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16. PLANT NUTRITION

Today, the close relationship between health and nutrition is increasing day by day. The Covid-

19 pandemic, which has recently caused great deaths around the world, is a very good example
of this. Because Covid-19, which has various effects on health and nutrition, is a respiratory

disease and affects individuals with weak immune systems or chronic health problems more,

health and nutrition measures have increased their importance. Therefore, it is known that the
soil, which is the production environment, must first be recognized very well. It is a fact that

plant nutrition, which affects plant development, yield, and quality, is very important in terms

of plant and soil management. For this purpose, it has become a necessity to increase plant yield
and reduce chemical inputs [93]. Plant nutrition is the sum of chemical elements and

compounds necessary for plant growth and reproduction, and plant metabolism, in other words,
plants need some plant nutrients for healthy growth. In their absence, the plant cannot complete

a normal life cycle. Plants take a large number of nutrients from the environment in which they
develop with their above- and below-ground organs. Seventy-four elements can be taken up by

plants. However, only some of these elements are essential for plants. These mineral substances

that plants need for their development are called absolute essential plant nutrients.

Necessary plant nutrients are divided into two. These are macro and micronutrients.

Macronutrients: carbon (C), oxygen (O), hydrogen (H), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P),
potassium (K), calcium (Ca), sulfur (S), magnesium (Mg). Micronutrients (or trace minerals):

iron (Fe), boron (B), chlorine (Cl), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), molybdenum

(Mo), nickel (Ni). In recent years, it is reported that sodium (Na), cobalt (Co), vanadium (V)
and silicon (Si) have also been included in the classification of absolute essential elements [94].

The role of each plant nutrient element in the plant is different. Therefore, each element is
necessary for the plant. So what are these benefits, what are the damages in case of excess, and

what are the changes seen in the plant when it is deficient? Let's examine the most important

ones one by one.

16.1. Nitrogen

Nitrogen is vital for plants and is an essential nutrient. Plants always need nitrogen for healthy

reproduction, growth, and development [95].

Protein and Enzyme Production: Nitrogen is an essential component for protein synthesis in

plants. Plants need protein to grow and develop, and this enables the formation of the plant's

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