CHAPTER 6: PLANTS NUTRITION

MODULE CHAPTER 6

WORKSHEET 6.1 MINERAL REQUIREMENT

Complete the mind map below:

Carbon

hydrogen Boron

Oxygen
molybdenum

nitrogen
Macronutrient Elements Micronutrient Zinc
Required
Phosphorus By
Plants
manganese
Potassium

Copper
Calcium

Ferum
magnesium

Sulphur

2. Compare and contrast.

a. The similarities between macronutrient and micronutrient

Both macronutrient and micronutrient are _____________

inorganic substances which are needed for
plant growth.

b. The differences between macronutrient and micronutrient

Macronutrient is required by plants in __________

large quantities while micronutrient is required by
plants in __________ quantities.
small
3. The functions and effects of deficiency of macronutrients and micronutrients.

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 CHAPTER 6: PLANTS NUTRITION

a. Complete the table below to state the functions and effects of deficiency of macronutrients in
plants.

MACRONUTRIENTS FUNCTIONS EFFECT OF DEFICIENCY

 Form organic molecules  Stunted growth
Carbon

 Form
Form organic
organicmolecules
molecules  Stunted growth
Hydrogen

 Form organic molecules 

Stunted growth
Oxygen

 Synthesis of chlorophyll 
Stunted growth
 Synthesis of amino acid and protein 
Nitrogen chlorosis
 Synthesis of nucleic acids

 Synthesis nucleic acids, ATP, some 

protein 
Poor root growth
Phosphorus Older leaves are dark green
 phospholipids in plasma membrane 
 coenzyme in photosynthesis Young leaves turn yellow
 Cofactor for many enzymes  Yellow and brown leaf margin
 Protein synthesis  Premature death
Potassium
 Maintain turgidity in plants

 Formation of middle lamella  Stunted growth

 Normal cell wall formation  Leaves become distorted and cupped
Calcium
 Formation of spindle fibres

  chlorosis
 Constituent of chlorophyll
Magnesium Cofactor for many enzymes

 synthesis of certain amino acids and 

chlorosis
some protein
Sulphur  synthesis of some coenzymes

b. Complete the table below to state the functions and effects of deficiency of micronutrients in

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 CHAPTER 6: PLANTS NUTRITION

plants.

MICRONUTRIENTS FUNCTIONS EFFECT OF DEFICIENCY

 Normal cell division in  abnormal growth and death of shoot
meristem tips
Boron

 reduction of nitrate during synthesis  slight growth retardation

of amino acids
Molybdenum
 nitrogen fixation

 Anaerobic respiration in  mottled or malformed leaves

Zinc plants

 activator of enzymes in 
Leaves with yellow patches
photosynthesis
Manganese

 component of enzymes in  abnormal shoot growth

photosynthesis and respiration
Copper

 synthesis of chlorophyll 
chlorosis
 formation of respiratory enzymes
Ferum

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 CHAPTER 6: PLANTS NUTRITION

WORKSHEET 6.2 Structure of a Leaf

branch
Fill in the blanks.

leaf

cuticle

Upper
epidermis

Palisade mesophyll chloroplas

xylem

Spongy mesophyll
phloem

Air space

Lower epidermis

Guard cell stoma

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 CHAPTER 6: PLANTS NUTRITION

1. The mechanism of stomatal opening and closing is as follows:

Mechanism for stomatal opening Mechanism for stomatal closing

 Arrows show potassium ions from
epidermal cells entering the guard cells.
 This causes solute potential in the
guard cells to increase and the
water potential to decrease . increase.
 The solute potential is also increased
by increase in sucrose concentration due
to higher rate of photosynthesis.
 water molecules follow the direction of
the potassiumm ions. Water diffuse to
the guard cells by osmosis .
 Condition of guard cells become
turgid .
 As the cell wall of the guard cells is
thick inside, the cells curve outwards
causing stoma to open .
Arrows show potassium ions from guard
cells exiting the epidermal cells.
 This causes solute potential in the guard
cells to decrease and the water potential to
 The solute potential is also decreased by
decrease in sucrose concentration due to
lower rate of photosynthesis.
 Water molecules follow the direction of the
potassium ions. Water diffuse out from the
guard cells by osmosis.
 Condition of guard cells become flaccid.
 The stoma to close

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 WORKSHEET 6.3: Diversity in Plant Nutrition

1. Nutrition is the process of obtaining nutrients from food by organisms to generate

energy for growth, maintenance and repair of damage tissues.

1. Different adaptation of plants is described in the following table:

 Parasitic plants carry out live with other plants.

parasitic  Parasitic plants has root-like structured named haustoria which
plant penetrates into stem of the host to absorb organic subtances,
minerals and water.
 The growth rate of parasitic plants faster while the host eventually
dies due to lack of nutrients.

 Epiphytic plants are green plants which produce their own

epiphytic food by photosynthesis and thus called autotrophs/ producer.
plant  Epiphytic plants live on taller plants to receive higher
intensity of light and does not harm the host..
 Epiphytic plants get water and nutrients from moisture,
rain, and debris collected surrounding them.
 Some epiphytes form succulent stem and seen as swollen stem to
enable store of more water

 Carnivorous plants are green plants which produce their own

carnivourous food by photosynthesis and also feed on prey/animals/insect.
plant  The insects trapped by their cup will then be slowly
digested by digestive enzymes.
 The product of digestion is mainly nitrogen compound which fulfils
the nitrogen shortage in their habitat