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