Mineral Requirements Objectives: *List the requirements for plant growth ** Describe the need for named minerals in plant growth ***Compare application of artificial and natural fertilisers 1.Name the factors or substances needed for plant growth 2.What process is involved absorbing plant nutrients from the soil? 3.In what form are these absorbed? 4. What food group plants make? What other food group is vital for their growth? 5. What difference is their in their composition? 6.How do plants get this element?

NutrientTaken asFunctionDeficiency symptoms Name of disease MgMagnesium ion Makes chlorophyll Yellow or pale green leaves chlorosis NNitrate ionMakes proteins for growth of leaves and stems Poor fruit and flower growth yellow leaves with dead spots PPhosphate ionMakes DNA, roots and in respiration Discoloured purple leaves and small roots KPotassium ionIn photosynthesis and respiration, for healthy flower and leaf Normal upper and yellow lower leaves, small flowers

Fertilisers Why are they used? NPK ? The proportions are shown on a bag of fertiliser 25:0:16. What does it mean?

Explain: 1.Farmers spread animal manure on their fields 2.If same type of crop is grown in the same place every year, it will gradually grow less well and become stunted, with yellow leaves 3. If fertlisers get washed into ponds and lakes they cause water pollution by algal and weed growth AdvabtagesDisadvantages Artificial(inorganic chemicals) easy to sore,release nutrients quickly, farmers know how much each nutrient there is in the fertiliser Short lasting, farmers need to be careful about how much and when to use, causes water pollution by encouraging algal and plant growth when washed by rain Natural(organic like manure and compost) Add humus to the soil,long lasting Releases nutrients slowly by rotting, farmers don’t know the mass of each nutrient