Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Plant Nutrients and Abiotic Stress Tolerance pp 1–49Cite as

Biological Functions, Uptake and Transport of Essential Nutrients in Relation to Plant Growth

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Abstract

Plant nutrition takes care of the interrelationship between soil nutrients and plant growth. The role of nutrients in plant growth and physiology is dealt in this chapter in its maximum possible extent including the details on essential nutrients, their physiological roles, uptake and assimilation, nutritional disorders, the availability of nutrients in soil and their movement to plant roots and availability to plants by different modes of absorption. Every nutrient plays an indispensable role in carrying out physiological functions of plants enabling proper plant growth, the deficiency of which leads to particular disorders. Some nutrients are needed in larger quantities and some smaller but still essential for a plant to complete its life cycle. The primary roles of major nutrients in plant growth and physiology are widely studied and well documented. The functions of beneficial elements in plant nutrition may be investigated further. Soil, a complex substrate, acts as a storehouse of nutrients and water for plant growth. Plants have extensive root system for the nutrient uptake from the soil. However, the availability of all these nutrients in soil may fluctuate depending on so many factors. From the soil, nutrients move towards the roots by following certain mechanisms of transport, which include mass flow, diffusion and root interception. The nutrients thus reaching the roots are absorbed by plants either actively by spending energy or passively by no involvement of energy. Hence, a better understanding on plant nutrition would help to enhance crop productivity and nutritional value for the burgeoning world population.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   299.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   379.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   379.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Agarwala SC, Sharma CP (1976) Plant nutrients – their functions and uptake. In: Kanwar JS (ed) Soil fertility – theory and practice. I.C.A.R, New Delhi, pp 7–64

    Google Scholar 

  • Amtmann A, Armengaud P (2009) Effects of N, P, K and S on metabolism: new knowledge gained from multi-level analysis. Curr Opin Plant Biol 12:275–283

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Andreini C, Banci L, Rosato A (2006) Zinc through the three domains of life. J Proteome Res 5:3173–3178

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arnon DI, Stout PR (1939) An essentiality of certain elements in minute quantity for plants with special reference to copper. Plant Physiol 14:371–375

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bar-Yosef B, Kafkafi U, Bresler E (1972) Uptake of phosphorus by plants growing under field conditions. I. Theoretical model and experimental determination of its parameters. Soil Sci 36:783–800

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bray RH (1938) New concepts on the chemistry of soil fertility. Soil Sci Soc Am Proc 2:175–179

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bray RH (1954) A nutrient mobility concept of soil-plant relationships. Soil Sci 78:9–22

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Broschat TK (2009) Palm nutrition and fertilisation. Hort Tech 19:690–694

    Google Scholar 

  • Broschat TK (2014a) Iron deficiency in palms. N.d. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu. Web 9 May 2014

  • Broschat TK (2014b) Manganese deficiency in palms N.d. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu. Web 25 Apr 2017

  • Brown PH (2006) Nickel. In: Barker AV, Pilbeam DJ (eds) Handbook of plant nutrition. CRC Press, Taylor Francis Group, Boca Raton, pp 395–410

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Chen CH, Lewin J (1969) Silicon as a nutrient element for Equisetum arvense. Can J Bot 47:125–131

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clarkson DT (1985) Factors affecting mineral nutrient acquisition by plants. Annu Rev Plant Physiol 36:77–116

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Colmer TD, Bloom AJ (1998) A comparison of net NH4 + and NO3 − fluxes along roots of rice and maize. Plant Cell Environ 21:240–246

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dawson C (2014) Potassium, a nutrient essential for life, IPNI. https://doi.org/10.3235/978-3-905887-11-2

  • Dobermann A, Fairhurst T (2000) Rice: nutrient disorders & nutrient management, Handbook series. Potash & Phosphate Institute (PPI), Potash & Phosphate Institute of Canada (PPIC) and International Rice Research Institute, Philippines, p 191

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans HJ, Sorger GJ (1966) Role of mineral elements with emphasis on the univalent cations. Annu Rev Plant Physiol 17:47–76

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fredeen AL, Rao IM, Terry N (1989) Influence of phosphorus nutrition on growth and carbon partitioning of Glycine max. Plant Physiol 39:225–230

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hansch R, Mendel RR (2009) Physiological functions of mineral macronutrients (Cu, Zn, Mn, Fe, Ni, Mo, B, Cl). Curr Opin Plant Biol 12:259–266

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hebbern CA, Laursen KH, Ladegaard AH, Schmidt SB, Pedas P, Bruhn D, Schjoerring JK, Wulfsohn D, Husted S (2009) Latent manganese deficiency increases transpiration in barley (Hordeumvulgare). Physiol Plant 135:307–316

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heuwinkel H, Kirkby EA, Le Bot J, Marschner H (1992) Phosphorus deficiency enhances molybdenum uptake by tomato plants. J Plant Nutr 15:549–568

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hewitt EJ, Bolle-Jones EW (1952a) Molybdenum as a plant nutrient. II. The effects of molybdenum deficiency on some horticultural and agricultural crop plants in sand culture. J Horticult Sci 27:257–265

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hewitt EJ, Bolle-Jones EW (1952b) Molybdenum as a plant nutrient. I. The influence of molybdenum on the growth of some Brassica crops in sand culture. J Horticult Sci 27:245–256

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jamal A, Moon YS, Abdin MZ (2010) Sulphur -a general overview and interaction with nitrogen. Aust J Crop Sci 4(7):523–529

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jeschke WD, Kirkby EA, Peuke AD, Pate JS, Hartung W (1997) Effects of P deficiency on accumulation transport of nitrate and phosphate in intact plants of castor bean (Ricinus communis). J Exp Bot 48:75–91

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kashirad A, Marschner H, Richter CH (1973) Absorption and translocation of 59Fe from various parts of the corn plant. Z Pflanzenernähr Bodenk 134:136–147

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kelling KA (1999) Soil and applied boron In: Understanding plant nutrients. Cooperative extension publication A2522, University of Wisconsin-Extension

    Google Scholar 

  • Kusunoki M (2007) Mono-manganese mechanism of the photosystem II water splitting reaction by a unique Mn4Ca cluster. Biochim Biophys Acta 1767:484–492

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu G, Simonne EH, Li Y, (2014) Nickel nutrition in plants. HS 1191 UF/IFAS extension. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu

  • Ma JF, Miyake Y, Takahashi E (2001) Chapter 2: silicon as a beneficial element for crop plants In: Studies in plant science 8:17–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Maathuis FJM (2009) Physiological functions of mineral macronutrients. Curr Opin Plant Biol 12:250–258

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marschner H (ed) (1995) Mineral nutrition of higher plants. Academic, Orlo, pp 313–404

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • McAinsh MR, Pittman JK (2009) Shaping the calcium signature. New Phytol 181:275–294

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McCauley A, Jones C, Jacobsen J (2011) Plant nutrient functions and deficiency and toxicity symptoms In: Nutrient management module 9, Montana State University Extension

    Google Scholar 

  • Mengel K, Kirkby EA (eds) (1987) Principles of plant nutrition. International Potash Institute, Worblaufen-Bern

    Google Scholar 

  • Mengel K, Kirkby EA (2006) Principles of plant nutrition, 5th edn. Rashtriya Printers, Delhi, First Indian Reprint

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitscherlich EA (1909) Das Gesetz des Minimums and das Gesetz des abnehmenden Bodenestrages. LsndwirtschJahrb 38:537–552

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nye PH, Tinker PB (1977) Solute movement in the soil-root system. University of California Press, Berkeley

    Google Scholar 

  • Pilon-Smits EAH, Quinn CF, Tapken W, Malagoli M, Schiavon M (2009) Physiological functions of beneficial elements. Curr Opin Plant Biol 12:267–274

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rattan RK (2015) Mineral nutrition of plants. In: Rattan RK, Katyal JC, Dwivedi BS, Sarkar AK, Bhattacharyya T, Tarafdar JC, Kukal SS (eds) Soil science: an introduction. Indian Soc Soil Sci, New Delhi, pp 499–539

    Google Scholar 

  • Rattan RK, Goswami NN (2009) Mineral nutrition of plants. In: Goswami NN, Rattan RK, Narayanasamy G, Das DK, Sanyal SK, Pal DK, Rao DLN (eds) Fundamentals of soil. Science Indian Society of Soil Science, New Delhi, pp 349–386

    Google Scholar 

  • Richmond KE, Sussman M (2003) Got silicon? The non-essential beneficial plant nutrient. Curr Opin Plant Biol 6:268–272

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salisbury F (1992) Plant physiology, plant physiology, 4th edn. Wadsworth, Belmont

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanders D, Brownlee C, Harper JF (1999) Communicating with calcium. Plant Cell 11(4):691–706

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saqib M, Zorb C, Schubert S (2009) Silicon mediated improvement in the salt resistance of wheat (Triticum aestivum) results from increased sodium exclusion and resistance to oxidative stress. Funct Plant Biol 35:633–639

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seregin IV, Kozhevnikova AD (2006) Physiological role of nickel and its toxic effects on higher plants. Russ J Plant Physiol 53(2):257–277

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sharp RE, Hsiao TC, Silk WK (1990) Growth of the maize primary root at low water. Potentials. 2. Role of growth and deposition of hexose and potassium in osmotic adjustment. Plant Physiol 93:1337–1346

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Southern PJ (1969) Sulphur deficiency in coconuts. Oléagineux 24:211–220

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Taiz L, Zeiger E (2002) Mineral nutrition In: Plant physiology, 3rd edn. Sinauer Publishers

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor AR, Bloom AJ (1998) Ammonium, nitrate and proton fluxes along the maize root. Plant Cell Environ 21:1255–1263

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tisdale SL, Nelson WL, Beaton JD, Havlin JL (1997) Soil fertility and fertilizers, 5th edn, Second Indian Reprint. Prentice Hall of India Ltd, New Delhi

    Google Scholar 

  • TNAU (2015) Plantation crops: coconut: physiological disorders. http://agritech.tnau.ac.in

  • Uchida R (2000) Essential nutrients for plant growth-nutrient functions and deficiency symptoms. In: Silva JA, Uchida R (eds) Plant nutrient management in Hawaii’s soils, approaches for tropical and subtropical agriculture. College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, pp 31–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallace A, Wallace AG (1993) Limiting Factors, High Yields, Law of the Maximum. Hortl Reviews 15. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470650547.ch10

  • Wood GAR, Lass RA (1985) Cocoa, 4th edn. Longman, London

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research- National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, Regional Centre, Indian Council of Agricultural, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

    K. S. Karthika

  2. Indian Council of Agricultural Research–Indian Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Research Centre, Kota, Rajasthan, India

    I. Rashmi

  3. Department of Crop Physiology, University of Agricultural Sciences, Gandhi Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Bangalore, Karnataka, India

    M. S. Parvathi

Authors
  1. K. S. Karthika
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. I. Rashmi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. S. Parvathi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agronomy, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Mirza Hasanuzzaman

  2. Department of Applied Biological Science, Kagawa University, Miki-cho, Kita-gun, Kagawa, Japan

    Masayuki Fujita

  3. Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Okinawa, Japan

    Hirosuke Oku

  4. Department of Agricultural Botany, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, Bangladesh

    Kamrun Nahar

  5. Department of Plant Physiology, University of Life Sciences, Lublin, Poland

    Barbara Hawrylak-Nowak

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Karthika, K.S., Rashmi, I., Parvathi, M.S. (2018). Biological Functions, Uptake and Transport of Essential Nutrients in Relation to Plant Growth. In: Hasanuzzaman, M., Fujita, M., Oku, H., Nahar, K., Hawrylak-Nowak, B. (eds) Plant Nutrients and Abiotic Stress Tolerance. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-9044-8_1

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation