Nutrients and the soil, Biology

Assignment Help:

Nutrients and the Soil

Early experiments on mineral uptake were performed by Hoagland, Stout and Amon in 1923. They showed that minerals were taken up from the soil primarily in ionic form. The rate of uptake of different ions by roots varied and one ion influenced the uptake of other ions. As soil is the medium for the storage and exchange of mineral ions, its properties, ion exchange capacity, pH and the presence of different cations and anions affect the availability of ions to the plant. In other words, the presence of a certain mineral ions in abundance in the soil cannot ensure its availability to the plant because ions may adhere to clay or precipitate out of the solution as insoluble salts. The soil with high water holding capacity generally has high mineral holding capacity as well.

 

1606_Nutrients and the Soil.png

The fine particles of clay and humus possess a relatively large surface to volume ratio and are negatively charged. Hence, they have higher ion-binding capacity than the soil composed of coarse particles. Figure shows the colloidal clay crystals (micelles) with innumerable negative surface charges. The cations are loosely bound to negative charges by ionic bond and are capable of exchanging rapidly and reversibly with those in the soil solution. H+ ions have greater affinity for charged soil particles than ca2+, Mg2+or K+ ions. Therefore, these cations are released in soil water by H+ ions and made available for uptake by roots. The acidity of soil also increases due to respiration because CO2 released reacts with soil water to form carbonic acid.


Related Discussions:- Nutrients and the soil

Which harmone is not associated with male reproduction, Which of the below ...

Which of the below is NOT hormone associated with male reproductive physiology: a) Prolactin b) Testosterone c) Interstitial hormone d) Follicle-stimulating hormone

Describe in detail about the psychological testing, Describe in detail abou...

Describe in detail about the Psychological Testing Psychological testing is the third source of information about the child, and the source most often equated with neuropsychol

Explain phylum sporozoa, Phylum Sporozoa 1) Thcy do not liavc any exter...

Phylum Sporozoa 1) Thcy do not liavc any external locomotory dcvice and move by wriggling. 2) Reproduction by producing numerous spores. 3) All are parasites of animals,

Composition of blood, Composition of blood: Take few ml. of fresh bl...

Composition of blood: Take few ml. of fresh blood in a test tube and before collecting the blood add a few drops of sodium oxalate or sodium citrate solution to prevent clot

Explain the hormonal control of the reproductive system, Explain the hormon...

Explain the hormonal control of the reproductive system in human male. Define totipotency. Verify the two different routes of regenerating plantlets from callus culture.

Studying a single rock, Studying a single rock Select a single rock and...

Studying a single rock Select a single rock and try to learn as more as possible about it from careful observation. If it is flat, it is probably a piece or layer from Sediment

Explain spoilage by yeasts, Q. Explain Spoilage by yeasts? Yeasts domin...

Q. Explain Spoilage by yeasts? Yeasts dominate in the spoilage of fruit products which contain high acid content due to their ability to tolerate high acid environment. Yeast

Infectious bronchitis (ib), I nfectious bronchitis (IB) Infectious bro...

I nfectious bronchitis (IB) Infectious bronchitis is a highly contagious respiratory disease of poultry, caused by a virus belonging to the family Coronaviridae. Its existence

Define future challenges for dynamical network, Define Future challenges fo...

Define Future challenges for dynamical network? Graph theory is an old field of mathematics where biological applications are driving new advances. Mathematicians are supplemen

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd