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Mineral Salts For Plants PDF
Mineral Salts For Plants PDF
Mineral Salts For Plants PDF
Nitrogen fertilisers
► Fertilisers are used to replace minerals used by plants.
► Nitrogen fertilisers - such as ammonium nitrate and ammonium
phosphate - provide plants with water-soluble sources of nitrogen
that they can absorb through their roots. They allow farmers to
increase the yield and quality of their crops.
► However, overuse can cause problems. Eutrophication happens
when excess nitrate (or phosphate) enters rivers or lakes from fields.
This can lead to the death of fish and other aquatic animals.
Plant nutrients
► Plants use minerals from the soil to build the complex molecules they need to
survive and grow. Poor plant growth may be due to a deficiency in one or
more minerals.
Mineral requirements
► Fertilizers contain minerals such as:
• nitrates
• phosphates
• potassium compounds
Mineral Element supplied Why needed
Nitrogen is needed to make
amino acids for proteins,
Nitrates Nitrogen, N
which are needed for cell
growth
Phosphorus is needed to
Phosphates Phosphorus, P make DNA and cell
membranes
Potassium is needed in
enzymes involved in
Potassium compounds Potassium, K
respiration and
photosynthesis
Mineral Deficiency
NPK in soil
► 4:2:1.
Organic fertilizers Inorganic fertilizers