The ABC of Plant Nutrition. Rather, the NPK of plant nutrition.

10.01.18 06:33 AM - Comment(s) - By Admin

If you ever tried researching on plant nutrition, the chances are high that you would have come across the term NPK more than once. NPK is to plant nutrition, what ABC is to the alphabet. No plant can survive without NPK, and none of them can synthesize it internally.


Let us understand what NPK stands for.


NPK represents the three vital macronutrients that every plant needs to grow and function efficiently. These three macronutrients are Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium.

Nitrogen (N)

Nitrogen aids in the process of photosynthesis. A lack of nitrogen will lead to chlorosis (a discolouring of leaves) and stunted growth. An adequate amount of nitrogen promotes healthy leaf growth and results in imparting a bright green colour to the leaves.

Phosphorus (P)

Phosphorus is necessary for energy transfer and consumption in various parts of plants. Phosphorus helps in promoting root growth, blooming, seed production and improving crop yield.

Potassium (K)

Potassium can be considered equivalent to a CPU (Central Processing Unit) of a plant. It regulates most of the vital functions within a plant, including internal moisture, water balance, and low-light photosynthesis. Potassium has a high impact on the end-quality of the fruit, including its shape, size, colour, and taste.

All plants need the three primary macronutrients represented by the alphabets NPK. Yet, depending upon the plant variety and growth stage, different plants may need a different proportion of individual nutrient at any given point in time. Thus, to get the maximum yield out of your plants, it is vital to understand the correct requirements of NPK that will give optimal results for your particular case.


Happy Growing!

Admin

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