seed nutrition

botany dr kohnen

van helmont

• grew willow seedling over 5 year period, only giving it water

• results concluded that increased weight of tree was due to water, not soil

de saussure

• 1804

• grew plants in both distilled water and distilled water w/ mineral salts

• concluded that salts contributed to plant heath

legumes

cobalt mineral requirement

equisetum

silicon mineral requirement

sodium

corn and cacti mineral requirement

hydroponics

• soil substitute

• nutrient solution

• needs oxygen passing through

nutrient deficiencies

problematic and can induce symptoms that often look like those caused by viruses

chlorosis

• yellowing of leaves or stems

• often found in plants with magnesium (Mg) and iron (Fe) deficiencies

necrosis

dead tissue

lesion

localized area of disease or dead tissue

zone of defficiency

zone of adequacy

zone of toxicity

inorganic fertilizers

• mineral salts

• have percentages of ions

  • ex. 10% N, 7% P, 6% K

organic fertilizers

• plant/animal material

  • plants and animals themselves

  • manure/guano (bird or bat waste)

order of favored binding

Al+ > H+ > Ca+2 > Mg+2 > K+ > NH+4 > Na+

ion exchange

soil ions being exchanged by another ion of higher binding, thus made available for plant uptake

high H+

• low pH

• acidic

low H+

• high pH

• basic

water cycle through plant

• water enters through vein

• evaporating from all cell surfaces

  • evaporates and moves out through stoma

    • new water molecules take its place in empty space

      • since water molecules stick to each other, they pull other molecules through the plant to the roots