A large number of inorganic elements are necessary for all the life processes and hence should be taken into our diets in adequate amounts. Any deficiency in these minerals leads to an abnormality in the metabolic functioning of the body.
There are two types of minerals that are essential for plant growth, such as:
Minerals like Phosphorous, carbon, silicon, magnesium, hydrogen, sodium, nitrogen, potassium, calcium, oxygen, selenium, and sulfur are required in abundance for proper plant growth and are also found abundantly in plant tissues. Hence, they are known as macrominerals.
A few minerals like Iron, boron, zinc, cobalt, chlorine, nickel, manganese, copper, molybdenum, etc. are required in lesser quantities for proper growth by the plants and therefore, they are called microminerals. Further they are also called trace elements.