MINERAL ELEMENTS

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20737, 22 February 1939, Page 13

MINERAL ELEMENTS

ESSENTIAL TO PLANTS SIMPLE TESTS DEVELOPED In recent years it has been conclusively established that plants require sinalj amounts of such minerals as boron, manganese, copper, zinc, cobalt, iodine, and perhaps arsenic for normal, healthy growth. These are conveniently termed the "minor" nutrient elements in contrast to the ten common elements used by the Plant in considerable quantities, and called the “major" nutrient elements. Actually there are some bu known minor mineral elements, but research has not yet disclosed the necessity of Plant growth I'm- many of them, “ although more is being- learned every year, with very practical results in connection with soil fertilisation. Recognition of the need of these minor nutrient elements is helping greatly to elucidate many of the perplexing problems relative io the use of fertilisers. Thus, when a soil tesl indicates Ihe need or phosphates, it must be recognised Ihat full response lo a phosphatic top-dressing cannot result unless the other growth factors, including ihe minor nutrient elements, are also fully supplied. They are, in Other words, often tile limiting factor or factors in Hie response of soil lo the correction of an obv.ous deficiency of a major element. The miner mineral elements are known lo he present in the soil in many different forms, ami iv.-ognilion of these W.il make i: .ssihie the development simple te.-is. which the farmer himself can employ, to determine their adequacy or delieiency for plant growth and production.