Abstract:
Main nutrients for crops are Nitrogen, Phosphorous,
Potassium and Calcium. These among
others must be made available continuously and
in correct proportions by the soil.
The individual effect of each of these nutrients
is the following:
Nitrogen promotes:
• plant growth-speeds development both
above and below ground, influencing the
size, weight and colour of the plant yield,
e.g. grain, tuber or fruit
• the synthesis of amino acids, protein and lipids,
thus contributing in large part to the nutritional
value of vegetable foodstuffs
• technical characteristics dependent on the
protein content, e.g. the baking properties of
wheat
