Introduction
Essential elements for plant growth are commonly classified as macronutrients or micronutrients based on the amount of the element required for normal growth of plants (Allaway, 1975; Epstein and Bloom, 2005). Macronutrients are required in large amounts and normally constitute 1 000 mg kg –1 (0.1%) or more of the dry weight of the plant. Micronutrients are required in relatively small amounts and normally make up less than 500 mg kg –1 (0.05%) of the dry plant weight. Plants contain small amounts of 90 or more elements, but only 16 are known to be essential to higher plants (Epstein and Bloom, 2005; Finkl, 1988). An element is not considered to be essential unless a deficiency of it makes it impossible for the plant to complete its life cycle. Carbon (C), hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and sulfur (S) are classified as macronutrientsand zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo),...
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Hossner, L.R. (2008). Macronutrients. In: Chesworth, W. (eds) Encyclopedia of Soil Science. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-3995-9_337
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