B4f- Plants need minerals Flashcards
What minerals do fertilisers contain?
nitrates
phosphates
potassium
magnesium
Why do plants need nitrates?
to make amino acids for proteins which are needed for cell growth
Why do plants need phosphates?
to make DNA and cell membranes for respiration and growth
Why do plants need potassium?
to help enzymes in photosynthesis and respiration
Why do plants need magnesium?
to make chlorophyll for photosynthesis
What do plants lacking in nitrates look like?
poor growth
yellow leaves
What do plants lacking in phosphates look like?
poor root growth
discoloured leaves
What do plants lacking in potassium look like?
poor flower and fruit growth
discoloured leaves
What do plants lacking in magnesium look like?
yellow leaves
How do root hairs take in minerals using active transport?
Active transport uses energy from respiration to help the plant pull minerals into the root hair using the concentration gradient
What is the concentration gradient?
a low concentration to a high concentration (eg minerals in the soil to the minerals in the root hair cell)
What is the advantage of a plant having root hairs?
they give the plant a big surface area for absorbing minerals from the soil
