Magnesium in plants: uptake, distribution, function, and utilization by man and animals

Abstract

Plants provide man with his primary needs--nutrition, clothing, and\nshelter as well as medicinal, recreational, and esthestic benefits.\nThere are over 500,000 species of plants distributed over the earth.\nMagnesium is an essential nutrient for plants and animals.\nThe criteria for the essentiality of elements for plants are as follows:\n(1) the plant will be unable to complete its life cycle if\nthe element is removed from the plant nutrient medium; (2) the element\nhas a specific function which cannot be replaced by other elements;\nor (3) the element is a necessary component of an essential\nmetabolite [1]. The relative abundance of Mg in plant life is less\nthan N, K, Ca, and similar to S and P. Intensive crop production\npractices with fertilizers, improved plant cultivars, and best management\npractices are commonly used today. These intense cultural\npractices may mean an increasing frequency of Mg deficiencies as well\nas the need for knowledge on economically sound practices to prevent\nsuch deficiencies.\nPlants are an important source of Mg to satisfy human and animal\nrequirements, and factors affecting Mg bioavailability need to\nbe identified. The objective of this chapter is to assess the importance,\ndistribution, function, and utilization of Mg in plant\ngrowth and metabolism and in grazing ruminant animal production and\nhuman health.