Nutrition In Plants – Mineral Nutrition
NIOS · Class 12 · Biology
Quick revision notes for Nutrition In Plants – Mineral Nutrition — NIOS Class 12 Biology. Key concepts, formulas, and definitions for last-minute revision.
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Key Topics to Revise
Plant Nutrition – Basic Concepts
- Nutrition in plants is defined as the process of synthesis of food, its breakdown, and utilisation for various body functions.
- Chemical substances present in food that are used by organisms are called nutrients. Examples: CO₂, water, minerals, carbohydrates, proteins, fats.
- Green plants are called autotrophs because they can make their own organic food from simple inorganic substances using sunlight (photosynthesis).
Methods to Determine Mineral Requirements – Hydroponics and Aeroponics
- Since minerals are absorbed in solution form, plants can be grown in nutrient solutions without soil — this technique is called Hydroponics (water culture).
- Hydroponics was first demonstrated by German Botanist Julius Von Sachs in 1860.
- In water culture experiments, seedlings grow in water with known mineral salts. Air is bubbled to provide sufficient oxygen to roots.
Essential Mineral Elements – Criteria, Types, and Sources
- Out of about 112 known elements, only 17 are considered essential for normal plant growth.
- The 17 essential elements are: C, H, O, N, P, K, S, Mg, Ca, Fe, B, Mn, Cu, Zn, Mo, Cl, and Co.
- Criteria for an element to be called 'essential': (i) Absolutely necessary for normal growth and reproduction, (ii) Cannot be replaced by any other element (specificity), (iii) Directly or indirectly
Role (Functions) of Macro and Micro Nutrients
- Nitrogen (N): Absorbed as NO₂⁻, NO₃⁻, or NH₄⁺. Required in all tissues, especially meristematic tissues. Essential for synthesis of amino acids, proteins, nucleic acids, vitamins, hormones, coenzymes,
- Phosphorus (P): Absorbed as H₂PO₄⁻ or HPO₄²⁻. Found in young tissues. Required for synthesis of nucleic acids, phospholipids, ATP, NAD, and NADP. Constituent of cell membrane.
- Potassium (K): Absorbed as K⁺. Found in meristematic tissues, buds, leaves, root tips. Activates enzymes, associated with K⁺/Na⁺ pump (active transport), controls stomatal opening/closing, helps in ce
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