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We have been discussing the importance of essential elements and their role in the overall growth of plants. We also discussed about eight essential micro-nutrients in the last post. In furtherance to this aspect it is good to understand that ‘Sulphur’ is also considered as a micro-nutrient by some of the experts. But we deliberately excluded this element from our list as though the quantity of sulphur required for plant growth is very small but it is substantially high compared to all other eight elements.Now let us have a firsthand idea about these eight micro-nutrients and how their presence affects the growth of a plant.

Boron is a typical element agent that is primarily responsible for carbohydrate transport in plants. It is an important catalyst regulating the metabolic functions in the plant. Though minuscule quantity of Boron is required but its deficiency is even more dangerous for plant’s health. Boron deficiency often results in to bud dieback.

Chlorine is extremely necessary for osmosis and ionic balance. At the same time Chlorine is also responsible for effective photosynthesis in plants.

Cobalt is essential to plant health. Cobalt is generally considered as an important catalyst in the nitrogen fixation process. For ensuring better results of nitrogen fixation there may be an additional requirement of Cobalt that would be added to some soils before seeding legumes.

Copper is a representative component of some enzymes and of vitamin A.  Deficiency of copper is directly related to the deficiency of specific enzymes and vitamin A. This deficiency of copper is commonly demonstrated as browning of leaf tips and chlorosis in the plants.

Iron is essential for chlorophyll synthesis, which is why an iron deficiency results in chlorosis.

Manganese presence in the plants is an indicative of healthy chlorophyll status. Manganese activates some important enzymes involved in chlorophyll formation. Any deficiency of Manganese in the plants will also develop chlorosis between the veins of its leaves.  You must maintain the soil pH within its recommended range as the availability of manganese is partially dependent on soil pH.

Molybdenum is another such element that is essential to plant health. Molybdenum is used by plants to reduce nitrates into usable forms. It is an assertive process in itself and some plants use it for nitrogen fixation also .Therefore there may be an additional requirement of Molybdenum for some soils before seeding legumes.

Zinc is an active participant and vital ingredient determining the right chlorophyll formation in plants. Zinc also acts an instigator for many enzymes.  Deficiency of Zinc normally gets easily noticed in the plants. Common symptoms of zinc deficiency include chlorosis and stunted growth.