how do nutrients effect a plants growth?

Answer 1

Nitrogen is used in building all proteins. Amine refers to the nitrogen group of a molecule like an amino acid. Proteins made from amino acids are used in construction, both in regulating the building process, and in the structure. Nitrogen is also part of chlorophyll. When nitrogen is deficient, plants concentrate it in their youngest leaves, so the older, larger leaves turn pale, and in severe cases may wither and fall. Because nitrogen is so often the limiting factor to growth plants will take up more than they need deregulating their growth. They have no feedback to slow its uptake.

Phosphorous is required to build ATP (adenosinetriphosphate) essential for accepting and storing solar energy that is distributed from sugar and starch respiration. Without sufficient phosphorus, plants again will be stunted. The leaves will be purplish from the accumulated sugars created by photosynthesis that cannot be used in the absence of sufficient phosphorus. This same ATP is part of the DNA as dATP (deoxy-adenosinetriphosphate) so is also critical to cellular replication as one of the four nucleic acids.

Potassium is used to regulate the creation of plant food. Potassium aids in the food transportation and storage processes that are fueled by phosphorus (ATP) and facilitated by nitrogen (proteins, enzymes). Potassium is used as a mobile small molecule with a charge to create potential gradients across cell membranes. Potassium regulates water as well as large molecule transport. Plants deficient in potassium can not regulate their stomata so dehydrate.

Other minor or secondary nutrients are also critical but less likely to be rate limiting. Magnesium is the central element in chlorophyll. Calcium is important because of the critical role it plays in the structure of cell walls. Sulfur, as part of protein structure, has the same deficiency symptoms as nitrogen. Note carbon is not listed as plants acquire this for themselves directly from the atmosphere.