Presciption Fertilizing
The Essential Nutrients
Written by Dr. Jeffrey S. Ward
The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station
Trees
and shrubs, like all other plants, require 16 essential elements for proper
growth. Three, carbon (C), hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O), comprise more
than 90 percent of plant tissue. The remaining 13 are divided into two
groups, macro- and micronutrients. Three of the macronutrients, nitrogen
(N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), are called primary nutrients because
they are required in relatively large amounts. Calcium (Ca), magnesium
(Mg) and sulfur (S) are called secondary nutrients because they are necessary
in lesser amounts. The remaining seven, known as micronutrients or trace
elements, are iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), boron
(B), molybdenum (Mo) and chlorine (Cl). These elements are needed in very
small quantities. In fact, in excess, they can be toxic to plants.
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