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Importance of nutrients in living things
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INTRODUCTION
Nutrient are important for plant growth. These are also called essential elements and required for the plant to complete its life cycle. Nutrients are important for growth and development of crop, promotes vegetative and reproductive growth, provides protection against many devastating pathogens that is responsible for the yield loss in many economically important crop. Sixteen important nutrients are vital for plant growth. These are
1. Macronutrients: These nutrients are required in higher amounts for plant growth.
a. Primary macronutrients: Primary macronutrients are the major macronutrients and these are Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K).
b. Secondary macronutrients: Secondary macronutrients are Calcium, Magnesium,
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Early senescence of leaves.
6. Vegetative growth is severely affected.
POTASSIUM
Potassium is a major macronutrient and required in larger amounts for growth of plants. It is found in the soil as k+. It is required by all parts of plant. It is available as potassium sulphate (K2SO4) in nutrient solution.
1. Potassium is involved in the regulation of opening and closing of stomata and therefore regulate CO2 uptake in the photosynthesis process.
2. Potassium is involved in protein synthesis.
3. Potassium is involved in respiration and helps in the process of photosynthesis.
4. Potassium plays a major role in the production of ATP. ATP is an important energy source that is involved in many chemical processes that is taking place in the plant cell.
5. Potassium triggers the activation of many enzymes that is involved in phosphorylation, photosynthesis, respiration, synthesis of chlorophyll.
6. Potassium helps in carbohydrate metabolism.
7. Potassium plays a major role in the osmoregulation in plants. The uptake of water through plant roots and its loss through stomata regulated by potassium.
8. Potassium maintain the turgidity of the cells.
9. Potassium is involved in the synthesis of starch.
DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS
1. Die back of
The majority of life on Earth depends on photosynthesis for food and oxygen. Photosynthesis is the conversion of carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates and oxygen using the sun’s light energy (Campbell, 1996). This process consists of two parts the light reactions and the Calvin cycle (Campbell, 1996). During the light reactions is when the sun’s energy is converted into ATP and NADPH, which is chemical energy (Campbell, 1996). This process occurs in the chloroplasts of plants cell. Within the chloroplasts are multiple photosynthetic pigments that absorb light from the sun (Campbell, 1996).
Nutritionism and Today’s Diet Nutritionism is the ideology that the nutritional value of a food is the sum of all its individual nutrients, vitamins, and other components. In the book, “In Defense of Food” by Michael Pollan, he critiques scientists and government recommendations about their nutritional advice. Pollan presents a strong case pointing out the many flaws and problems that have risen over the years of following scientific studies and government related warnings on the proper amount of nutrients needed for a healthy diet. Pollan’s main point is introducing science into our food system has had more of a negative impact than a positive one, we should go back to eating more of a traditional diet. I believe food science has given us
However, in anaerobic respiration (glycolysis and fermentation) only two (2) adenosine triphosphate (ATP) can be obtained. Now, for photosynthesis it is actually a carbon-fixation which is 3CO2+9ATP+6NADPH+H2O--- glyceraldehyde3phosphate+8Pi+9ADP+6NADP which turns out to just be eight-teen (18) ATP per glucose molecules in
The periodic table contains many different kinds of elements which are placed accordingly on the table. Potassium is in the alkali metals which is placed in group 1 of the table, alkali metals are among the most active metals. This element was found in 1801 by a man named Humphry Davy. Although the element does not have many uses in pure form as a compound it has many important purposes. Potassium is naturally in the human body if levels become too low or too high then it could cause problems for the individual. Low levels of potassium could cause muscle problems such as cramping and the muscle feeling weak, the person could have a hard time walking or holding onto objects. A serious concern would be the effects on the heart as it causes blood pressure to increase and abnormal heart rhythms.
Rubisco appears in the stroma of chloroplast in its inactivated form. According to Salvucci and Crafts‐Brandner (2004), Rubisco is activated and regulated by Rubisco activase (RCA). Rubisco activase is classified as AAA+( ATPase associated with variety of cellular activity) (Neuwald et al., 1999), and is mostly found on the chloroplast stroma. This activase enzyme activates Rubisco which later catalyzes the carboxylation of RuBP; furthermore, this carbon dioxide fixation is the first photosynthetic CO2 assimilation (Keys, 1986). In the presence of ATP, RCA activates Rubisco by removing phosphate sugar on its active site which acts as Rubisco’s inhibitor (Tabita et al., 2008). The activation of Rubisco is endergonic because it requires energy in the form of
As previously mentioned, enzyme catalyzed reactions are a large contributing factor to many biological systems. In regards to metabolic pathways, ATP Synthase is a necessary enzyme that uses a concentration gradient to attach a phosphate group to an ADP molecule. This process is called phosphorylation. The bond that is created between the ADP and the phosphate group is formed by dehydration synthesis. This enzyme appears at the end of the electron transport chain in cellular respiration and at the end of the light dependent reactions in photosynthesis. Regardless of where the enzyme is found, the purpose remains the same; create useable energy in the form of ATP. In cellular respiration, the ATP can be used for several different objectives.
Potassium is an element on the periodic table that is symbolized by the letter K. The atomic number of this element is 19. At room temperature this element is a solid. Potassium can be found in two forms: either pure or compounds. Pure potassium is described as a soft silvery-white alkali metal that oxidizes rapidly in air and is very reactive in water However, Potassium forms many compounds such as Potassium chloride, which is the most common potassium compound (Gagnon, 1). This form of Potassium is especially used in fertilizers as a salt substitute. Another potassium compound is Potassium hydroxide, which is used to make soap, detergents and drain cleaners. Potassium carbonate is used to make some types of glass and soaps. This is also obtained as a byproduct of ammonia. Lastly, Potassium superoxide can create oxygen from water vapor and carbon dioxide. An example of this reaction is “2KO2 + H2O + 2CO2 => 2KHCO3 + O2” (Gagnon, 1). Gagnon also says, “it is used in respiratory equipment and is produced by burning potassium metal in dry air. Potassium nitrate (KNO3), also known as saltpeter or nitre, is used in fertilizers, match heads and pyrotechnics” (Gagnon, 1). Sir Humphrey Davy discovered this element in England in 1807 (Helmenstine, 1). Steve Gagnon, maintainer of the Jefferson Lab website page says, “Sir Humphry Davy first isolated metallic potassium in 1807 through the electrolysis of molten caustic potash (KOH)” (Gagnon, 1). Gagnon also writes, “a few months after discovering potassium, Davy used the same method to isolate sodium. Potassium can be obtained from the minerals sylvite (KCl), carnallite (KCl·MgCl2·6H2O), langbeinite (K2Mg2(SO4)3) and polyhalite (K2Ca2Mg(SO4)4·2H2O). These minerals are often found in ancient...
If you frequent health forums or fitness blogs, you'll have read the word “macros” before. The word is short for macronutrients. That leads to the question, “what are macronutrients?”
Photosynthesis is a process in which plants and other organisms convert the light energy from the sun or any other source into chemical energy that can be released to fuel an organism’s activities. During this reaction, carbon dioxide and water are converted into glucose and oxygen. This process takes place in leaf cells which contain chloroplasts and the reaction requires light energy from the sun, which is absorbed by a green substance called chlorophyll. The plants absorb the water through their roots from the earth and carbon dioxide through their leaves.
Macronutrients provide your body with energy and usually are eaten in large portions. There are three different basic macronutrients which are protein, carbohydrate, and fat. Most foods that are consumed contain all three of these macronutrients but in most circumstances one macronutrient is primary. For example, potatoes have about ten times the amount carbohydrates as protein. Sometimes there isn’t a primary macronutrient like in a handful of almonds has the same about of protein as carbohydrates.
Deficiencies of macronutrient and micronutrient adversely affect growth, body composition, muscle strength, intelligence, body development and quality of life in the pediatric age group.
They contain one or a lot of of the essential growth nutrients like N, phosphorus, and K and varied others. Once it side to the soil, these nutrients fulfill the specified demands of the plants and supply them the nutrients & helps them retain the lost nutrients. typically chemical plant food that is wealthy content of major nutrients like N, Phosphorus, and hydroxide that is needed to growth of the plant body. Chemical fertilizers area unit factory-made by artificial material. it's ready by artificial means. several artificial fertilizers contain acids, like acid and acid, that tend to extend the acidity of the soil, scale back the soil's useful organism population and interfere with plant
Photosynthesis is the process in which living cells from plants and other organisms use sunlight to produce nutrients from carbon dioxide and water, the image below “Diagram of photosynthesis 1,” helps show this process. Photosynthesise generally creates oxygen as a by-product through the use of the green pigment, chlorophyll, found in the plant that helps this reaction occur. “Photosynthesis provides us with most of the oxygen we need in order to breathe. We, in turn, exhale the carbon dioxide needed by plants,” (factmonster,2017). This is able to show us why photosynthesis is so greatly needed to occur through plants in order to give one another essentials needed for continuity of life. “Plants perform photosynthesis because it generates the food and energy they need for growth and cellular respiration,” (photosynthesieeducation, 2016).
Plant nutrition is area of plant biology that is of the utmost importance for the proliferation of plants. Without proper nutrition, plants would simply cease to exist unless drastic alterations were made. There are certain elements that are required for the plant to grow and reproduce; these elements are known as essential elements. There are three requirements of an essential element: the element must be required for the completion of the plant’s life cycle, the element must not be replaceable by another element in whole, and finally the element must be direction involved in the metabolism of the plant. Chemical compounds that are involved in proper nutrition have been designated as nutrients, and further classified as macronutrients and micronutrients. Macronutrients are needed for growth, metabolism, and many other functions, but are designated as “macro” because they are required in larger amounts. Macronutrients include carbohydrates, proteins, and fat molecules. Micronutrients have a much wider function that depends on the exact micronutrient. Micronutrients are designated as so because they are needed in much smaller amounts when compared to macronutrients. Examples of micronutrients include vitamins and minerals.