Mineral Nutrition

Mineral Nutrition

Maria Anabel B. Dela Cruz

Section S- 6L

March 29, 2014

ABSTRACT

        The effects of mineral deficiency and oversufficiency to plants were determined by performing an experiment involving the plant tomato subjected into different nutrient solutions. The experiment shows that the plant grew the biggest and healthiest in the +++Fe. In the complete, it is normal. The other treatment resulted in abnormalities in the plants.

INTRODUCTION

        Plants use inorganic minerals for nutrition, whether grown in the field or in a container. Complex interactions involving weathering of rock minerals, decaying organic matter, animals, and microbes take place to form inorganic minerals in soil. Roots absorb mineral nutrients as ions in soil water (Bolce, n.d.). A mineral can either be an essential or beneficial element.  Essential elements are defined as those which are necessary for a plant to complete its life cycle (normal growth and reproduction), and for which no other element can substitute. An essential element is either a constituent of an essential metabolite or is needed for an enzymatic function. Either criterion is sufficient to demonstrate essentiality (Hangarter, n.d.). Beneficial elements are those that can compensate for toxic effects of other elements or may replace mineral nutrients in some other less specific function (Bolce, n.d.).  There are actually 20 mineral elements necessary or beneficial for plant growth. Carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O) are supplied by air and water. The six macronutrients, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and sulfur (S) are required by plants in large amounts. The rest of the elements are required in trace amounts (micronutrients). Essential trace elements include boron (B), chlorine (Cl), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), sodium (Na), zinc (Zn), molybdenum (Mo), and nickel (Ni). Beneficial mineral elements include silicon (Si) and cobalt (Co). The beneficial elements have not been deemed essential for all plants but may be essential for some (Bolce, n.d.).  Nitrogen is an element used in larger quantities than any other mineral nutrient. Deficiency of nitrogen results in stunted and/or yellow on the older leaves. It also causes little fruiting on melons and tomatoes. Phosphorus hastens maturity, promotes good root development, improves drought and cold tolerance, and improves seedling vigor, important in seed and fruit formation. Phosphorus deficiency symptoms include overall reduction in growth, stunting, delay in maturity, and failure of seed to form. Potassium is used in larger amounts than any other element except N. May have "luxury consumption" plants take up more than is needed. It helps disease resistance and increases quality of fruits and vegetables. One of the Potassium deficiency symptom is that the tips and margins of leaves turn brown. One of Calcium’s functions is plant root and tip elongation. Calcium deficiency symptom includes failure of terminal buds to develop and blossom end rot of tomatoes. The functions of Iron include catalyst in the production of chlorophyll and in enzyme systems (Broome, n.d.).