Macronutrient (ecology)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A macronutrient in ecology is an essential chemical element needed in large quantities by all living things in order to function normally. They include the non-metallic "big six": carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur (often represented by the acronym CHNOPS). Usually they are sourced from inorganic (e.g. carbon dioxide, water, nitrate, phosphate, sulphate) or organic (e.g. carbohydrates, lipids, proteins) compounds, although elemental diatomic molecules of nitrogen and (especially) oxygen are often used. Occasionally, the macrominerals are included in the definition, but are usually excluded in scientific discussion.
A useful acronym used by many students is: C. HOPKiN'S CaFe Mg (to be used as C. Hopkins coffee mug). It represents Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Nitrogen, Sulfur, Calcium, Iron and Magnesium.
Other macronutrients include silicon and the metals sodium, magnesium, potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, copper, zinc and molybdenum. Some of these latter elements are used sparingly by some organisms, and may be classified instead as micronutrients.
