Nutrient elements of plants, Biology

Assignment Help:

Nutrient Elements of Plants

Let us first find out the chemical composition of plants and see which element nature has selected to support their healthy growth. Only then we will be able to know the nutritional requirement of plants. As you know a major part of plant tissue is comprised of water. This we can demonstrate by taking a known amount of plant tissue and drying it for a few hours in an oven at a temperature of 65-80°C. If we condense and analyse the vapours coming out from the plant tissue we will find that it is nothing but water. In fact, about 85-90 per cent of the tissue is composed of water. The part of the tissue which is left behind is called the dry matter and typically it is about 10-15 per cent of the original weight.

The dry matter consists mainly of organic compounds. About 90% of the dry matter consists of plant cell walls, primarily cellulose and related carbohydrates. This can be eliminated in the form of gases on combustion at 600°C. The residue now left is the ash which varies in different plant tissue from about 1 per cent to 0.15 per cent of the dry weight. Interestingly, a careful analysis of the ash shows that it contains almost all of the chemical elements present in the soil surrounding the plant.


Related Discussions:- Nutrient elements of plants

Drug dependence, DRUG DEPENDENCE - Some drugs are prescribed by doctor ...

DRUG DEPENDENCE - Some drugs are prescribed by doctor for the prevention or treatment of a disease. Some drugs are used for long periods. A person becomes addict to these

Define guidelines of school children and adolescents, Define Guidelines of ...

Define Guidelines of School Children and Adolescents? 1) Do not skip breakfast. At least have milk, fruit and cereal. Some children prefer to flavour the milk with cereal or pr

Name the groups into which flowering plants are divided, What are the two m...

What are the two main groups into which flowering plants are divided? Angiosperm plants are separated into a) Monocotyledonous (monocots) and b) Dicotyledonous (dicots

What are trends of the gametophyte in the evolution of plant, What are tren...

What are trends of the gametophyte in the evolution of plants? The tendency of the gametophyte evolution in plants has been towards the formation of gametes that are self-dete

Dietary modification, Q. Dietary modification? Dietary modification inc...

Q. Dietary modification? Dietary modification includes nutritional support that allows normal growth and development. Plasma phenylalanine concentration between the range of 40

What are rna polymerase subunits, Each of the three eukaryotic RNA polymera...

Each of the three eukaryotic RNA polymerases has more subunits or 12 and so these are big complex enzymes. The genes encoding some of the subunits of each  eukaryotic  enzyme  show

Direct use values of biodiversity, Q. Direct use values of biodiversity? ...

Q. Direct use values of biodiversity? Direct use values are for those goods that are ensured directly e.g. food and timber. Maintaining a wide range of components of biological

Normal pattern reappears, During the course of a physiology laboratory, a s...

During the course of a physiology laboratory, a student finds that her PR interval is 0.24 second. Concerned, she takes her own ECG again an hour later and sees an area of the ECG

What action is epa taking on plant-incorporated protectants, What action is...

What action is EPA taking on plant-incorporated protectants? EPA has issued three final rules clarifying and formalizing EPA's framework for federal oversight of plant-incorpor

Neurosecretory systems, Neurosecretory Systems Almost all groups of m...

Neurosecretory Systems Almost all groups of multicellular animals have been investigated to find out if neurosecretory cells are present in them. Such investigations have sho

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