Deficiency symptoms in vegetables
Vegetable crops require 17 different essential nutrients . Nutrients are elements whose deficiency prevents normal plant growth and development, and whose functions cannot be completely replaced by any other elements. These nutrients used by vegetable crops are mainly divided into three groups : 1. Primary Nutrients These include carbon (C), hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) . Plants obtain carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen from air and water, whereas nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium must be supplied through fertilizers. Since these nutrients are required in the largest quantities by plants, they are called primary nutrients. 2. Secondary Nutrients Calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and sulfur (S) are classified as secondary nutrients. Although plants require them in smaller quantities than primary nutrients, their functions cannot be substituted by other elements. 3. Micronutrients Micronutrients include iron (Fe), copper (C...