Common fertilisers

Nitrogen and magnesium deficiency in plants

Common fertilisers

Nitrogen and magnesium are inorganic nutrients used in fertilisers in some areas to support plant growth.

Nitrogen is amongst some of the main elements that are supplemented via fertilisers, alongside potassium and phosphate. Magnesium is considered a trace element rather than a main element.

Plant metabolism, with a key focus on photosynthesis, underlies the use of these fertilisers.

Nitrogen is one of the 4 main biological atoms, alongside carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. It makes up DNA and amino acids present in all proteins, hence underpinning every growth and reproductive function in plant cells and overall as organisms. Magnesium is only a trace element because it is found in chlorophyll. While not as abundant as nitrogen, it still serves a vital role because of the function of chlorophyll in photosynthesis. Therefore, it is important to ensure plants do not become…