Question

A plant requires magnesium \[\left( {Mg} \right)\] for

Answer 1

Hint: As we have known that magnesium is an essential plant nutrient. Plant nutrients have two categories based on major and minor nutrient uptakes. These major and minor nutrients are classified as such because of the quantity of nutrients the plant takes. So, magnesium comes under the secondary or minor plant category. It is because plants require them in smaller quantities than other macronutrients like-nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium.

Complete answer:
The central atom in the chlorophyll molecule is magnesium or \[\left( {Mg} \right)\] among the four nitrogen atoms. It is adequate for crop production in most Mississippi soils except the sandy soils of the coastal plains and the heavy dark clays of the blackbelt prairie. Magnesium is also used as leaching in soil just like other nutrients such as calcium and potassium. It is absorbed in the form of \[M{g^{2 + }}\] ionic form and it is mobile in plants, moving from older to younger leaves. So, as we discussed some of the factors of magnesium in plants, now let us know why plants require magnesium. A plant requires Mg for chlorophyll synthesis as the Mg is involved in photosynthesis. It serves as an activator for many enzymes required in the plant growth process.
Magnesium is the energy source behind photosynthesis in plants. Without magnesium chlorophyll cannot capture the sun's energy needed for photosynthesis. Magnesium is located in the enzymes used in the process of chlorophyll synthesis. In other words, magnesium provides green pigment to the plant. Magnesium also requires formation of nucleic acid and also for the metabolism of carbohydrates and it also stabilizes the cell membrane. Sources of magnesium are found in soluble forms for usage like- magnesium for using as a fertilizer are magnesium sulfate which contains \[10\% \] \[Mg\] and \[14\% \] S, also known as Epsom salt. Magnesium oxide which contains \[55\% {\text{ }}Mg\], also called magnesia.
Deficiencies in plants due to magnesium highly affect the plants as magnesium helps in chlorophyll synthesis; the shortage results in poor and stunted plant growth.

Note:
Symptoms which plants show in magnesium deficiency are- interveinal chlorosis of older leaves. It means- leaf veins stay green while its other regions turn yellow. As magnesium moves from lower leaves to higher or top younger leaves it affects or shows deficiency in lower leaves first. Magnesium is a limiting factor in plant growth.