Plant Nutrition

Question 1

What does fertilization do?

Answer 1

Replaces mineral nutrients that have been lost from the soil

Question 2

80-90% of a plant’s fresh mass is?

Answer 2

Water

Question 3

4% of a plant’s dry mass is?

Answer 3

Inorganic substances from the soil

Question 4

96% of a plant’s dry mass is?

Answer 4

CO2 assimilated into carbohydrates during photosynthesis

Question 5

How many essential elements does a plant require to complete its life cycle and reproduce?

Answer 5

17

Question 6

How many macronutrients are there, and why are they called macronutrients?

Answer 6

9

Plants require them in large amounts

Question 7

How many micronutrients are there, and why are the called micronutrients?

Answer 7

8

Plants require them in small amounts

Question 8

A deficiency in ____ causes chlorosis of older leaves

Answer 8

Nitrogen

Question 9

A deficiency in ______ causes poor growth

Answer 9

Carbon, oxygen, hydrogen

Question 10

A deficiency in _______ causes mottling of older leaves and poorly developed roots

Answer 10

Potassium

Question 11

A deficiency in _______ causes crinkling of young leaves and death of terminal buds

Answer 11

Calcium

Question 12

A deficiency in _____ causes chlorosis between veins of older leaves

Answer 12

Magnesium

Question 13

A deficiency in ______ makes the plant appear to be healthy but slow in development (thin stems, purpling of veins, poor flowering/fruiting)

Answer 13

Phosphorus

Question 14

A deficiency in ______ causes general chlorosis in young leaves

Answer 14

Sulphur

Question 15

Deficiencies in micronutrients affects?

Answer 15

Photosynthesis which turns the plant yellow

Question 16

What is cation exchange in soil?

Answer 16

Cations are displaced from soil particles by other cations

Displaced cations enter the soil solution and can be taken up by plant roots

Question 17

Does deficiencies of a mobile nutrient affect the older or younger organs?

Answer 17

Older

Question 18

Does deficiencies of a less mobile nutrient affect the older or younger organs?

Answer 18

Younger

Question 19

What is the rhizosphere?

Answer 19

The layer of soil closely surrounding the plant’s roots

Question 20

_______ help to enhance plant growth

Answer 20

Rhizobacteria

Question 21

What is an important limiting nutrient for plant growth and what is needed to ensure plants get this nutrient?

Answer 21

Nitrogen!! Plants cannot absorb atmospheric nitrogen it needs to be turned into NO3- or NH4+

Bacteria can convert nitrogen through the nitrogen cycle!!

Question 22

_____ are mutualistic associations of fungi and roots

How is it mutualistic?

Answer 22

Mycorrhizae

Fungus gets a steady supply of sugar, fungus increases the surface area for water and nutrient uptake for plant as well as secretes growth factors that stimulate root growth

Question 23

What is the difference between the two main types of Mycorrhizae? (Ectomycorrhizae and Arbuscular mycorrhizae)

Answer 23

1. Ectomycorrhizae
   -Does not penetrate root cells
2. Arbuscular mycorrhizae
   -Does penetrate the cell wall but not the plasma membrane

Question 24

______ grows on another plant and obtains water an minerals from rain

Answer 24

Epiphytes

Question 25

_____ absorbs sugars and minerals from their living host plant

Answer 25

Parasitic plants

Question 26

______ are photosynthetic but obtain nitrogen by killing insects

Answer 26

Carnivorous plants