Download - Chapter 38 Plant nutrition
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:SandRocks- various sizesClay Silt Humus- partly decayed organic material92 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