What nutrients are required for normal tree growth?
If you want to know the foundation of any landscape, it is colorful and vibrant trees, plants, and shrubs. The natural beauty of these plants or trees delivers form, scale, and structure to the landscape along with various ecological benefits. But do you know they also need essential nutrients apart from adequate sunlight, good quality soil, water, etc., to thrive?
If you are not aware, you must understand they want the best fertilizer for their healthy growth to get the best possible outcome. In short, like humans, they also require crucial nutrients to survive and thrive. But you also keep one thing in mind: nutrients must be in a balanced amount; otherwise, they grow weak or vulnerable to pests and various diseases.
According to a certified arborist, tree nutrients are categorized into three: they are primary macronutrients, secondary macronutrients, and micronutrients. But before you apply fertilizers to your plants or trees, ensure you must test your soil with a soil pH tester kit or a nutrient test kit that will help you determine which nutrient your trees or plant lacks.
So, let’s discuss some of the essential nutrients which are necessary for plant growth: –
- Nitrogen
Nitrogen is the primary macronutrient that contains chlorophyll. Nitrate in the nitrogen helps foliage grow strong, directly affecting the plant’s leaf development. Apart from that, these nutrients also help give plants or trees their green shade with the help of chlorophyll.
Apart from that, nitrogen helps a plant or tree convert water, soil, and sunlight into its food.
- Phosphorus
Phosphorus is the best nutrient for tree growth which is helpful in root development and also for the production of fruits and seeds. Moreover, it helps strengthen the trees making them less vulnerable to various types of diseases.
- Potassium
If the tree or plant has enough potassium, it will surely yield healthy fruit in its lifetime. Apart from that, this nutrient also protects the tree from any harm during the winter season. That means it protects the tree or plants with the help of phosphorus to shield the plant or tree from many diseases. However, if they become sick, these nutrients help them recover quickly from sickness.
The above nutrients are essential or mandatory for tree or plant growth. But others we will talk about now are not needed in much quantity but are necessary for plant growth.
Secondary plant nutrients
Some of the secondary plant nutrients are magnesium, sulphur, and calcium. However, these nutrients are essential for the plant but not in much quantity. The reason is sulfur helps in the development of vitamins, helps in the development of seed, and most essential form amino acids.
Apart from that, if you talk about magnesium, it is the key component that helps in chlorophyll production and allows plants or trees to utilize iron and phosphorus. Moreover, calcium plays several roles in the plant system, like respiration and cell division. But in some plants or trees, calcium also helps in nut development.
Micronutrients
This is the third category of nutrient for plants or trees, which are needed in very small quantities but are vital for their growth and development. Some of the plant nutrients are copper, manganese, chlorine, boron, iron, molybdenum, zinc, and nickel. Among all of these, copper plays a major role in photosynthesis and reproduction. However, all other nutrients help absorb and utilize various other elements.
How will you come to know the plants are getting essential nutrients?
The texture of soil and its pH determine up to which extent nutrients are available to plants or trees. Soil texture means the amount of silt, sand, clay, and organic matter in the soil. The texture of the soil also affects how efficiently all the nutrients and water are retained in the soil. However, clay and organic soils very well hold nutrients and water compared to sandy soils. That means water drains from the sandy soils often carry all the nutrients along with water.
This process is called leaching, and when all the nutrients leach in the soil, they are not available for plants.
Now, if you talk about soil pH, it is one of the essential soil properties that also affects the availability of nutrients. The macronutrients are less available in soil with low pH, but micronutrients are available less in soil with high pH.
The bottom line
The subject of plant nutrition is very difficult to understand completely due to variation between various plants. But in short, they are essential for plant growth and its development. So, if you are concerned about your plant growth and development, you can call a certified arborist for advice. Apart from that, you can also offer the best nutrients for tree growth.
I hope through this post you will come to know about nutrients!
Name:- Jordan Everett (Tree & Plant Healthcare Specialist)
Jordan Everett is a tree and plant health care specialist at Tree Doctor. He is highly experienced in diagnosing and treating numerous tree and plant species. Correct identification of the tree healthcare problem, proper care, and regular monitoring is of utmost importance to let your tree grow stress-free and stay healthy.
So, to make readers aware of tree health dangers, requirements, and management, he has given extensive information on invisible signs of health hazards to trees, plants, and shrubs, secrets of tree preservation, tree & plant health care tips, and soil & root care treatment through his blogs. Read our recent post related to tree and plant health problems, in-depth assessment, unique treatment solutions, prevention, tips to improve drought tolerance, how to increase tree and plant longevity, and stabilize older and declining trees in San Diego.