CHAPTER 38PLANT NUTRITION

By Team GS

Basic Plant info…

Energy inputs are required for the ongoing construction of a plant

- Just like all organisms Plants aquire nutrients through

photosynthesis and from the soil Nitrogen is particulary problematic

because most plants are unable to convert atmospheric nitrogen available for absorption

Continued….

Some plants are able to capture animals and secrete digestive juices to make nitrogen available for absorption

Sources of plant nutrients Fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide

(CO2) simple sugar with the energy of the sun

Macronutrients

Carbon Oxygen Hydrogen Nitrogen Potassium Calcium Magnesium Phosphorous Sulfur

Micronutrients

Iron Manganese Zinc Boron Copper Molybdenum

Soil

Soil is a perfect host for some bacteria and fungi that aid in obtaining nutrients in a useable form.

Composition of soil Plant growth is affected by the composition Composition includes:

Sand

Rocks- various sizes

Clay

Silt

Humus- partly decayed organic material

92 naturally occuring elements found in soil

Topsoil

Roots are found in topsoil Living organisms Humus ½ of all topsoil is made or airpockets

Cultivation Nutrients are recycled and made available

to organisms on a continous basis Major techniques have been created to

help cultivators Crop rotation- solution of nutrient

deficiency Why? Ex soy beans are great for using nitrifying

bacteria

Process of nitrification

How plants grow in soil

Most roots occur in the topsoil, which is the upper most top layer of soil and contains organic matter

Subsoil lies underneath the topsoil and contains larger mineral particles for plants to feed off

Raw material known as bedrock also releases nutrients over time and weathering.

Fertilizers

Was first ment to be used in large production farms to replace nutrients lost in cultivated fields

Most commonly added is Nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium

Both synthetic and organic fertilizer are often added in large quantities and can be significant sources of pollution in certain situations.

Less signs of pollution are shown with organic based fertilizers.

Basic working