p. 914 Mineral Nutrition
- Lincoln Taiz, Lincoln TaizUniversity of California, Santa Cruz
- Eduardo Zeiger, Eduardo ZeigerUniversity of California, Los Angeles
- Ian Max MøllerIan Max MøllerAarhus University, Denmark
- , and Angus MurphyAngus MurphyUniversity of Maryland
Abstract
This chapter evaluates mineral nutrition, which is the study of how plants obtain and use mineral nutrients. Mineral nutrients are elements such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium that plants acquire primarily in the form of inorganic ions from the soil. Although mineral nutrients continually cycle through all organisms, they enter the biosphere predominantly through the root systems of plants; in a sense, plants act as the “miners” of Earth's crust. The large surface area of roots and their ability to absorb inorganic ions at low concentrations from the soil solution increase the effectiveness of mineral acquisition by plants. After being absorbed by roots, the mineral elements are translocated to the different parts of the plant, where they serve in numerous biological functions. The chapter then looks at plant disorders, the treatment of nutritional deficiencies, and the roles of soil, roots, and microbes.
