Root nutrition of plants: relevance, needs, problem solving

Abstract

The article theoretically analyzes the nutrient needs of plants and the balanced supply of macro- and microelements for their proper growth and development. The basis of the research methodology is the systematic approach of assessing the periodicity of foliar feeding of plants with complex preparations of various compositions. It has been established that with foliar fertilization there is a part of nutrients after they enter the plant leaf. Smaller molecules or molecules with less positive charge are more easily transported in the vascular system, from where they move to other parts of the plant, including ammonium, potassium, and urea. On the other hand, larger molecules and ions with a large positive charge tend to stay fairly close to their point of entry because they stick to the negatively charged cell walls. They hold immobile nutrients quite tightly, including calcium, iron, manganese, zinc, and copper. The importance of the combination of biotechnological and ecological aspects in the development and application of complex compounds for foliar fertilization is indicated. The use of compounds based on EDTA is potentially dangerous for agricultural products and the environment. In the long term, this leads to increased pollution of agricultural land, soil degradation, reduced yield, and deterioration of product quality. When applying complex foliar fertilizers, elements with a strong positive charge, such as calcium, do not move very actively in the plant. Accordingly, negatively charged elements, such as phosphorus, slowly enter the leaves of plants. Both elements are relatively stationary after entry. Additional studies have shown that different plant species differ significantly in their ability to absorb nutrients through their leaves. Differences in cuticle thickness, number of pores, and resistance, as well as genetic and environmental factors, all affect a species’ ability to assimilate nutrients applied to leaves.