ATP

Mg

Magnesium

Magnesium

Knowledge

Magnesium has the power to impact many important processes including stomatal activity, photo assimilate movement, disease resistance and insect infestation, and overall plant growth and yield.

Quick Facts About Magnesium

  • Magnesium is the central atom of the chlorophyll molecule and is essential for photosynthesis and cell respiration.
  • Magnesium is a mobile nutrient, and it is easily translocated from older tissue to the growing parts of the plants .
  • Magnesium plays a key role in Nitrogen, Phosphorus, carbohydrate, oil and energy reactions in the plant.
  • Magnesium is a component of pectin, important for stability of cells and phytin.
  • Form used by plants: Mg+2.

Role of Magnesium in Plants

  • An activator of more enzymes than any other nutrient and plays key role in chlorophyll production.
  • Improves utilization and mobility of Phosphorus and influences earliness and uniformity of maturity.
  • Essential for synthesis and the transport and storage of important plant substances such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats. 
  • Involved in carbohydrate production and transportation.
  • Involved in energy transfer and protein synthesis.

Magnesium Deficiencies:

Deficiency Symptoms

  • Starts with interveinal chlorosis of older leaves.
  • Necrosis and red discoloration of stems occur during prolonged periods of deficiency.
  • Inadequate Magnesium will accentuate Phosphate deficiency.
  • Leaf curling upwards along margins.
  • Dropping foliage.
  • Reduced root growth.
  • Related to an imbalance of water, the entire plant looks wilted.

Factors Affecting Deficiencies

  • At pH values <6, Magnesium is largely insoluble and therefore unavailable.
  • Soils that are acidic and/or high in organic matter, highly leached soils with low CEC and calcareous soils are typically affected by Magnesium deficiency.
  • Excess levels of other cations such as Potassium, Calcium and Nitrogen can further restrict Magnesium availability.
  • Higher amounts of exchangeable Magnesium can limit Calcium availability.
  • Low soil pH negatively affects the uptake of Magnesium by the plant.
  • The uptake of Magnesium by the plant is negatively affected by large Potassium, Magnesium and Ca:Mg ratios . This means that even at high Magnesium concentrations in the soil can have latent or even severe deficiency of Magnesium in plants.

Magnesium Recommended Products

Product Type Details
NRG Mg
Secondary Nutrient Foliar
ReLeaf Pulse
Secondary Nutrient Foliar
Epsotop
Secondary Nutrient Foliar
42PHI Mg
Secondary Nutrient Foliar

Nutrient Knowledge Guide

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