Chapter 5 Study Questions

  1. Which mineral elements does a plant require in order to grow from seed through its life cycle? What are some differences between the requirements of a plant and an animal?

    Textbook Reference: Essential Nutrients, Deficiencies, and Plant Disorders, pp. 120–129

  2. What is an essential element? How many have been identified? What is a beneficial element? Provide an example of a beneficial element.

    Textbook Reference: Essential Nutrients, Deficiencies, and Plant Disorders, pp. 120–129

  3. What is a nutrient solution? Why is it more convenient to use liquid medium, as opposed to soil, to grow plants in nutritional studies? In nutrient solutions, nitrogen can be supplied as NH4+ or NO3–. Which would be used in a nutritional study? 

    Textbook Reference: Essential Nutrients, Deficiencies, and Plant Disorders, pp. 122–125

  4. What is a mineral deficiency and how can it be recognized? How can farmers benefit from nutrient analysis of their crops?

    Textbook Reference: Essential Nutrients, Deficiencies, and Plant Disorders, pp. 122–129; Treating Nutritional Deficiencies, pp. 129–130

  5. How do plants optimize nutrient uptake from the soil? How can mycorrhizas help?

    Textbook Reference: Treating Nutritional Deficiencies, pp. 133–140

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