Essential Plant Nutrients; their role in plants and where they come from

Curtis E. Swift, Ph.D., Colorado State University Extension
Tri River Area Agent (Horticulture)

Element Role in Plant Origin
Carbon (C) Air
Hydrogen (H) Water
Oxygen (O) Water
Nitrogen (N) Constituent of proteins, chlorophyll and nucleic acids Soil
Phosphorus (P) Constituent of many proteins, coenzymes, nucleic acids and metabolic substrates; important in energy transfer Soil
Potassium (K) Involved with photosynthesis, carbohydrate translocation, protein synthesis, etc. Soil
Calcium (Ca) A component of cell walls; plays a role in the structure and permeabililty of membranes Soil
Magnesium (Mg) Enzyme activator, component of chlorophyll molecule Soil
Sulfur (S) Important Component of plant proteins Soil
Boron (B) Believed to be important in sugar translocation and carbohydrate metabolism Soil
Iron (Fe) Involved with chlorophyll synthesis and in enzymes for electron transfer Soil
Manganese (Mn) Controls several oxidation-reduction systems and with photosynthesis Soil
Copper (Cu) A catalyst for respiration; a component of various enzymes Soil
Zinc (Zn) Involved with enzyme systems that regulate various metabolic activities Soil
Molydbenum (Mo) Involved with nitrogen fixation Soil
Cobalt (Co) Essential for symbiotic nitrogen fixation Soil
Chlorine (Cl) Involved with oxygen production in photosynthesis Soil
Placed on the Internet April 13, 1997
Updated on December 12, 2009