9.5 THE NEED OF MINERALS

Question 1

What are the sources of minerals?

Answer 1

1. Most plants get magnesium and nitrates from the soil
2. Minerals dissolved in water is transported around the plant through the xylem
3. Legumes (peas and beans) do not get nitrates from the soil
4. Legumes have root nodules full of bacteria that make nitrates from the nitrogen in the air
5. In return, the legumes provide sugar produced through photosynthesis to these bacterias
6. Legumes add nitrates to the soil, improving it for other plants to use

Question 2

What are they produced by and what is the importance of nitrates in plants?

Answer 2

• Produced by decomposers
• Used to make amino acids (smallest unit in protein)
• Proteins control the reactions in the cells
• Proteins are part of the structure of the plant

Question 3

What is the importance of magnesium in plants?

Answer 3

• Magnesium is used to make chlorophyll

Question 4

What are the effects of nitrate deficiency in plants?

Answer 4

• Poor growth
• Older leaves turn yellow

Question 5

What are the effects of magnesium deficiency in plants?

Answer 5

• Leaves turn pale or yellow