Britannica Sources used in this answer

Which trace elements do plants need in small amounts?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Curving flower beds of colorful tulips and blue grape hyacinths bordered by green grass and blooming cherry trees at Keukenhof Gardens near Lisse, Netherlands. — gardening Keukenhof Gardens, near Lisse, Netherlands.

In the context of gardening as both an art and a science, plants require specific mineral elements to develop and mature healthily. While major elements (macronutrients) are needed in substantial quantities, plants also require trace elements (or micronutrients) in much smaller amounts—typically 0.01 percent or less.123

These trace elements are essential for various metabolic processes, often serving as vital components or activators of enzymes. The trace elements required by plants include:42

Iron (Fe)23
Boron (B)23
Manganese (Mn)23
Zinc (Zn)23
Molybdenum (Mo)23
Copper (Cu)23
Chlorine (Cl)23
Nickel (Ni)2

When the supply of these essential nutrients falls below the level required by the plant, it can lead to deficiency diseases, resulting in symptoms such as stunted growth, leaf malformation, or failure of buds to develop. Proper soil management is therefore a fundamental aspect of the science of gardening, ensuring these nutrients remain available to the plant.1253