There are thirteen mineral nutrients that plants obtain from the soil, and these are divided into the categories of macronutrients and micronutrients. The primary macronutrients include nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Plants require these primary macronutrients in relatively large quantities and deplete them from the soil more rapidly than others. The secondary macronutrients include calcium, magnesium, and sulfur. Micronutrients are required in smaller quantities than the macronutrients, and these include boron, copper, iron, chloride, molybdenum, manganese, and zinc.