Plant Nutrition
Uptake of Nutrients
Macronutrients
Carbon - organic compounds Oxygen - organic compounds Hydrogen - organic compounds Nitrogen - nucleic acids, proteins Sulfur - proteins Phosphorus- nucleic acids, lipids Potassium - Protein Synthesis
water balance Calcium - cell walls, membranes,
permeability Magnesium - chlorophyll, enzymes
Micronutrients
Chlorine - water balance,
photosynthesis Iron - cytochromes Boron - chlorophyll synthesis Manganese - amino acids
photosynthesis Zinc - Chlorophyll synthesis Copper - enzymes for redox rxns Molybdenum - nitrogen fixation Nickel - Cofactor in nitrogen
metabolism
Soil
Develops from weathered rocks Anchors plants Provides water Provides dissolved minerals
Soil Texture
Pertains to sizes of soil particles includes the following:
sands (0.02 - 2 mm) silt (0.002 - 0.02 mm) clay (less than 0.002 mm)
Soil Composition
Made up of sand, silt, clay, rocks, humus, microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, algae, protists, insects, worms, roots)
Soil contains a mixture of different sized particles loam - (40%, 40%, 20%) - fertile
The availability of soil water and minerals
The availability
of soil water and minerals
Plant takes up water not tied to hydrophilic soil particles
Positively charged ions attach to soil and negatively charged ions are lost
Hydrogen ions help displace minerals attached to soil
Roots add hydrogen ions to the soil through the release of carbon dioxide (reacts with water to form carbonic acid)
The availability of soil water and minerals
Soil Conservation
Fertilizers (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium)
Irrigation Erosion
Nitrogen Fixation
Nitrogen Fixation Plants absorb nitrogen in the form of
nitrate Nitrogen-fixing and ammonifying
bacteria produce ammonium Ammonium is shifted to nitrate by
nitrifying bacteria Plants shift nitrate back to
ammonium for use
Nutritional Adaptations Root nodules (legumes)
Root Nodule
Roots emit chemical that attract bacteria that stimulates root hair growth
Bacteria penetrates the root cortex Growth continues and includes
pericycle which forms a nodule Growth continues to include
vascular tissue
Nutritional Adaptations
Mycorrhizae (mutulalistic) ectomycorrhizae (surface sheath) endomycorrhizae (no sheath)
Nutritional Adaptations Parasitic plants
haustoria mistletoe dodder
Epiphytes bromelids / orchids
Carnivorous plants obtain nitrogen minerals from
animals