Plant Nutrition

Understand how essential nutrients are identified.

Know the 9 essential macronutrients and their roles in the plant.

Understand the general roles of micronutrients (you do not need to know this list however).

Know that experienced plant biologists can diagnose mineral deficiency based on the appearance of the affected plant.

Know that animals depend on plants for organic nitrogen in addition to carbohydrates.

Understand that soil is a living material, made up of inorganic particles (clay and sand) and organic material (humus).

Describe the process of cation exchange.

Understand why soil conservation “matters” to us.

Know the difference between organic and inorganic fertilizer and the costs of both.

Know the risk to soil associated with some irrigation practices.

Know the mutualisms between plants and nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and plants and fungi, which improve plant nutritional status, and understand the evolutionary relationship between these two adaptations.

Know the nutritional adaptations of parasitism and carnivory in plants.