Phosphorus is necessary for respiration, cell division and production of high-energy cell compounds.
Phosphorus is absorbed by the plants from soil in the form of phosphate ions either as H2PO4− or HPO42− and required for all phosphorylation reactions.
Phosphorus makes up the structure of nucleic acids and nucleotides; and constituent of cell membranes and certain proteins.
Due to the deficiency phosphorus element plants stunted. Leaves of a phosphorous-deficient plant appear to be darker green than normal and lower leaves of the plant often purplish between veins.
