What is the name of nutrients required by plants to complete their life cycle?

The term "essential nutrients or elements" refers to the specific nutrients that plants must have to complete their growth and life cycles successfully. These nutrients play crucial roles in various physiological processes, including photosynthesis, energy transfer, and the synthesis of nucleic acids and proteins.

Essential nutrients are typically divided into two categories: macronutrients and micronutrients. Macronutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, are required in larger quantities, while micronutrients, or trace elements like iron and manganese, are needed in much smaller amounts but are still vital for plant health. The classification as "essential" indicates that plants cannot complete their life cycles without these nutrients, underscoring their importance in agriculture and horticulture for optimal plant development.

In contrast, trace elements, organic compounds, and macronutrients, while relevant to plant nutrition, do not encompass the full range of essential nutrients required for plant life cycles as a group. Thus, the correct term encompasses all necessary nutrients, highlighting the critical nature of essential nutrients for plants.