Mineral Nutrition Flashcards
Essential Elements
Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen
come from carbon dioxide and water
word for Essential Minerals in large quantities
macronutrients
- primary
- secondary
word for Essential Minerals in limited quantities
micronutrients
Primary Macronutrients
needed in largest amounts (NPP) Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium
Secondary Macronutrients
needed in lesser amounts (CSM) Calcium Sulfur Magnesium
Micronutrients
always classified as essential (FeZMnCuBMoCl) Iron Zinc Manganese Copper Boron Molybdenum Chloride
sometimes considered essential
(CoNi)
Cobalt Nickel
Supplementing Nutrients in:
soils
greenhouse mixes
hydropincs
soils - N, P, K
greenhouse mixes - (completely artificial media without any soil) complex mixtures of many nutrients are added
hydroponics - (water culture) all essential elements must be provided
Nitrogen is used in plants how?
proteins (enzymes that are the machinery of the cell)
chlorophyll (photosynthesis)
DNA, RNA (genetic information)
Phosphorus is used in plants how?
DNA, RNA (genetic information)
energy metabolism via ATP
Potassium is used in plants how?
Ion regulation
guard cell activity (stomata)
enzyme co-factor (makes enzymes work)
Calcium is used in plants how?
cell wall and membranes
Magnesium is used in plants how?
Chlorophyll (photosynthesis)
enzyme co-factor (makes enzymes work)
Sulfur is used in plants how?
proteins (enzymes that are the machinery of the cell)
Iron is used in plants how?
chlorophyll synthesis
“light reaction” in photosynthesis
Manganese & Copper & Zinc are used in plants how?
Enzyme co-factor (makes enzyme work)
Boron is used in plants how?
Carbohydrate transport (translocation)
Molybdenum is used in plants how?
nitrogen fixation (capturing nitrogen gas from air in a form plants can use)
Chloride is used in plants how?
Ion regulation (like potassium)
Nutrient ions must be what in order to be taken up into the plant?
dissolved in soil water
Nutrient ions move from soil solution to vascular center of a plant root, how?
by passing through at least one cell membrane
movement across a membrane can be described as
passive or active
mineral uptake by plants can be
passive or active
Diffusion definition
movement across a membrane from side of higher concentration of ion to side of lower concentration of ion
Active transport of minerals definition
occurs across the membrane against a concentration gradient and requires energy to “pump” ions into the cell
Once in the root, minerals move up the stem in the
transpiration stream
After minerals are once used in cell metabolism or plant growth, they may be either:
moved around later (mobile) become fixed (immobile)
mobile nutrients
nitrogen
phosphorus
potassium
magnesium
immobile nutrients
iron
copper
manganese
zinc
Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms of mobile minerals
when mineral supply gets low, symptoms show up in older leaves - plant moves what it has to new growth, so old growth shows effect of deficiency
Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms of immobile minerals
when mineral supply gets low, symptoms show up in newer leaves - plant cannot move nutrients to new growth, so new growth shows effect
Soil pH
acidity vs. alkalinity
add limestone to raise pH (make more basic)
add sulfur to lower pH (make more acidic)
How to change how much nutrients is in the soil
add fertilizer
Fertilizers types/sources
organic - manure and plant residues
inorganic - mined minerals
Inorganic mineral fertilizers application
dry -broadcast -banding -side dressing liquid -via irrigation lines, fertigation, chemigation and foliar spray
Fertilizer Analysis
N-P-K
macro: % of total weight
micro: ppm
Hydroponics definition and types
growing plants in water + nutrients culture without any soil (or medium around roots)
- water culture, no medium
- substrate culture, soiless medium
water culture requires and types
requires:
aeration
root darkness
physical support of plant
types:
recycling of nutrient solution
non-recycling
Substrate culture
some inert medium (sand, vermiculite, etc.)
water/nutrient solution is provided, usually by capillary action to the roots in the substrate
