AL-BAHRAIN SECONDARY SCHOOL

Chapter Two: Essential Plant Nutrients

Essential elements are plant nutrient required by all plants to growth and complete their life
cycle.
There are 17 essential plant nutrients, the following diagram shows their detail

2.1. Essential plant nutrient

These elements are the most important required by plants for growth and development. They
are usually found in the air and soil but may be added to the soil when there supply is low.
Essential elements can be divided in to
A. Non-Mineral elements
B. Mineral elements

Non-mineral elements
These minerals are available in a form of water and air. And include
 Carbon: available in form of carbon dioxide gas from atmosphere.it plays an important
role in photosynthesis.
 Hydrogen: is obtained from water.it is vital role in the process of photosynthesis
 Oxygen: it available from atmosphere and from the water the plant absorbs.
These elements are directly involves in synthesis of carbohydrate, proteins and oils in plants

Mineral elements
Mineral elements found in soil from the parent rock and absorbed directly by plant roots in
solution form (ionic form).
Mineral elements is classified into two broad categories.
2.2: Macro-nutrients and Micro-nutrients
Macro-nutrients

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 These are elements required by plant in large amounts.

Macro-nutrients can be divided in to

 Primary elements (fertilizer elements)
 Secondary elements ( limiting elements)

Primary elements (fertilizer elements)

Fertilizer elements are those that form major nutrients components of inorganic fertilizers. These
are nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium (NPK). They are used by plants in relatively large
amount.

 Functions of Nitrogen in plants:

 Used in formation of protein.
 Form part of chlorophyll.
 Encourage vegetative growth.
 Increases the size and protein content of cereals.
 Improves quality of leaf crops.

Deficiency symptoms of nitrogen:

 Chlorosis, this means the loss of chlorophyll and become yellow the leaves.
 Crops ripen prematurely and fall off the plant.
 Stunted growth.

 Function of Phosphorus in plants:

 Phosphorus encourages root formation and develops.
 Used in protein formation.
 Strengthening plant stems.
 Phosphorus stimulates the nodal that is necessary in
leguminous in cereals.
 Deficiency symptoms of phosphorus:
 Stunted growth, results weak of plant stem.
 The leaves of the plant exhibit a purple-green color.
 Leads poor seed and fruit formation.
 Leads poor root development.

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 Function of Potassium in plant:
 It is involves in the synthesis of carbohydrate.
 It required in chlorophyll formation.
 It improves disease resistance in plants.
 It helps protein synthesis.

 Deficiency symptoms of potassium:

 Margins and tips old leaves turn yellow and die.
 Leaves curl and latter fall off prematurely.
 Short nodes that lead to stunted growth.
Secondary elements (limiting elements).
These are elements that other than supplying nutrients have influence on certain
condition of the soil. They moderate soil PH, improve aeration and drainage of the soil.
These include calcium, magnesium and sulphur.

 Function of Calcium in plant:

 Used in protein formation.
 Neutralizes acidic soils.
 Strengthens plant cell walls.
 It improves soil structure.
 It improves aeration, drainage and water
retention

Deficiency symptoms of calcium:

 Leads to stunted growth in plants.
 Plants tips dry off.
 Causes the plants have weak stems.

 Function of Magnesium in plants:

 Formation of chlorophyll molecules.
 It requires in the synthesis of fats and oils.
 It plays important role in enzyme activation.
 It is involves in energy and transportation in plants.

 Deficiency symptoms of magnesium:

 Old leaves become yellow in between the leaves
(interveinal chlorosis).
 The plants stem become weak.
 Leaves dry and fall off in extreme deficiency.

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  Function of sulphur in plants:
 It is necessary for formation of protein
and most plants hormone.
 It is used formation of chlorophyll.
 It is used synthesis of carbohydrate.

 Deficiency symptom of sulphur:

 Plants have very thin stem.
 The leaves turn yellow.
 There is reduced root formation resulting
to poor growth.

Micro-nutrients:
These are elements required by plant in small amounts. They must be present to enable plant to
growth and develop well. Some of micro-nutrients include, iron, zinc, copper, boron, cobalt,
manganese, molybdenum and chlorine.

 Function of some micro-nutrient

 Some forms component of enzymes and vitamins e.g. iron and cobalt.
 Iron is involved in the synthesis of protein.
 Some acts as catalysis in many enzymes system e.g. manganese.
 Boron improves the absorption of water.
 Zinc involved in the formation of growth hormones.

 Deficiency symptoms of micro-nutrient:

 Chlorosis of young leaves indicates lack of iron.
 Formation of short internodes in some plants such as maize.
 Drying of leaves at the tips.
 Stunted growth/ retarded growth in plants.
2.3. Soil PH
Soil PH is the measure of degree of acidity and alkalinity of the soil solution.
The soil PH scale range from (1-----14). Solution with PH 7are said to be neutral, solution with
PH below 7 are said to be acidic and the solution with PH above 7 are said to be alkalinity.
2.4. Soil fertility
Soil fertility the ability of the provide crop with requirement nutrient in proper proportion for high
production.
Characteristics of fertile soil
 Good depth- Deep soils give plant roots great volume to obtain plant nutrients and
provide strong anchorage.
 Good water holding capacity- This will ensure that enough water is retained for plant use.
 Correct soil PH- Different crops have different soil PH requirements
 Be well drained and not water logged.
 Be free from crop and animals pests and disease.
 Have enough plant nutrients.

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How soil to lose its fertility?
Soil cannot maintain its fertility forever due to continuous agricultural activities carried
out on it.
In farming, soil fertility may be lost through the fallowing ways.
a. Leaching: During heavy rains, dissolved mineral salts are taken deep in to the soil
away from of many plants nutrients.
b. Soil erosion: is the removal of top soil which is rich in nutrient. It is caused by water,
wind, animal, and human being. It leads to loss of good soil and plant nutrients making
it infertile.
c. Mono-cropping: growing same type of crop on same piece of land over the years.
d. Continuous cropping: This is a practice of growing crops many times on a same piece
of land. This makes soil to loss its plant nutrients.
d. Burning: when vegetative cover is burned, organic matter is destroyed leading to the
destruction of the soil structure.
e. Change of soil PH: the miss use of some fertilizers and poor drainage may cause the
PH of soil eventually this makes plant nutrients unavailable.
Maintenance of soil fertility:
In order for the soil to remain productive, there is need to maintain or improve its fertility
through good management. Some of the ways through which fertility can be maintained include.
a. Adding of organic manure and fertilizers.
b. Control of soil erosion.
c. Proper Drainage.
d. Proper weeding.
e. Control of soil PH.
f. Crop rotation.

Review questions.
1. Name the two broad categories of essential plant nutrients?
2. Give three macro-nutrients that are referred to as
A. Fertilizer elements?
B. Limiting elements?
3. State three effects or Deficiency symptom and three function of potassium of the
plants?
4. Describe four ways which soil can lose soil fertility?
5. List four characteristics of fertile soil?
6. Differentiate between macro-nutrient and micro-nutrient?
7. State four effects or Deficiency symptom and functions of micro-nutrients?
8. State three factors that maintenance of soil fertility?
9. Define the following terms
A. Soil PH?
B. Soil fertility?

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Chapter Three: Manure and Fertilizers.
3.1. Organic manure, humus and fertilizers
a) Organic matter: Substance coming from plants’ or animals.
b) Manure: Are organic substances that are added to the soil to provide one or more plants
nutrient. They are derived from plant or animal remains.
c) Humus: The dark-coloured substance formed from rotting organic material.
d) Fertilizer: A chemical that is added to the soil to provide plant nutrients.
Importance of organic matter in the soil.
i. It increase the water holding capacity of the soil.
ii. It provides food and shelter for soil micro-nutrient responsible for the decompositions of
the organic matter.
iii. It provides soil fertility by releasing a wide range of in to the soil.
iv. It improves soil structure.
3.2. Classification of organic Manure
Manure is classified according to the method of preparation and the material from which it is made.
There are three types of organic manure based on the above classification. There are
1. Green manure.
2. Farm yard manure.
3. Composite manure.
1. Green manure: This is type of manure prepared from green plants. The plants are grown
for the purpose of incorporating into the soil which they are still green and thus improve
soil fertility.
These plants could either be maize, sorghum, and leguminous plants. Such as beans.
2. Farmyard manure (FYM): it is a mixture of animal waste (urine or dung) and crop
residues used as animal beddings in animal houses, the mixture should be allowed enough
time to decompose.
3. Compost manure: This is the decayed residue of plant and animal material and is made
using any litter or trash found in the farm. The trash is heaped up to encourage decay by
bacteria.
Making compost manure:
1. A base of about 1.20 m by 1.20 m is established.
2. A foundation of maize a stalks is built.
3. Grass, trash or refuse layer of 3 cm is added.
4. A layer of decayed manure, 5 cm deep is put on top.
5. A wood ash layer of 7 cm is added.
6. A layer of top soil is then put on. This makes the last layer of the first stage.
7. The above sequence is repeated until the heap is about 1.20 m high.
8. The heap is finally covered by a layer of dry leaves,
9. Decay and decomposition is encouraged by keeping the heap damp but not wet.
10. After four to six months the compost manure should be ready for use.

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Role of organic matter in the soil:
 Improve water holding capacity.
 Improve soil structure and aeration.
 Encourage beneficial soil organisms.
 Provides nourishment to plants.
3.3. Inorganic fertilizers
Inorganic fertilizers are industrially synthesized chemical compounds that added to the soil to
provide plants that nutrient they need.
Classification of fertilizers:
Inorganic fertilizers can be classified in to four different ways
 By nutrient composition.
 Effects fertilizers on soil PH.
 Time of application in relation to crop growth.
 Form of application.
Nutrient composition
In this classification, fertilizers are re grouped according to the nutrient they supply:
 Straight fertilizers.
 Compound fertilizers.
Straight fertilizers: are fertilizers that supply only one of the three major primary macro-nutrients
Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium.

They are named according to the nutrient they supply.

 Nitrogenous fertilizers
 Phosphate fertilizers.
 Potassic fertilizers.
Compound fertilizers: are fertilizers that supply two or three of major primary macro-nutrients.
They can be divided in two.
a) Complete compound fertilizers: These are the fertilizers that supply all the three
primary fertilizers (NPK) e.g. 20:20:10
b) Incomplete compound fertilizers: These are the fertilizers that supply only two of the
three primary fertilizers e.g. Diammonium phosphate (20:20:0)
Effect of fertilizers on the soil PH
Fertilizers can be classified as acidic or basic. This method is not commonly used as most fertilizers
are acidic except calcium ammonium (can) which is neutral to slightly basic.
Time of application
Fertilizers can be classified in to two.
 Those applied during planting time such as phosphate compound fertilizers.
 Those applied when the crop are actively growing in the field such as nitrogenous and
Potassic fertilizers.
Form in which fertilizers are applied
Most fertilizers are applied in solid form but some are applied in liquid form on the leaves of the
plants. Such fertilizers are referred as foliar feeds.

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Identification of fertilizers.
Fertilizers can be by their physical and chemical properties.
 Colour.
 Solubility
 Shape of granule.
 And PH
Properties of individual fertilizers
Nitrogenous fertilizers
The characteristics of nitrogenous fertilizers
 They are highly soluble in water.
 They have granules
 Also they have white colour.
Phosphate fertilizes
The characteristics of phosphate fertilizers
 They have low solubility in water.
 They have irregular granules of different size.
 Are light grey to dark grey in colour.
Potassic fertilizers
Characteristics of Potassic fertilizers
 Soluble in water.
 Have regular granules.
 Also mainly white in colour.
Method of fertilizer application:
There are several ways of applying fertilizers in the farm.
 Broadcasting: This involves scattering the fertilizer randomly all over the field by hand or
from some kind of machine.

 Row application (band placement): This means placing fertilizer in the planting holes or
furrows just before planting. This method is recommended for phosphatic fertilizers because
phosphorus is immobile and does not dissolve easily but remain in the soil for a long time.

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 Side dressing: fertilizers are placed beside the crop at the base. Care must be exercise to avoid the
fertilizers coming in to direct contact with the crop.

 Ring placement: the fertilizers is applied around the base of the plant within the root zone. But
away from the stem.

 Drip method: During this method, the fertilizer is first dissolved in water and gradually released
in solution form in drips.

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Foliar spraying: the fertilizers are dissolved in water and then applied in spray form to the
crops. The nutrients are absorbed through the leaves. Micronutrients are applied through this
method.

Review questions
1. Define the following terms.
a. Organic matter?
b. Humus?
c. Fertilizers?
d. Manure?
e. Inorganic fertilizers?
2. What is meant by green manure?
3. State three importance organic matter in the soil?
4. State four factors considered when classifying of inorganic fertilizers?
5. What are three types of organic manure? And explain each one?
6. List four characteristics of nitrogenous fertilizer?
7. State several ways of applying fertilizers in the farm?

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