Question

Nutrient mobility was given by _______

• A. Mitscherlich
• B. Bray
• C. Liebig
• D. Wallace

Hint:

Bray's nutrient mobility concept distinguishes between mobile nutrients (like nitrogen) and immobile nutrients (like phosphorus). This concept is fundamental for determining appropriate fertilizer placement and application rates.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Nutrient uptake by plant roots depends on how nutrients move through the soil.
The concept of nutrient mobility describes how soil properties and water movement influence the availability of mobile and immobile nutrients to plant roots.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The "Nutrient Mobility Concept" was formulated by Roger H. Bray in 1954.
Bray classified soil nutrients into two primary categories:
1. Mobile Nutrients: These nutrients (like nitrate, $\text{NO}_3^-$) are highly soluble in water and move freely with soil water via mass flow to the root surface.
Their availability depends on the total volume of soil explored by the root system.
2. Immobile Nutrients: These nutrients (like phosphorus, $\text{H}_2\text{PO}_4^-$) are highly reactive and tightly bound to soil particles, moving only short distances via diffusion.
Their availability depends on the root surface area in direct contact with the soil.
Let us review the other scientists for comparison:
Mitscherlich (A): Proposed the Law of Diminishing Yield Increment.
Liebig (C): Proposed the Law of the Minimum.
Wallace (D): Contributed significantly to identifying visual symptoms of nutrient deficiencies in plants.
Therefore, the concept of nutrient mobility was proposed by Bray.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The nutrient mobility concept was given by Bray, which corresponds to option (B).