Each plant species has its own nutritional requirements, but they all need essential macronutrients to thrive. If your soil lacks any of these basic ingredients, your crops may not be able to develop healthy roots or stems and may fail to grow at all. Below are a few basic ingredients plant food reintroduces into your soil.

What Are Some of the Essential Macronutrients That Plants Require?

1. Carbon

Plants use carbon to synthesize, or break down, carbohydrates, protein, and nucleic acids into simple nutrients that can be processed and digested, which is why it’s considered a building block of life. Plant cells use carbon in carbon dioxide, combined with energy from the sun, to create sugar molecules, which are used for every part of the growth process. Fortunately, carbon is one of the most abundant minerals in the natural world, so almost all soil will contain enough to support healthy plant growth.

2. Nitrogen

Nitrogen is an essential component of many proteins and is used to synthesize a variety of vitamins, such as vitamin B and C. These chemicals are essential for every part of a plant’s growth, from building new cells to growing new fruit. Nitrogen is especially important for producing chlorophyll, which allows plants to produce energy from sunlight, sugars, and water. Plants without enough nitrogen may appear yellow and stunted.

3. Phosphorus

Most plant food products also contain phosphorus, a vital nutrient that plants also use to synthesize important nucleic acids, which contain the genetic information necessary to create new cells and promote healthy growth. It’s also an essential ingredient of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Phosphorus is responsible for the reaction that plants use to generate sugars through photosynthesis, where the sun’s light is turned into usable chemical energy.

4. Potassium

While most macronutrients are used to generate vitamins, acids, and new cells, potassium performs a specific, crucial function. This mineral regulates somatic opening, which controls the flow of water, nutrients, and carbohydrates throughout the plant. Since potassium is such a vital element of healthy crop growth, most plant food products contain healthy doses of this essential mineral.

For over a century, farmers and homeowners throughout the region have relied on Bolivar Farmers Exchange for the best plant food and fertilizers on the market. They operate their own fertilizer plant, giving them the ability to meet the demands of gardeners and commercial farmers alike. Visit their website to learn more about how they can help your plants thrive, follow their Facebook for tips and advice, or call (417) 326-5231 with any questions.