Macronutrients

• (N)-Nitrogen: Part of proteins, hormones, chlorophyll, vitamins and enzymes. Promotes stem and leaf growth.
  Too much can delay fruiting.
  Deficiency: reduced yields, yellowing of leaves, stunted growth
   
• (P)-Phosphorus: Seed germination, photosynthesis, protein formation, overall growth and metabolism, flower and fruit formation.
  Deficiency: purple stems and leaves, retarded growth and maturity; poor flowering and fruiting. Apply close to roots. Large amounts without zinc cause zinc deficiency. Low pH <4 ties-up phosphates in organic soils.
   
• (K)-Potassium: Formation of sugars, carbohydrates, proteins, cell division. Adjusts water balance; improves stem rigidity, cold hardiness; enhances flavor, color and oil content of fruits; important for leafy crops.
  Deficiency: spotted, curled, or burned look to leaves; lowers yields.
   
• (S)-Sulfur: Part of amino acids, proteins, vitamins, enzymes. Essiential for chlorophyll. Imparts flavor to many vegetables.
  Deficiency: light green leave. 
  Leached by watering. Water supplies may contain Sulfur.
   
• (Mg)-Magnesium: Critical part of chlorophyll; functioning of enzymes for carbohydrates; sugars and fats; fruit and nut formation; germination of seeds. It helps regulate uptake of other elements.
  Deficiency: yellowing between veins of older leaves; chlorosis; leaves droop. 
  Leached by watering. Foliar spray to correct deficiencies.
   
• (Ca)-Calcium: To raise pH. Promotes root hair formation. Activates enzymes; structural part of cell walls; influences water movement; cell growth and division. Required for uptake of nitrogen and other minerals. Leached by watering. Immobile - requires a constant supply for growth.
  Deficiency: stunting of new growth in stems, flowers, roots; black spots on leaves and fruit; yellow leaf margins.

Micronutrients

• (Fe)-Iron: Enzyme functions; catalyst for synthsis of chlorophyll; essential for net growth.
  Deficiency: pale leaves; yellowing of leaves and veins. 
  Leached by water and held in lower parts of soil. High pH soils may have iron present but unavailable to plants.
   
• (Mn)-Manganese: Enzyme activity for photosynthesis, respiration, and nitrogen metabolism. 
  Deficiency : young leaves pale with green veins similar to iron deficiency; advanced stages are white, leaves are shed. Brown, black, or gray spots appear next to veins. Plants in neutral or alkaline soils often show deficiency. Acid soils may increase uptake causing toxicity.
   
• (B)-Boron: Affects at least 16 functions: flowering, pollination, fruiting, cell division, water relationships, movement of hormones, cell wall formation, membrane integrity, calcium uptake, movement of sugars. Immobile, easily leached.
  Deficiency: terminal bud dies, causing rosette of thick, curled, brittle leaves or brown, discolored, cracked, fruits, tubers and roots.
   
• (Zn)-Zinc: Functional part of enzymes including auxins (growth hormones), carbohydrate metabolism, protein synthesis, stem growth.
  Deficiency: mottled leaves, irregular yellow areas. Zinc deficiency leads to iron deficiency. Occurs on eroded soils; least available at pH of 5.5 - 7.0. Lower pH can cause availability to the point of toxicity.
   
• (Cu)-Copper: Found in roots; necessary for nitrogen metabolism; component of enzymes may be part of enzyme systems that use carbohydrates and proteins. Deficiency: die back of shoot tips; terminal leaves develop brown spots. Bound tightly in organic matter. May be deficient in highly organic soils. Not readily lost from soil but may be unavailable. Too much can cause toxicity.
   
• (Mo)- Molybdenum: Needed for nitrogen fixation and nitrogen use in the plant, specifically it is needed to make amino acids; it stimulates plant growth and vigor very much like nitrogen.
  Deficiency: pale leaves with rolled, cupped margins. Seeds may not form; nitrogen deficiency may occur if plants are lacking Mo.
   
• (CI)-Chlorine: Involved in osmosis (movement of water or solutes in cells), ionic balance necessary to take up mineral elements and photosynthesis.
  Deficiency: wilting, stubby roots, yellowing, bronzing. Scents in some plants may be decreased. 
  Leached by watering.
   
• (Co)-Cobalt: Required by nitrogen fixing bacteria. Improves growth, water movement and photosynthesis.
  Deficiency: may result in nitrogen deficiency symptoms.
   
• (Ni)-Nickel: Recently recognized as an essential element. Required for the urease enzyme to break down urea into usable nitrogen and for iron absorption. Seeds need nickel to germinate.
   
• (Na)-Sodium: Involved in osmotic (water movement) and ionic balance in plants.
   
• (Si)-Silicon: Component of cell walls; creates mechanical harrier to piercing - sucking insects and fungi. Foliar sprays reduce populations of aphids on some plants. Enhances leaf presentation; improves heat and drought tolerance, and reduces transpiration.
  Deficiency: wilting, poor fruit and flower set, increased susceptibility to insects and disease.