Plant Nutrition - Functions of Nutrients - Micro-nutrients - Cobalt

Cobalt

Cobalt has proven to be beneficial to at least some plants, but is essential in others, such as legumes where it is required for nitrogen fixation for the symbiotic relationship it has with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Vanadium may be required by some plants, but at very low concentrations. It may also be substituting for molybdenum. Selenium and sodium may also be beneficial. Sodium can replace potassium's regulation of stomatal opening and closing

1. The requirement of Co for N2 fixation in legumes and non-legumes have been documented clearly
2. Protein synthesis of Rhizobium is impaired due to Co deficiency
3. It is still not clear whether Co has direct effect on higher plant