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| Mineral Content Of Plants |
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| Almost all the elements present in the soil can enter the plant. About sixty elements have been so far detected to occur in plants. The mineral content of a plant is determined by the analysis of plant ash. |
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| Certain elements like calcium, magnesium, nitrogen, phosphorus, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and sulphur are required by plants in large amounts and are called major or macronutrients (atleast 1 mg/g of dry matter). The elements like manganese, boron, copper, zinc, molybdenum and chlorine are required in minute quantities. Hence they are called minor, micro, rare or trace elements. |
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| Example: Boron (B), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo) |
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| Micronutrients or trace elements |
| Certain elements like iron, manganese, copper, molybdenum, zinc, boron and chlorine are required by plants in very small amounts and are called micronutrients (less than 0.1 mg /gm of dry matter). |
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| Of the several elements present in a plant, there are some, which are essential for the healthy growth of plants. They are called essential elements. |
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| An essential element can be recognised by the following criteria according to Arnon and Stout 1939: |
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 It is indispensable for the growth of plants. |
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 The element is involved in the nutrition of plants. It may additionally have a corrective effect on mineral balance and other soil conditions. |
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 A plant is unable to complete its vegetative or reproductive phase in the absence of the element. |
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 The absence or deficiency of the element produces disorders. These disorders are a direct result of the lack or deficiency of the element. |
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 The element alone can correct the disorders produced by its absence or deficiency. Sixteen elements have been found to be essential. |
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| The other elements are called non-essential elements or nutrients. |
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| [Nutrients are considered to be chemical form of elements in which they enter a plant. Example: Ca2+, NO3-]. |
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| Water Culture Experiments Showing Various Experimental Jars |
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