Question:

Terrestrial plants obtain all of the following nutrients from the soil except

Updated On: Jul 7, 2022
  • potassium
  • nitrogen
  • phosphorus
  • carbon
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The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

The bulk of the organic material of a plant is derived from carbon dioxide assimilated from the atmosphere.
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Concepts Used:

Soil as Reservoir of Essential Elements

  • Soil is firstly formed due to the slow breakdown and weathering of rocks.
  • The clay and the humus part structure colloidal particles in the soil. These colloids hold a lot of charges on their surface and also have a large surface area that assists in the interaction with mineral elements.
  • It is also the area of decomposition, a huge number of microbes in the soil decompose the organic remains (leftover) of plant parts or dead animals and release the minerals bound in organic matter.
  • Soil can sustain a regular supply of minerals due to the activity of decomposers.
  • Nitrogen-fixing bacteria are also found in the soil changing or transforming the atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms to be utilized by the plants.
  • Mineral nutrients are withdrawn from the soil at a much faster rate than it gets replenished naturally. Hence, often there is a deficiency of core minerals in the soil.
  • The deficiency of crucial minerals affects crop production, which is replenished through artificial fertilisers.
  • Macro-nutrients like N, P, K, S, etc. and micro-nutrients like Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, etc. are ingredients of fertilizers and are used in crop fields based on their requirement.