Mineral Nutrition Test - 2

Hydroponics is a subset of hydroculture, the method of growing plants without soil, using mineral nutrient solutions in a water solvent.

Aeroponics is the technique of growing plants in above ground strands provided with fine mist of normal solution. It is used to know the deficiency symptoms of minerals.

Plants obtain zinc as Zn²⁺ ions. It activates various enzymes,especially carboxylases. It is also needed in the synthesis of auxin.If there is deficiency in zinc to plants then it leads to reduced synthesis of auxin.

Calcium is required by meristematic and differentiating tissues. During cell division it is used in the synthesis of cell wall, particularly as calcium pectate in the middle lamella.

Carbon is generally present in plant tissues in large amounts and mainly obtained from CO₂ and H₂O.

The deficiency symptoms tend to appear first in the young tissues whenever the elements are relatively immobile and are not transported out of the mature organs. Example, calcium.

It is absorbed by plants in the form of divalent Mg²⁺. Magnesium is a constituent of the ring structure of chlorophyll and helps to maintain the ribosome structure.

Chlorine is absorbed in the form of chloride anion (Cl–). Along with it Na+ and K+, it helps in determining the solute concentration and the anioncation balance in cells. It is essential for the water-splitting reaction in photosynthesis.

Phosphorus is a constituent of cell membranes, certain proteins, all nucleic acids and nucleotides

Chlorosis is the loss of chlorophyll leading to yellowing in leaves. This symptom is caused by the deficiency of elements. N, K, Mg, S, Fe, Mn, Zn and Mo.