Major Elements vs. Trace Elements: Why Your Plants Need Both

Healthy, vibrant plants need more than just water and sunlight; they require a precise blend of nutrients to truly flourish. From slow-release to fast-acting, water-soluble fertilizers, every formula plays a role in providing essential elements for growth. Yet, understanding which nutrients to use can be challenging, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the specific elements that impact plant health.

This guide breaks down the basics to help you make informed decisions on fertilizer choices for your garden:

• The difference between major and trace elements and why each is vital to plant health
• Key nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium and their impact on growth, disease resistance, and overall vitality
• Practical tips for interpreting fertilizer labels, including how to understand N-P-K ratios and choose the right balance for your plants' needs

Whether you're new to gardening or looking to refine your fertilizing strategy, this primer will help you understand the nutrient essentials that support robust, healthy plants all season long. Let’s dive into how major and trace elements can transform your garden from ordinary to extraordinary.

What Are Major and Trace Elements?

With regards to plant growth, major elements are those which are most critical - when these elements are either lacking or found in excess, the plant simply won't thrive.

Major nutrients include:

• Nitrogen (N) - necessary for the development of good leaf color, strong growth, and photosynthesis, making it particularly important in plants such as lawn grasses.
• Phosphorous (P) - needed to develop strong roots, increase flower blooms, and promote the ripening of seeds and fruits
• Potassium (K) - boosts plant resistance to damage from very hot or very cold weather, helps promote disease resistance, and works to facilitate the uptake of other elements including nitrogen
• Calcium (Ca) - promotes overall plant health by building strong cell walls
• Magnesium (MG) - assists in seed formation, photosynthesis, and the regulation of other elements
• Sulfur (S) - needed to manufacture chlorophyll, sulfur helps to encourage plant growth

Trace elements include:

• Boron (B) - aids in cellular growth and helps to regulate the uptake of nutrients.
• Chlorine (CI) - required to achieve photosynthesis.
• Copper (Cu) - works to help plants metabolize nitrogen.
• Iron (Fe) - assists in the creation of chlorophyll.
• Manganese (Mn) - essential for chlorophyll production.
• Molybdenum (Mo) - helps plants metabolize nitrogen.
• Zinc (Zn) - required in seed production.

Why Do Plants Need Both Types of Elements to Grow Healthily?

Just like people need to eat a healthy, balanced diet to optimize their wellness, plants require both major and trace elements in the right proportions to grow healthily.

When the right combination of elements is provided to a plant using the right delivery method and quantities, the plant will grow strong roots, resist rot, pests, and disease, and optimize its use of nutrients and sunlight.

How Do I Know What Major Elements Are Present in My Fertilizer? 

Many fertilizer bags are printed with an NKP number.

These three numbers let you know how much nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) the product contains.

The higher each number is, the greater the concentration of each specific nutrient.

What Happens if a Plant is Deficient in These Elements?

Deficiency in any of the major and trace minerals can lead to a variety of problems ranging from increased vulnerability to pest damage to poor root development, difficulty with the absorption of micronutrients, and compromised disease resistance properties.

For example, a plant that is lacking in sulfur (S) may appear stunted, thin-stemmed, pale, and spindly, while an excess of sulfur can cause the leaves of the plant to develop a brownish discoloration as the plant attempts to dispose of the excess sulfur.

How Can This Be Corrected?

The most effective way to correct problems related to deficiencies of major and/or trace elements is with the application of a high-quality water-soluble fertilizer that contains the optimal balance of both slow release and fast release nutrients.

Choosing the right fertilizer is largely a matter of knowing what your plant needs to thrive. In the case of food crops like vegetables and fruits, a fertilizer that's higher in nitrogen may be the best option, while plants such as palms may benefit from a boost in manganese.

Fortunately, we offer a wide range of fertilizers from water soluble to eco-friendly, so you can ensure your plants receive the proper amount of nutrients they need to flourish.

Related Posts:

• What's the Function of Magnesium (Mg) in Plants?
• What's the Function of Potassium (K) in Plants?
• What's the Function of Nitrogen (N) in Plants?