1. Minerals and Microbes

2. Base Exchangeable Cations
Calcium (Ca) ++
60% - 70%
Ca & Mg together should add to 80% of exchange capacity
Magnesium (Mg) ++
10% - 20%
Potasium (K) +
3% - 5%
See Phosphorus (P)
Sodium (Na)
1% - 4%
See Chlorine (Cl)
Hydrogen (H)+
8% - 10%
Exchangeable Hydrogen

3. Other Major Nutrients (anions)
Phosphorus (P)-
Equal to Potasium (K) as in actual P = actual K
P needs highly bio-active soil to keep it available
Sulphur (S)-
½ of Phosphorus up to 200ppm
Needed for good fungi and amino acids
Chlorine (Cl)-
1X to 2X Sodium

4. Major Minor Elements Iron (Fe)+ Manganese (Mn)+ Zinc (Zn)+
Copper (Cu)+
FE: 100 – 200 ppm
Mn: ½ of Ca up to 50 ppm
Zn: 1/10 of P up to 50 ppm
Cu: ½ of Zinc
Fe and Mn are synergistic as are Cu and ZN
Boron (B)
1/1000 of Calcium (up to 4ppm)
Boron is essential for Calcium utilisation

5. Major Minor Elements Iron (Fe)+ Manganese (Mn)+ Zinc (Zn)+
Copper (Cu)+
FE: 100 – 200 ppm
Mn: ½ of Ca up to 50 ppm
Zn: 1/10 of P up to 50 ppm
Cu: ½ of Zinc
Fe and Mn are synergistic as are Cu and ZN
Boron (B)
1/1000 of Calcium (up to 4ppm)
Boron is essential for Calcium utilisation

6. Trace Elements
Chromium (Cr)+
Cobalt (Co)+
Iodine (I) -
Molybdenum (Mo)+
Selenium (Se)-
Tin (Sn)+
Vanadium (V)+
Nickel
All of these are essential in small amounts ppm is enough.
(Cobalt 2-10ppm)
Some of the trace elements (e.g. Mo, Se) can be toxic to plants and soil organisms in quantities above 2ppm. Take it easy.
There are probably 30 or so other elements needed in a perfect soil. They may be found in various soil supplements such as seaweed

7. Nitrogen
· Necessary for formation of amino acids, the building blocks of protein
· Essential for plant cell division, vital for plant growth
· Directly involved in photosynthesis
· Necessary component of vitamins
· Aids in production and use of carbohydrates
· Affects energy reactions in the plant
Deficiencies can reduce yield , cause yellowing of the leaves , stunt growth and stress the plants immune system.

8. Phosphorus
Involved in photosynthesis, respiration, energy storage and transfer, cell division, and enlargement
Promotes early root formation and growth
Improves quality of produce and water-use efficiency
Deficiency symptoms include stunted plant growth, a reduce in yields of fruit and flowers , as well as incorrect or whispy formation of flowers . Too much Phosphorus , can cause problems with the uptake of zinc and other elements

9. Potassium - K
· Carbohydrate metabolism and the break down and translocation of starches
Increases photosynthesis and water-use efficiency
Essential to protein synthesis and fruit formation
Activates and controls enzymes' reaction rates
Improves quality of seeds and fruit
Increases disease resistance
Deficiencies result in low yields, spotty and or curled leaves and a potential scorched or burn look to the leafs

10. Calcium - Ca Utilized for Continuous cell division and formation
Involved in nitrogen metabolism
Reduces plant respiration
Aids translocation of photosynthesis from leaves to fruiting organs
Increases fruit set
Essential for nut development in peanuts
Stimulates microbial activity
Symptoms of deficiencies include black spots on the leaves and potentially fruits

11. Sulphur - S Integral part of amino acids
Helps develop enzymes and vitamins
Promotes nodule formation on legumes
Aids in seed production
Necessary in chlorophyll formation (though it isn’t one of the constituents)
Deficiency symptoms include yellowing between the veins of older leaves and drooping leaves

12. Magnesium - Mg · Key element of chlorophyll production
· Improves utilization and mobility of phosphorus
· Activator and component of many plant enzymes
· Directly related to grass tetany
· Increases iron utilization in plants
· Influences earliness and uniformity of maturity
Deficiency symptoms include yellowing between the veins of older leaves and drooping leaves aswell as other symptoms which are best covered by the chart linked below.

13. Boron (B)
· Essential of germination of pollen grains and growth of pollen tubes
Essential for seed and cell wall formation
Promotes maturity
Necessary for sugar translocation
Affects nitrogen and carbohydrate
symptoms of deficient plants are death in young leaves, plants can fail to set seed or produce viable pollen , fruit formation is effected , discolored roots , crackled and flecked brown spots on your leafs.

14. Chlorine
Involved in the regulation of movement of water and other solutes into and out of cells
Essential for cell division in leaves and in the regulation of opening and closing stomata
Involved in photosynthetic transfer of oxygen and nitrogen metabolism
Symptoms of issues can include yellowing of the veins in older leaves, wilting of the leaves and stunted root growth. Too much chlorine is very detrimental to plants as with build up it can become a deadly toxin to the plant

15. Copper - Cu Catalyzes several plant processes
Major function in photosynthesis and reproductive stages
Indirect role in chlorophyll production
Increases sugar content, intensifies colour and improves flavour of fruits and vegetables
Symptoms of a copper deficiency include necrosis of new growth tips, stunted growth and leaves may develop black necrosis spots . Copper deficiency can have a huge impact on flower/fruit and seed production.

16. Iron - Fe Promotes formation of chlorophyll Acts as an oxygen carrier
Reactions involving cell division and growth
The main symptom of iron deficiency is a yellowing building out from the veins of the leaves. It is probably one of he more common of the micro-nutrient deficiencies though is often caused by pH issues rather than an actual lack of iron provided a full spectrum nutrient is being used or the organic equivalent

17. Manganese Functions as a part of certain enzyme systems
Aids in chlorophyll synthesis
Increases the availability of P and CA
symptoms of a deficiency can include necrosis spots on leafs and black necrosis of new tips

18. Zinc - Zn Aids plant growth hormones and enzyme system
· Necessary for chlorophyll production
· Necessary for carbohydrate formation
· Necessary for starch formation
· Aids in seed formation
Deficiency symptoms can include a reduction in leaf size, white leaf tips and shortened inter- nodes.

19. Nickel
Required for the enzyme urease , which most plants use to break down urea into usable forms of nitrogen
also necessary for iron absorption
Plants grown without a suitable supply of nickel will gradually reach a deficient level at the time of sexual maturity which will of-course effect any planned reproduction.

20. Molybdenum
Required to form the enzyme "nitrate reductas" which reduces nitrates to ammonium in plant
Aids in the formation of legume nodules
Needed to convert inorganic phosphates to organic forms in the plant

21. Sodium Involved in water movement throughout the tissue of the plant
incorrect ratios can be very detrimental to the plant if it is allowed to build up.

22. Cobalt Cobalt: is required for nitrogen fixation and root nodules
Essential for the manufacture of the vitamin B12
deficient levels can easily result in nitrogen deficiency.

23. Silicon improve heat and drought tolerance
increase resistance to insects and fungal infections.
can help to compensate for toxic levels of manganese, iron, phosphorus and aluminum as well as build a barrier against zinc deficiency .
produce stronger, tougher cell walls creating a barrier from mouth of sucking insects .