Magnesium

“The Miracle Mineral”

Magnesium is involved with synthesis of amino acids, vitamins, oils, fats, sugar etc. It regulates the uptake of a number of elements into the plant and carries phosphorus.

Magnesium plays an important role in plant and animal health:

• Activites more than 300 enzymes
• Core mineral in chlorophyll which is essential in photosynthesis.
• Carries phosphorus in plants
• Regulates absorption of Ca
• Activies B vitamins
• Enhances protein synthesis and energy release

Signs of Magnesium deficiency

• Yellow stripes on leaves
• Metabolic problems like grass tetany, milk fever etc.
• Poor phosphors intake
• Weak animal Calcium and Iodine uptake
• Thin leaves
• Chlorosis and necrotic patches.

Signs of Magnesium excess

• Reduced Calcium and Phosphorus intake.
• Tight soils
• Scours

Magnesium Interactions in Soil

• Excess of Calcium will displace Magnesium on the soil.
• Excess Sodium can inhibit the uptake of Magnesium.
• An ideal Mg to K ratio is 1:1.
• Ideal levels of Magnesium improve Phosphorus uptake.
• More Nitrogen can be found in high Magnesium soils.

Magnesium as a Chemical Element

Magnesium is a shiny gray solid with the chemical symbol Mg. Magnesium is produced in aging stars from the addition of three helium nuclei to a carbon nucleus. When such stars explode as supernovas, much of the magnesium is expelled into the interstellar medium where it may recycle into new star systems. Magnesium is the fourth most common element in the Earth (after iron, oxygen and silicon), making up 13% of the planet’s mass.