Nutrients and Their Importance in Agriculture Crop Production: A Review

Abstract

Plant growth and development are directly depended on the source of nutrients. Basically, plants need different type of nutrients which are categories into two groups i.e. macro nutrients and micro nutrients according to their requirements. These nutrients include Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P), Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca), Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe), Boron (B), Sulphur (S), Magnesium (Mg) etc. In the plant body, many nutrients influence biochemical processes as well as provide resistance against diseases and finally disturb the quality of crops. According to fast increasing in the world population and the decreasing trend in yields of crop make food safety a main challenge. That’s why balanced application of nutrients is very important to rise the crop yield and to attain the necessary increase in the production of food. Furthermore, nutrients play a significant role in fertility of soil and make it more productive for the growth of plant. This review article will discuss the recent information that concerning about the nutrients and their use in sustainable agriculture for the growth of plant.

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Toor et al. Ind. J. Pure App. Biosci. (2021) 9(1), 1-6 ISSN: 2582 – 2845
Copyright © Jan.-Feb., 2021; IJPAB 1
Peer-Reviewed, Refereed, Open Access Journal
Nutrients and Their Importance in Agriculture Crop Production:
A Review
Muhammad Danish Toor1, Muhammad Adnan2*, Fazal ur Rehman3, Rohoma Tahir4,
Muhammad Sulaman Saeed5, Ahasan Ullah Khan6 and Vikas Pareek7
1Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, 2Department of Agronomy, 3Department of Plant Pathology,
4Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture, University of Sargodha, Pakistan
5Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
6Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet, Bangladesh
7Head & Assistant Professor, Department of Botany, Gramin Mahila PG College Sikar, Rajasthan, India
*Corresponding Author E-mail: mughal3368@gmail.com
Received: 12.11.2020 | Revised: 27.12.2020 | Accepted: 5.01.2021
INTRODUCTION
The world is facing a various concerning
problems to get significant food in a
sustainable manner, fulfilling the requirements
of an increasing world population because of
decreasing food resources (Rehman et al.,
2020a). Many countries are facing the
problems nutrients deficiency (Saeed et al.,
2020). Growth of plants influenced by a
number of factors including water availability,
temperature, availability of nutrients and light
in the soil.
Available online at www.ijpab.com
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2582-2845.8527
ISSN: 2582 – 2845
Ind. J. Pure App. Biosci. (2021) 9(1), 1-6
ABSTRACT
Plant growth and development are directly depended on the source of nutrients. Basically, plants
need different type of nutrients which are categories into two groups i.e. macro nutrients and
micro nutrients according to their requirements. These nutrients include Nitrogen (N),
Phosphorous (P), Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca), Zinc (Zn), Iron (Fe), Boron (B), Sulphur (S),
Magnesium (Mg) etc. In the plant body, many nutrients influence biochemical processes as well
as provide resistance against diseases and finally disturb the quality of crops. According to fast
increasing in the world population and the decreasing trend in yields of crop make food safety a
main challenge. That’s why balanced application of nutrients is very important to rise the crop
yield and to attain the necessary increase in the production of food. Furthermore, nutrients play
a significant role in fertility of soil and make it more productive for the growth of plant. This
review article will discuss the recent information that concerning about the nutrients and their
use in sustainable agriculture for the growth of plant.
Keywords:
Sustainable Agriculture; Biochemical processes; Micro Nutrients; Macro Nutrients;
Resistance.
Resview Article
Cite this article: Toor, M. D., Adnan, M., ur Rehman, F., Tahir, R., Saeed, M. S., Khan, A. U., & Pareek,
V. (2021). Nutrients and Their Importance in Agriculture Crop Production; A Review, Ind. J. Pure App.
Biosci. 9(1), 1-6. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.18782/2582-2845.8527

Toor et al. Ind. J. Pure App. Biosci. (2021) 9(1), 1-6 ISSN: 2582 – 2845
Copyright © Jan.-Feb., 2021; IJPAB 2
The growth of the plant is also dependent upon
the mocrobs including plant growth promoting
rhizobacteria that are involved directly by
fixing the atmospheric nitrogen, solubilization
of insoluble phosphate and secretions of
hormones including IAA, kinetics and GAs
(Rehman et al., 2020b). Justus von Liebig, a
German scientist, was one of the first scientists
who illustrated that the nutrients are vital for
the growth of plant. According to researches,
there are above 100 chemical elements but
study has determined almost 17 nutrients that
are also called essential nutrients (Jones &
Jacobsen, 2005). For the growth and
development of plants these nutrients are vital
(Kalsoom et al., 2020). Out of the 17
necessary elements, some are the non-mineral
nutrients like carbon (C), hydrogen (H) and
oxygen (O) because they are derivative from
the water and air. The remainings are 14
essential nutrients that comprise of 6
macronutrients: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P),
potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg)
(Adnan et al., 2020a; & Adnan et al., 2021),
and sulphur (S); and 8 micronutrients: boron
(B), chlorine (Cl), copper (Cu), iron (Fe),
manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), nickel
(Ni) and zinc (Zn) (Brady & Weil, 2008).
The plants nutrition depends on the
uptake and availability of macro nutrients and
micro nutrients that are enclosed in the soil
(Acosta-Durán et al., 2007). The effect of a
single nutrient in the growth of plant has been
studying in most plant nutrition
experimentations, on the other hand, study
observing the influence of more than one
nutrient in the similar experiment is limited. In
this condition, collaboration amongst the
nutrients can be recognized as the effects of
increasing the nutrient concentration in the
immersion of additional nutrients and the
corresponding response of the crop (Fageria,
2001). For cultivated land it is necessary to
reach highest yield per unit area requirements
to attain supreme productivity because
population is speedily growing and it is
important to meeting the increasing in food
needs. Productivity and quality in agricultural
depend upon plant nutrition. To supply these
nutrients, the use of fertilizers is the one way.
On the other hand, surplus use of fertilizers
possibly will lead to the accumulation of
heavy metal which is also a cause of
distraction for crop (Hayyat et al., 2020).
Moreover, Imbalanced plant nutrition is a most
important problem in sustainable crop
production (Wasaya et al., 2019). They can
result in the nitrate accumulation and
eutrophication of water (Savci, 2012). Like
unnecessary application of phosphorus badly
affects the quality of water. In well-developed
industrial countries deficiencies of
micronutrient are also widespread. Globally
more than 3 billion people suffer from
deficiencies of Fe and Zn (Graham et al.,
2001). Furthermore, in 2050 around 6 billion
to 10 billion world’s population is expected to
grow (Byrnes & Bumb, 1998). To sustain the
humans well-being and to feed a world with
huge increases in population, a great increase
in the production of food need to be attained.
In the world population the estimated increases
will result in a severe stress on the current
cultivated land by intensification and
urbanization for the production of crop.
We have to focused on sustainability
according to current conditions, because in the
current years, it is a term that has been used
comprehensively in several phases of our
lives, and particularly in agriculture because of
the effect that certain methods of the crop
production have on the environment (Hanson
et al., 2007). Agricultural sustainability is the
management and the agricultural ecosystem
consumption in a way that sustains its
productivity, biotic diversity, capacity of
regeneration, functional vitality and ability, so
that it can fulfill - in the present day and in the
forthcoming – ecologically significant, social
and economic functions at the native,
countrywide and worldwide levels, and that
does not damage other environments
(Lewandowski et al., 1999). In the current
years the agriculture sustainability has tackled
some of the most significant challenges (Oborn
et al., 2003; & Hanson et al., 2007). Such as
we study that, the collaboration among
nutrients in plant and soil exudates modifies

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the microclimate of the rhizosphere (Rehman
et al., 2020a; & Niu et al., 2013). For the first
time rhizosphere was defined by Lorenz
Hiltner in 1904. In the soil it fluctuates with
the species of plant, usually measured at 2 mm
distance from the surface of root identified as
rhizoplane (Rehman et al., 2020a). But in
some cases scientists have shown that the
influence can be up to 10 mm (Jones et al.,
2009). This review article will discuss the
recent information that concerning about the
nutrients and their use in sustainable
agriculture for the growth of plant.
Macronutrients and its role in plant
National economy significantly depended on
agriculture sector (Adnan et al., 2020b).
Firstly, all over the world in for most of the
crops nitrogen is the nutrient that is more
deficient. Furthermore, nitrogen is the element
which is mostly absorbed in soil under normal
conditions by plants growing. Among the 3
main primary nutrients plants need nitrogen in
the largest quantity. Nitrogen has various roles
in plant body including: quick growth of plant
body, increasing quality and sizes of leaf,
increase in the development of seed and fruit;
it also has vital role in the formation of amino
acids that are structural blocks of enzymes and
proteins, also involved in many biochemical
processes as a catalyzing agent. Moreover, for
the growth of plants nitrogen is the most
important nutrient and its role in resistance
against many disease is relatively easily
established that’s why there is a wide literature
about the nitrogen effect on diseases are
available (Huber & Watson 1974).
Secondly, a very important macronutrient that
involved in most growth processes is
phosphorus. In the growth of plant including
proteins, nucleic acids, phospholipids,
phosphates of sugar, enzymes and compounds
with energy-rich phosphate phosphorus is a
vital component of most organic compounds,
for example adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
(Balkwill et al., 1988). In other words, plants
need phosphorus for the energy development
(ATP), nucleic acids and sugars. Deficiency of
phosphorus will be occurring during the early
growing season in the cool soils. In the young
plants deficiency symptoms of phosphorus are
usually more visible, (Brady & Weil 2008).
When phosphorus is applied for fungal
diseases and control seedlings it has been
shown to be most beneficial (Omar, 1997). In
addition, potassium is a vital nutrient that is
mostly intake by plants in higher amounts than
any other nutrient excluding nitrogen. In the
plants potassium is utilized in enzymes
activation, formation of protein,
photosynthesis, and transport of sugar.
Deficiency of potassium does not directly
result as a hidden hunger (visible symptoms).
At the start, in growth rate there is only a
decrease, with occurring as necrosis and
chlorosis in later stages. Potassium application
can decrease the severity of leaf blight
(Helminthosporium sp.) and increase yields of
wheat grain (Sharma & Duveiller, 2004; &
Sharma et al., 2005). In the case of calcium,
plants used it in large amounts second only
after nitrogen and potassium (Brady & Weil,
2008). In plant body calcium is responsible for
the activation of several enzymes which are
critical (Brady & Weil, 2008). In the
carbohydrates translocation and other nutrients
calcium plays an important.
Micronutrients and its role in plant
In plant metabolism, the micronutrients play a
significant role by affecting the lignin and
phenolics content and also stability of
membrane. Firstly, regarding effect on
susceptibility of plant to disease zinc was
found to have a number of different effects as
in some cases it increased, in others decreased,
and in others had no effect (Grewal et al.,
1996). In biochemical pathways and metabolic
activities zinc is a major activator of several
enzymes and metal component (Grotz &
Guerinot, 2006). It is a dynamic element that
plays a significant role in various biotic
processes. Moreover, application of zinc
considerably condensed the negative effects of
droughts on plants (Toor et al., 2020). In
addition, in the plant iron in a component of
enzyme system which brings about oxidation-
reduction reactions, it regulates
photosynthesis, respiration, sulphates and
nitrates reduction. It has been demonstrated

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that the foliar use of iron can upturn the
resistance capacity of pear and apple to
Sphaeropsis malorum and cabbage to
Olpidium brassicae (Graham, 1983).
Moreover, for proper germination of seed
nickel is required by plants. In urease, nickel is
the metal component which plays an important
role in the formation of ammonium from the
urea. Furthermore, for the growth and
development of plant boron is the least
understood vital micronutrient, and at the same
time deficiency of boron is the most common
deficiency of micronutrient in the world
(Brown et al., 2002). About additional
nutrients such as magnesium and sulfur, there
is not sufficient material about their role in the
diseases of plant. The potato scab severity can
be reducing by the application of Sulphur.
Condensed concentrations of magnesium in
forage wheat can lead to grass tetany in the
grazing of animals on winter wheat. According
to USA report sufficient levels of Mg
increased profits and quality (Graham &
Webb,1991).
Main role of Macro and Micro nutrients in
Plants body
About 17 elements are known as essential
nutrients for plants growth and development.
The soil supplies nitrogen, phosphorus,
potassium, calcium, magnesium and sulfur in
relatively large amounts. These largely
supplied elements are called the
macronutrients. The soil supplies iron,
manganese, boron, molybdenum, copper, zinc,
chlorine, and cobalt in relatively small amount.
These elements are so-called micronutrients.
For the growth and development of plant, the
nutrients must be available in sufficient
amounts. The provision of nutrients in
appropriate ratios is also necessary. Plant
nutrition is a vast subject and a bit difficult to
get complete understanding. There are geeat
variation between requirements of different
plants and even between different species or
individuals of a given clone. Deficiency of
elements may cause deficiency symptoms. The
higher supplies can also result in toxicity,
which is possible at levels that are too high.
The deficiency of one element can give the
symptoms of toxicity from another element
and vice versa. An abundance of one nutrient
can cause a deficiency of another nutrient. Just
like the uptake of K+ is greatly influenced by
the amount of NH+4 available in soil. The main
role of macro and micro nutrients in plants
body has been discussed as below in Table No.
1: (Foth, 1978).
Table 1:
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, taking everything into
consideration, it has been proved that all the
nutrients like Nitrogen (N), Phosphorous (P),
Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca), Zinc (Zn), Iron
(Fe), Boron (B), Sulphur (S), Magnesium
(Mg) will influence the quality of crop. Even
though the application of nutrients in the form
of fertilizers will improve the resistance
strategies of plants against many diseases. The
productivity of crop as well as its health can be
improve by the proper use of nutrients in a
balances way that will help in to meet the food
requirements of global population according to
Nutrients
Role in plants body
Nitrogen (N)
Component of proteins, coenzymes, and in chlorophyll, and nucleic acids.
Phosphorous (P)
Important in transfer of energy as part of ATP.
Potassium (K)
Main role in adjusting mechanisms as translocation of carbohydrate, synthesis of
protein etc.
Calcium (Ca)
Plays role in membranes structure and permeability
Zinc (Zn)
In the systems of enzyme zinc regulate several metabolic actions.
Iron (Fe)
Synthesis of chlorophyll and in enzymes for the transfer of electron
Boron (B)
vital in translocation of sugar and carbohydrate metabolism
Sulphur (S)
Significant component of plant proteins.
Magnesium (Mg)
Activator of enzyme and component of chlorophyll

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present situation. For this purpose, first we
have to understand the role of essential
nutrients and their mobility in the plant body.
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