In fact, without magnesium, plants couldn’t be green. That’s because Mg is the central atom in every chlorophyll molecule, and is essential for photosynthesis and the formation of carbohydrates. Without magnesium, chlorophyll cannot capture the solar energy needed for photosynthesis.
Magnesium is also involved in enzymatic reactions and assists in generation of energy. Deficiency of Mg retards plant development, resulting in decreased yields and poor quality plants.
Mg nitrate fertilizer replenishes nutrients in dead soil and puts the depleted Mg back into the soil.
Just as humans and animals often need magnesium supplements to stay healthy, plants need magnesium supplements in the form of magnesium nitrate.
Magnesium is needed to give leaves their green colour, so when there’s a deficiency, yellow breaks through between the veins and around the leaf edges instead. Color loss reflects the shortage of
chlorophyll in the plant.
Technically, magnesium is a
metallic chemical element. But as useful as it is in manufacturing and construction, it is also a macronutrient that is critical for plant life. Magnesium is one of the thirteen mineral nutrients that come from soil that can be absorbed through the plant’s roots.
Once inside the plant’s roots, stem and leaves, magnesium is involved in several different processes. Many enzymes in plant cells require magnesium in order to perform properly.
Conditions such as low soil pH, low temperatures, dry soil conditions and high levels of competing elements, such as potassium and calcium, reduce the availability of magnesium. Under such conditions, magnesium deficiency is more likely, making an application of magnesium fertilizer necessary.
Magnesium nitrate is a hydrated form of nitro-magnetite, a naturally-occurring mineral. Because it is water-soluble and supplies magnesium and nitrogen in a form easily accessible to plants, magnesium nitrate is also commonly employed as a fertilizer applied through irrigation.
The most important role of magnesium is as the central atom in the chlorophyll molecule. Chlorophyll is the pigment that gives plants their green color and carries out the process of photosynthesis. It also aids in the activation of many plant enzymes needed for growth and contributes to protein synthesis.
