Skip to Main Content
AB BC MB NB ON PE QC SK AL AR AZ CA CO CT DC DE FL GA IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MD ME MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE NH NJ NM NV NY OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VA VT WA WI WV WY NS

Personalize your experience

Create an enhanced site experience specific to your needs by providing your region and crop.

To begin, select on the map where your farm is located.

You're located in the

Select your desired crop

    Enjoy an enhanced site experience tailored to growing in the

    Scroll Select
    Go back to where you left off

    NUTRIENT:

    HYDROGEN

    Hydrogen (H), derived almost entirely from water, is one of the 17 essential nutrients necessary for plant growth.

    Non-Fertilizer Elements

    Hydrogen, along with carbon and oxygen, are the three primary elements plants use in the largest amounts, and they perform as the building blocks for plant growth.

    Photosynthesis

    Nearly all organic compounds also contain H atoms, which explains why plants need the H they get from water molecules through photosynthesis.

    Proton Gradients and Plant Respiration

    Hydrogen ions are vital in both aiding proton gradients to help drive the electron transport chain in photosynthesis, and for plant respiration.

    Glucose

    Hydrogen is necessary for building sugars and other molecules to produce glucose for plant energy.

    pt_nutrient_details_soybean

    Structural Element

    Known as a structural element, H is present in both the atmosphere and the growing environment.

    Rarely Changes Output

    Hydrogen is rarely a limiting nutrient.

    Element and Compound

    Hydrogen is an element and can be a compound as well. As an element, H is the lightest, with one proton, one electron and usually no neutrons. Compound H forms when two H atoms share an electron pair, creating a covalent bond, which takes the form of a gas.

      • Photosynthesis

        Nearly all organic compounds also contain H atoms, which explains why plants need the H they get from water molecules through photosynthesis.

      • Proton Gradients and Plant Respiration

        Hydrogen ions are vital in both aiding proton gradients to help drive the electron transport chain in photosynthesis, and for plant respiration.

      • Glucose

        Hydrogen is necessary for building sugars and other molecules to produce glucose for plant energy.

      • Structural Element

        Known as a structural element, H is present in both the atmosphere and the growing environment.

      • Rarely Changes Output

        Hydrogen is rarely a limiting nutrient.

      • Element and Compound

        Hydrogen is an element and can be a compound as well. As an element, H is the lightest, with one proton, one electron and usually no neutrons. Compound H forms when two H atoms share an electron pair, creating a covalent bond, which takes the form of a gas.

      Looking to dig deeper into hydrogen and other resources?

      Browse the Resource Library for articles, research insights and more.

      Resource Library