Difference between Macronutrients and Micronutrients

Difference between Macronutrients and Micronutrients: Maze (1915) divided essential plant nutrients into two categories, macronutrients and micronutrient.

1. Macronutrients (Macroelements)
2. Micronutrients (Microelements)

Macronutrients (Macroelements)

They are those essential elements which are present in plants in easily detectable quantities, more than 1ppm of plant body (1 mg per gm of dry weight). Macronutrients take part in synthesis of organic molecules and development of osmotic potential. Carbon (from air), oxygen (from air) and hydrogen (from water), are non-mineral micronutrients. Out of 13 essential mineral elements, six are macronutrients, i.e., nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and sulphur.

Micronutrients (Microelements)

They are those essential elements which are present in plants in small quantities, less than 1ppm or 1 mg/gram of dry matter. All of them are mineral elements. Micronutrients are mostly involved in the functioning of enzymes. Out of 13 essential mineral elements, seven are micronutrients, i.e., iron, manganese, boron, zinc, copper, molybdenum and chlorine.

Difference between Macronutrients and Micronutrients

Macronutrients	Micronutrients
They are required in large quantities.	They are required in very small amounts.
Concentration of each macronutrient in plants is more than 1 mg/gm of dry matter	Concentration of micronutrients is quite below 1 mg/gm of dry matter.
They take part in building plant body and different protoplasmic structures.	Micronutrients have no such functions.
They have no significant role in enzyme activity and electron transport.	They are involved in enzyme activity and electron transport.
Examples: Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Sulphur.	Examples: Iron, Manganese, Boron, Zinc, Copper, Molybdenum, Chlorine.