake and transport in the plant

Except C,H and O, plants acquire all
other elements as inorganic ions ,
even C : carbonat or bicarbonat ion
Not all the ions in the soil are totally
free in the soil solution
Inorganic clay particles
Organic particles (humus)

The region of most active ion uptake

by roots is the young region of roots
behind the apical meristem and root
hair region

Transport
molecular and ionic movement from one
location to another
How are essential nutrients taken up by the plant and
distributed in the plant?
1. Phospholipid bilayer serves as a barrier (semi-permeable membrane)
2. Transport proteins catalyze transport of nutrients and metabolites as
enzymes catalyze chemical reactions; 3 classes of transport proteins
Channels
Carriers
Pumps
3. Transport can be active or passive
passive and active transport of ions results in an electric potential
difference across membranes

Biological membranes are barriers to ions

High permeability
Artificial
membrane

Biological
membrane
Permeability
[cm s-1]

O2
CO2
H2O

10-2

Glycerol

10

10-4
-6

10-8
K+, Na+, Cl-

10-10

Low permeability

O2
H2O, CO2
Glycerol
K+
Na+
Cl-

Adsorption, absorption and accumulation

Adsoption of the cations to the cell wall
H+ ions moving out of the cell by action of proton pumps
H+ are then accessible to be exchanged for soil solution
cations
Absorbtion through the plasma membrane
Accumulation : when the ions are taken up to a greater
concentration inside the plasma membrane than outside

 Adsorption : attraction outside the plasma

membrane
Absorption : actual entry into the cell to the
inside of plasma membrane

Channels, Carriers and Pumps mediate the transport

of solutes across membranes

Major Transport Proteins in Plants

1. Ion pumps: H+-pumping ATPases
2. Channels allow rapid, passive transport of ions and
metabolites
3. Aquaporins (water channels) transport water
4. H+-coupled co-transport is necessary for the transport
of many nutrients and metabolites (active transport;
energy from H+-gradient is used to drive uphill
movement of nutrients)

Transport proteins catalyze transport like enzymes

catalyze chemical reactions

Transport can be active or passive

Passive transport: movement down (downhill) an electrochemical gradient
Active transport: movement against (uphill) an electrochemical gradient
What is an electrochemical gradient? How is it formed?
Passive and active transport of ions result in an electric potential difference
across membranes.
Movement of an uncharged molecule is dependent on the concentration
gradient alone
Movement of an ion depends on the electric gradient and the concentration
gradient
Primary vs. Secondary active transport

How do you know if an ion is moving uphill or downhill?

Nernst equation predicts passive ion distribution, distinguishes between
passive and active transport

What is the driving force for uphill movement?

ATP or H+ electrochemical gradient

Diffusion potentials develop when positively and negatively

charged ions move across a membrane at different rates

Nernst Equation
Difference in electric potential between the two compartments is known as
the Nernst Potential Ej, where J is the passive flux (i.e. the amount of
solute crossing a unit area of membrane per unit time)

Ej = Einside Eoutside
The difference in electric potential between
the two compartments at equilibrium is
Ej = Einside Eoutside = RT (ln Cjoutside)
z jF
Cjinside
Ej = 2.3RT (log Cjoutside)
z jF
Cjinside
At 25C for a univalent cation
Ej = 59mV * log Cjoutside
inside

Microelectrodes are used to measure membrane

potentials across cell membranes

Using the Nernst Equation to predict ion concentration

in pea root tissue at equilibrium
when the cell membrane potential is -110 mV

Enter cell by
diffusion down
their electrochemical potential
gradients

Active
uptake

Special techniques are used in nutritional studies

- roots immersed in nutrient
solution
- large volume of nutrient
solution and adjustment
required
- oxygen supply, bubbling

- roots receive ample supply of

oxygen

Special techniques are used in nutritional studies

- roots suspended in air while
being sprayed continuously
with a nutrient solution
- easy manipulation of
gaseous environment
- requires larger amounts of
nutrients vs. hydroponics

- roots are periodically

immersed in nutrient
solution
- requires higher levels of
nutrients vs. hydroponics

The Role of Chelators in nutrient solution

Diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)

Problem with nutrient

solutions is maintaining the
availability of iron due to
precipitation of iron out of
the solution.
Add chelators that form
complexes with cations
(Fe, Ca) in which cation is
held by ionic forces rather
than covalent bonds.
Chelated ions remain
physically available for the
plant.

DTPA chelated to an Fe3+ ion that binds

through N atoms and three ionized O atoms;
Resulting ring structure clamps the Fe

Mineral deficiencies disrupt

plant metabolism and function
Inadequate supply of an essential element results in nutritional
disorder manifested by characteristic deficiency symptoms
Group 1: Deficiencies in mineral nutrients that are part of
carbon compounds (N, S)
Group 2: Deficiencies in mineral nutrients that are important in
energy storage or structural integrity (P, Si, B)
Group 3: Deficiencies in mineral nutrients that remain in ionic
form (K, Ca, Mg, Cl, Mn, Na)
Group 4: Deficiencies in mineral nutrients that are involved in
redox reactions (Fe, Zn, Cu, Ni, Mo)
For more examples on nutrient deficiencies, please visit
http://3e.plantphys.net/article.php?ch=t&id=289

Treating nutritional deficiencies

Inorganic fertilizer
Straight fertilizerSuper phosphate,
ammonium nitrate
Compound fertilizer (i.e. contain two or more
mineral nutrients)

Organic fertilizer
Residues of plants and animals
Mineralization (organic compounds broken
down by microorganisms)

Foliar application of fertilizers

Uptake is faster
Deficiency can be prevented
Not tied up in soils (Fe, Mn and Cu)
Expensive
Vineyards

Plants develop extensive root systems

Wheat
Fibrous Root System
Tap Root System

Different areas of the root absorb different mineral ions

- depends on plant species
- Fe is taken up either at apical
region (barley) or over entire
root surface (corn)
- K, NO3, NH4+, P absorbed at
all locations of root
- root hairs are most active
in P absorption
- strong demand of nutrients in
apical region (cell elongation)

Root infected with ectotrophic mycorrhizal fungi

Example: only
tree species;
gymnosperms
and woody
angiosperms

- fungal hyphae surround the

root to produce a dense
fungal sheath and penetrate the intercelluar spaces
of the cortex to form the
Hartig net
- total mass of fungal hyphae
may be comparable to the
root mass itself

Association of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

to promote P acquisition

Example:
Alfalfa

- fungal hyphae grow into

the intercellular wall
spaces of the cortex and
penetrate individual
cortical cells
- plasma membrane or
tonoplast of host cell does
not break
- instead, the hypha is
surrounded by these
membranes and forms
arbuscules, which participate in nutrient ion exchange between the host
plant and the fungus

Nutrition - Summary
- macro- dan micronutrients essential (penting ) untuk
kehidupan tanaman
- Kekurangan nutrient berakibat fatal karena nutrien berperan
dalam penyimpanann energi, struktur tanaman, kofaktor
enzim, reaksi transport elektron
- mineral nutrition can be
studied through the use of solution
culture
- to prevent development of deficiencies, nutrients may be
added back to the soil/plant through fertilizers
- size of soil particles and cation exchange capacity determine
the reservoir for water and nutrients
- soil pH affects availability of mineral elements to plants
- plants develop extensive root system to obtain nutrients
- plant roots form associations with mycorrhizal fungi
- hyphae facilitate the acquisition of mineral elements (P)
- in return, plants provide carbohydrates to mycorrhizae