Nitrogen in the environment : essential plant nutrients

Abstract

"Carbon, oxygen and hydrogen are among the most basic elements necessary for plant growth. Plants obtain these elements from water and carbon dioxide in the air and soil. Plants also require additional "mineral elements" that they obtain from the soil for proper growth and development. These mineral elements, together with carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, are referred to as essential plant elements or nutrients. They are essential because they are important to plant functions. Plants would not be able to grow, develop and reproduce without them. Although all are not necessarily essential to all plants, all are essential to come."--First page.