Skip to main content

Competency Area 1: Basic Concepts of Plant Nutrition

PO 6: Describe how nutrient demands change at different plant growth stages.

In general, plant nutrient needs start low while the plants are young and small, increases rapidly through vegetative growth, and then decreases again around the time of reproductive development (i.e., silking and tasseling). While absolute nutrient requirements may be low for young plants, they often require or benefit from high levels in the soil around them. The nutrient status of the early seedling will affect the overall plant development and yield. Plants entering the reproductive stages have high nutrient requirements, but many of these are satisfied by redistributing nutrients from the vegetative parts.

Click to learn about how nutrient demands change over time.