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Writer's pictureAntonia Z

What exactly are macroelement, secondary nutrients, and trace elements? What is the difference

I. Macroelement


Macroelement are known as "macronutrients". For crop growth, it is still indispensable, but also the most needed elements, such as: carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, potassium and so on.


Among them, oxygen, hydrogen, carbon, etc. mainly from the air, while the gas is mainly from the soil. In the process of crop growth, the formation of cellulose, pectin, lignin, etc., are also composed of carbon, oxygen, hydrogen three combinations of carbohydrates. Thus, the cell walls of the stems and leaves of the crop are formed, which is a process of crop growth. Which for the existing large element fertilizer, that is, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium elements.


Basic Types of Macroelement Fertilizers:


1.Nitrogen Fertilizers

Urea, ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, ammonium chloride and ammonium bicarbonate, etc., of which urea should be the most popular one.


2.Phosphorus fertilizers

Calcium superphosphate, Calcium triple superphosphate, monoammonium phosphate, diammonium phosphate and so on.


3.Potassium fertilizers

Potassium nitrate, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, potassium sulfate, potassium chloride and so on. Potassium sulfate is more expensive than potassium chloride, but potassium chloride is physiologically acidic and not suitable for acidic soil.


II. Secondary nutrients

Secondary nutrients, also known as "minor macronutrients", have functions or roles that are secondary to those of macronutrients. They are only second to the function or role of macronutrients, but they are also indispensable or irreplaceable for crops, such as calcium, magnesium, and sulfur.


In brief, these fertilizers are used in smaller quantities. Calcium is the representative of the middle macronutrient fertilizers. It mainly determines the growth of the cell wall, which is what we call the pericarp. Calcium deficiency can lead to the occurrence of thin or cracked skin.


Basic Types ofSecondary nutrients fertilizer:


1.Calcium Fertilizer

Lime and gypsum are the most common calcium fertilizers. There are also calcium superphosphate, Calcium triple superphosphate, calcium nitrate, calcium ammonium nitrate, lime nitrogen, potassium calcium fertilizer, calcium and magnesium phosphate fertilizer.


2.Magnesium fertilizer

Magnesium sulfate, magnesium chloride, lime powder, potassium calcium fertilizer, chelated magnesium, magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, magnesium nitrate hexahydrate and so on.


3.Sulfur fertilizer

Gypsum, ammonium sulfate, potassium sulfate, calcium superphosphate, and sulfur.


III. Trace elements


Trace elements, it is mainly relative to the Macroelement and Secondary nutrients with less dosage. Which is not only the amount of small, crop absorption is also very little, but cannot be missing elements. Such as: boron, iron, manganese, copper, zinc and so on. Such as boron fertilizer, it can improve the sugar content of the crop, so that the fruit is sweeter.


Basic Types of Trace elements Fertilizers:


1.Boron Fertilizer

Borax, boric acid, sodium tetraborate anhydrous, sodium tetraborate decahydrate, etc.


2.Zinc Fertilizer

Zinc sulfate, zinc nitrate, zinc chloride and chelated zinc, etc.


3.Iron fertilizer

Ferrous sulfate, lignin sulfate iron, humic acid iron, chelated iron fertilizer, etc. Iron deficiency will cause the leaves to lose their green color, carry out the spraying of chelated iron fertilizer relief very quickly.


In summary: The Macroelement has the largest content in the crop and the largest growth uptake, with a content of more than 1% in the dry body of the crop.


Secondary nutrients, which are second only to large elements in terms of crop uptake, are also poorly absorbed, and are basically less than 1% and more than 0.1% in the dry body of the crop.


Trace elements are for the Macroelement and the Secondary nutrients under the comparison, crop absorption is also very little, but its importance should not be ignored.




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