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If plants are given these essential elements, as well as water and energy from
sunlight, they can synthesize all the compounds they need for normal growth.
Hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen are not considered mineral nutrients because they
are obtained primarily from water or carbon dioxide. Essential mineral elements are
usually classified as macronutrients or micronutrients according to their relative
concentrations in plant tissue. In some cases the differences in tissue content
between macronutrients and micronutrients are not as great as indicated in the
literature. For example, some plant tissues, such as leaf mesophyll, have almost
as much iron or manganese as they do sulfur or magnesium. Often elements are
present in concentrations greater than the plant's minimum requirements.
4. The fourth group, comprising metals such as iron, has important roles in
reactions involving electron transfer.
Based upon the above criteria only a few elements have been found
to be absolutely essential for plant growth and metabolism. These
elements are further divided into two broad categories based on their
quantitative requirements.
Iron: Plants obtain iron in the form of ferric ions (Fe3+). It is required
in larger amounts in comparison to other micronutrients. It is an
important constituent of proteins involved in the transfer of electrons
like ferredoxin and cytochromes. It is reversibly oxidised from Fe2+ to
Fe3+ during electron transfer. It activates catalase enzyme, and is
essential for the formation of chlorophyll.