The family behind myBageecha, the Kabras, have always been close to nature, with a love for flora and fauna passed on across generations. As a cherished dinnertime story goes, the grandfather of Shishir Kabra, founder and CEO, once rescued two leopard pups from a forest fire and raised them before releasing them back in the wild.No wonder that the base of myBageecha, Kuchaman house, nestled in a quiet lane in Ahmedabad, is a unique concoction of a splash of a colours, hundreds of plants, curious artefacts and a virtual menagerie of adopted dogs, birds, cats, squirrels, a fleet of fish - and the occasional friendly neighbourhood monkey.The idea for myBageecha as born when Shishir needed easy access to a wide range of plants to grow his garden further, beyond what was offered by local nurseries. When his two sons Sharad and Saumitra returned home after spending many years in the bustling concrete jungle of Mumbai, , they resonated with this need, since it was increasingly impossible to procure suitable plants for their home by travelling to nurseries which had shifted well outside the cities.The family behind myBageecha, the Kabras, have always been close to nature, with a love for flora and fauna passed on across generations. As a cherished dinnertime story goes, the grandfather of Shishir Kabra, founder and CEO, once rescued two leopard pups from a forest fire and raised them before releasing them back in the wild.No wonder that the base of myBageecha, Kuchaman house, nestled in a quiet lane in Ahmedabad, is a unique concoction of a splash of a colours, hundreds of plants, curious artefacts and a virtual menagerie of adopted dogs, birds, cats, squirrels, a fleet of fish - and the occasional friendly neighbourhood monkey.The idea for myBageecha as born when Shishir needed easy access to a wide range of plants to grow his garden further, beyond what was offered by local nurseries. When his two sons Sharad and Saumitra returned home after spending many years in the bustling concrete jungle of Mumbai, , they resonated with this need, since it was increasingly impossible to procure suitable plants for their home by travelling to nurseries which had shifted well outside the cities.The family behind myBageecha, the Kabras, have always been close to nature, with a love for flora and fauna passed on across generations. As a cherished dinnertime story goes, the grandfather of Shishir Kabra, founder and CEO, once rescued two leopard pups from a forest fire and raised them before releasing them back in the wild.No wonder that the base of myBageecha, Kuchaman house, nestled in a quiet lane in Ahmedabad, is a unique concoction of a splash of a colours, hundreds of plants, curious artefacts and a virtual menagerie of adopted dogs, birds, cats, squirrels, a fleet of fish - and the occasional friendly neighbourhood monkey.The idea for myBageecha as born when Shishir needed easy access to a wide range of plants to grow his garden further, beyond what was offered by local nurseries. When his two sons Sharad and Saumitra returned home after spending many years in the bustling concrete jungle of Mumbai, , they resonated with this need, since it was increasingly impossible to procure suitable plants for their home by travelling to nurseries which had shifted well outside the cities.The family behind myBageecha, the Kabras, have always been close to nature, with a love for flora and fauna passed on across generations. As a cherished dinnertime story goes, the grandfather of Shishir Kabra, founder and CEO, once rescued two leopard pups from a forest fire and raised them before releasing them back in the wild.No wonder that the base of myBageecha, Kuchaman house, nestled in a quiet lane in Ahmedabad, is a unique concoction of a splash of a colours, hundreds of plants, curious artefacts and a virtual menagerie of adopted dogs, birds, cats, squirrels, a fleet of fish - and the occasional friendly neighbourhood monkey.The idea for myBageecha as born when Shishir needed easy access to a wide range of plants to grow his garden further, beyond what was offered by local nurseries. When his two sons Sharad and Saumitra returned home after spending many years in the bustling concrete jungle of Mumbai, , they resonated with this need, since it was increasingly impossible to procure suitable plants for their home by travelling to nurseries which had
Essential elements which plants need in relatively small amounts are called Micro-nutrients.
The Micro-nutrients are Iron, Manganese, Zinc, Boron, Copper, Chlorine,Molybdenum, and Nickel. Composting organic matter such as grass clippings and tree leaves is an excellent way to provide micro-nutrients.
Iron (Fe)
Key Facts
Required for formation of chlorophyll in plant cells. Essential for respiration
Deficiency Symptoms
Twig dieback
Reduced growth and death in severe
Yellow-green colour, but veins remain green
Treatment – See Table 1
Manganese (Mn)
Key Facts
Vital for photosynthesis and respiration.
Assists iron in chlorophyll formation and serves as activator for enzymes in growth process.
Deficiency is common on alkaline soils
Deficiency Symptoms
Poor root development
Reduced photosynthetic efficiency
Interveinal chlorosis and mottling of leaves
Yellow-green color of young leaves, but no sharp distinction between veins and interveinal areas as with iron.
Treatment – See Table 1
Zinc (Zn)
Key Facts
Involved with the production of growth hormones
Necessary for starch formation and proper root development
Constituent in several plant enzymes
Deficiency Symptoms
Yellowing of leaves
Decrease in stem length
Twig Die-back after first year
Reduced fruit bud formation
Rosetting of terminal leaves
Changes to leaf morphology
Treatment – See Table 1
Boron
Key Facts
Regulates metabolism of carbohydrates in plants.
Critical for new growth in plants
Assists in flower pollination, fertilization, fruit set
Deficiency Symptoms
Poor growth
Reduced crop quality
Death of terminal growth
Thickened, curled, wilted leaves
Poor fruit and flower set / development
Treatment – See Table 1
Copper (Cu)
Key Facts
Essential for fertilization
Important in carbohydrate and protein metabolism
Important in lignin formation and structural integrity of plants
Contributes to flavour and sugar content and intensifies colour
Deficiency Symptoms
Wilting
Stunted growth
Death of leaf tips
Distortion of leaves
Dieback of terminal shoots in trees
Treatment – See Table 1
Treatment
The chief sources of micronutrients available in organic matters include FYM, compost, dungs of various animals, poultry manure, green manure and crop residues in farm fields. Content of total micronutrients in some organic sources are given in Table 1
Table 1
Micronutrient Contents of various Organic Matter – Dr S.K.Sahu & Dr P.K.Samant, Dept of Soil Science & Agriculture Chem, Bhubaneswar
