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2.11Biology 02. Life Processes

Know that plants require minerals to maintain healthy growth and… — Cambridge Checkpoint Science 0893 Revision Notes & Topical Questions

5 min read 7 parts Lesson 12 of 13 1 quiz

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Lesson summary

2.11 Minerals needed for healthy plant growth — CHECKPOINT - Lower Secondary Science 0893 notes: Know that plants require magnesium and nitrate to maintain healthy growth and explain what happens when they are lacking.Minerals — substances that plants need in small quantities for…

  • Shortage in soil
  • Lack of magnesium
  • Lack of nitrate
  • Fertilisers
  • Soil tests
  • Use — magnesium is needed to make chlorophyll, the green pigment in plants

Part 1 of 6Where plants get minerals

Minerals
  • Minerals substances that plants need in small quantities for healthy growth.
  • Plants take them from the soil through their roots.
Shortage in soil
  • Shortage in soil sometimes the soil does not contain enough of a mineral, which stops plants growing to their full potential.

Part 2 of 6Magnesium

Use
  • Use magnesium is needed to make chlorophyll, the green pigment in plants.
Lack of magnesium
  • Lack of magnesium the leaves look yellow instead of green.
  • The plant has little chlorophyll to absorb energy from sunlight.
  • It photosynthesises less than it should and cannot grow well.

Part 3 of 6Nitrate

Use
  • Use nitrate contains nitrogen atoms, which the plant needs to change carbohydrates into proteins.
  • Proteins are needed to make new cells so the plant can grow.
  • Nitrogen is also needed to make chlorophyll.
Lack of nitrate
  • Lack of nitrate leaves die and the plant stays small.

Part 4 of 6Summary of the two minerals

MineralNeeded forSign of lack
MagnesiumMaking chlorophyllYellow leaves
NitrateMaking proteins and chlorophyllSmall plants with dying leaves

Part 5 of 6Fertilisers

Fertilisers
  • Fertilisers substances added to soil to supply the minerals that crops need.
  • They make crops grow larger and give a higher yield.
Yield
  • Yield the quantity of crop that a farmer harvests.
Soil tests
  • Soil tests farmers test the soil to find which minerals are lacking in each part of a field.
  • GPS on machinery lets the farmer add the right amount of fertiliser in each part of the field.

Part 6 of 6Plants and proteins

Plants
  • Plants make their own proteins from carbohydrates and nitrate.
Animals
  • Animals obtain proteins by eating food that contains protein.

Key terms

TermMeaning
MineralSubstance plants take from the soil in small amounts for healthy growth.
MagnesiumMineral needed to make chlorophyll.
NitrateMineral containing nitrogen needed to make proteins.
FertiliserSubstance added to soil to supply minerals.
YieldQuantity of crop harvested.

Avoid these mistakes

1
Plants get their food from the soil — plants make food by photosynthesis and take only water and minerals from the soil.
2
Fertiliser is plant food — it provides minerals, and the plant makes its own food.
3
Yellow leaves always mean lack of magnesium — lack of nitrate can also make plants look unhealthy.
4
Plants need large amounts of minerals — they need only small quantities.

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