Question

Name the scientists who gave the criteria of essentiality of plant nutrients.

Hint:

Remember: Arnon and Stout’s criteria still guide how we test and apply fertilizers in agriculture.

Answer 1

The criteria of essentiality for plant nutrients were given by two well-known scientists: Arnon and Stout in 1939.
They proposed three fundamental conditions to classify an element as essential for plant growth and development.
First, the element must be necessary for the completion of the plant’s life cycle.
Second, its function must not be replaceable by any other element.
Third, it must be directly involved in the plant’s metabolism, for example, as a component of essential molecules or enzymes.
These criteria helped botanists and agronomists identify and categorize macro and micronutrients required for healthy plant growth.
Their work laid the foundation for modern soil fertility management and plant nutrition research.