Plants, like animals, require certain nutrients for optimal growth and development. The soil is the primary source of nutrients for plants. <u>Some </u><u>nutrients</u><u> like the following are </u><u>crucial for the plant development and growth.</u>
Nitrogen (a key element in plant proteins and hormones)
Phosphorous (required for early root and plant growth), magnesium (required for production of chlorophyll)
Sulfur ( an element in proteins)
Potassium (improves fruit quality, enhances growth and disease resistance)
Apart from these, metals like copper, iron, manganese, zinc and molybdenum are required for growth in trace amounts.
Fertilizers:
<u>Fertilizers are artificial or natural forms of these nutrients</u> that are added to the soil or the plant to enhance growth and development.
A fertilizer can either be one nutrient or a combination of the aforementioned nutrients. For example, urea is a purely nitrogen based fertilizer whereas potassium phosphate fertilizer is a combination of two nutrients.
Fertilizers are supplied to the plants in a readily available form.
