Mineral Nutrition

Question 1

Essential Elements

Answer 1

Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen

come from carbon dioxide and water

Question 2

word for Essential Minerals in large quantities

Answer 2

macronutrients

• primary
• secondary

Question 3

word for Essential Minerals in limited quantities

Answer 3

micronutrients

Question 4

Primary Macronutrients

Answer 4

needed in largest amounts
(NPP)
Nitrogen
Phosphorus 
Potassium

Question 5

Secondary Macronutrients

Answer 5

needed in lesser amounts 
(CSM)
Calcium
Sulfur
Magnesium

Question 6

Micronutrients

Answer 6

always classified as essential 
(FeZMnCuBMoCl)
Iron
Zinc
Manganese
Copper
Boron
Molybdenum 
Chloride 

sometimes considered essential
(CoNi)
Cobalt Nickel

Question 7

Supplementing Nutrients in:
soils
greenhouse mixes
hydropincs

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Nitrogen is used in plants how?

Answer 8

proteins (enzymes that are the machinery of the cell)
chlorophyll (photosynthesis)
DNA, RNA (genetic information)

Question 9

Phosphorus is used in plants how?

Answer 9

DNA, RNA (genetic information)

energy metabolism via ATP

Question 10

Potassium is used in plants how?

Answer 10

Ion regulation
guard cell activity (stomata)
enzyme co-factor (makes enzymes work)

Question 11

Calcium is used in plants how?

Answer 11

cell wall and membranes

Question 12

Magnesium is used in plants how?

Answer 12

Chlorophyll (photosynthesis)

enzyme co-factor (makes enzymes work)

Question 13

Sulfur is used in plants how?

Answer 13

proteins (enzymes that are the machinery of the cell)

Question 14

Iron is used in plants how?

Answer 14

chlorophyll synthesis

“light reaction” in photosynthesis

Question 15

Manganese & Copper & Zinc are used in plants how?

Answer 15

Enzyme co-factor (makes enzyme work)

Question 16

Boron is used in plants how?

Answer 16

Carbohydrate transport (translocation)

Question 17

Molybdenum is used in plants how?

Answer 17

nitrogen fixation (capturing nitrogen gas from air in a form plants can use)

Question 18

Chloride is used in plants how?

Answer 18

Ion regulation (like potassium)

Question 19

Nutrient ions must be what in order to be taken up into the plant?

Answer 19

dissolved in soil water

Question 20

Nutrient ions move from soil solution to vascular center of a plant root, how?

Answer 20

by passing through at least one cell membrane

Question 21

movement across a membrane can be described as

Answer 21

passive or active

Question 22

mineral uptake by plants can be

Answer 22

passive or active

Question 23

Diffusion definition

Answer 23

movement across a membrane from side of higher concentration of ion to side of lower concentration of ion

Question 24

Active transport of minerals definition

Answer 24

occurs across the membrane against a concentration gradient and requires energy to “pump” ions into the cell

Question 25

Once in the root, minerals move up the stem in the

Answer 25

transpiration stream

Question 26

After minerals are once used in cell metabolism or plant growth, they may be either:

Answer 26

``` moved around later (mobile) become fixed (immobile) ```

Question 27

mobile nutrients

Answer 27

nitrogen phosphorus potassium magnesium

Question 28

immobile nutrients

Answer 28

iron copper manganese zinc

Question 29

Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms of mobile minerals

Answer 29

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

Question 30

Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms of immobile minerals

Answer 30

when mineral supply gets low, symptoms show up in newer leaves - plant cannot move nutrients to new growth, so new growth shows effect

Question 31

Soil pH | acidity vs. alkalinity

Answer 31

add limestone to raise pH (make more basic) | add sulfur to lower pH (make more acidic)

Question 32

How to change how much nutrients is in the soil

Answer 32

add fertilizer

Question 33

Fertilizers types/sources

Answer 33

organic - manure and plant residues | inorganic - mined minerals

Question 34

Inorganic mineral fertilizers application

Answer 34

``` dry -broadcast -banding -side dressing liquid -via irrigation lines, fertigation, chemigation and foliar spray ```

Question 35

Fertilizer Analysis

Answer 35

N-P-K macro: % of total weight micro: ppm

Question 36

Hydroponics definition and types

Answer 36

growing plants in water + nutrients culture without any soil (or medium around roots) - water culture, no medium - substrate culture, soiless medium

Question 37

water culture requires and types

Answer 37

requires: aeration root darkness physical support of plant types: recycling of nutrient solution non-recycling

Question 38

Substrate culture

Answer 38

some inert medium (sand, vermiculite, etc.) water/nutrient solution is provided, usually by capillary action to the roots in the substrate