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In the physical evolution of the planet, the heavier elements became more abundant as the solar system formed. The accompanying bar chart shows the relative abundances of the most important elements. Note that the vertical scale is logarithmic, each division representing a tenfold increase or decrease.  The bar chart reveals the processes that synthesised heavier elements out of the hydrogen (H) and helium (He) of the Big Bang. Fusion in stars created more helium, skipped over lithium (Li), beryllium (Be) and boron (B) to carbon (C) and generated all the elements up to iron (Fe). Massive stars eventually explode as supernovas and their shockwaves make heavier elements than iron, but in very small amounts.

The elements of which plants need most, are called macronutrients: N, P, S, Ca, Mg, Fe.
The required other elements are called trace elements or micronutrients: Mn, Zn, Cu, Mo, B, Cl.
In addition there are elements that are essential for only certain plant groups: Na for Chenopodiacea, Co for the Fabales with symbionts, Al for the ferns, Si for the diatoms, and Se for some planktonic algae. The nutrient requirements of agricultural plants have been studied in considerable detail, but much less so for wild plants and plankton. (Source [8])
 
 
 

One can see how some elements concentrated, others diluted. The most common elements of life are Carbon, Oxygen, Hydrogen and Nitrogen, all plentiful in the atmosphere, as shown in the table below. Other elements precious to life, such as sulfur and iodine also circulate through the atmosphere but in very small amounts.   Average composition of clean, dry air at the Earth's surface Constituent Symbol Molecular Weight Molecular fraction Fraction by mass Nitrogen Oxygen Argon Carbon dioxide Neon Helium Methane Krypton Nitrous oxyde Hydrogen Ozone N2 O2 Ar CO2 Ne He CH4 Kr N2O H2 O3 28 32 40 44 20 4 16 84 44 2 48 78.09 % 20.95 % 0.93 % 320 ppm 18 ppm 5.2 ppm 2.9 ppm 1.1 ppm 0.5 ppm 0.5 ppm 0.01 ppm 75.5% 23.2 % 1.3 % 486 ppm 12 ppm 0.7 ppm 1.6 ppm 3.2 ppm 0.8 ppm 0.03 ppm 0.02 ppm Water, moisture H2O 18 - - Source: Garrels, MacKenzie and Hunt: Chemical cycles. 1975

Some elements can replace others. For instance, where copper is used extensively in electrical cabling, it can be replaced by aluminium. Gold and silver are more difficult to replace and phosphate rock and sulphur will be limiting the green revolution, since they are an important part of artificial fertilisers. Whereas nitrogen fertiliser can be made from air at the cost of about 1kg coal per kg of active nitrogen, it needs to be applied with 10-15% phosphorus and sulphur in order to be effective.