BIOLOGY 3B03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Microbiological Culture, Soil Ph, Ion
8 Apr 2018
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If roots take up nutrients at a high rate but nutrient content of a soil is low, movement of minerals to the root is mainly by diffusion since bulk flow cannot maintain a sustainably high supply. If diffusion is too slow (ie, rate of nutrient uptake by the plant exceeds rate of replacement by diffusion), a nutrient depletion zone develops adjacent to the root. Low nutrient level mean depletion zone will increase further away from root. Actual nutrient uptake depends on the: affinity of the root uptake mechanism for any specific nutrient(s, concentration of specific nutrients. The fact that roots can and do deplete soil of nutrients emphasizes the requirement of continuous growth by roots in order to exploit new sources of minerals. Therefore, nutrient acquisition by roots relies on: the characteristics of root systems, nutrient uptake capacity of roots. Factors affecting nutrient availability in soil: soil properties.
