Mineral Elements

Water, minerals, and other nutrients are absorbed by plants from the soil and transferred to other areas of the plant through plant tissues (mostly xylem). 

Minerals are abundant in the soil, which are absorbed by the roots and transmitted to the other parts of the plant

 This is how all other living beings, such as people and animals, get nutrients from the plant when we eat different sections of it. 

Essential mineral elements are a combination of macronutrients such as calcium, phosphorus, salt, carbon, and micronutrients such as iron, manganese, zinc, copper, and others that are required for plant and animal growth.

Mineral Elements: What Are They?

Humans and animals both require a variety of inorganic elements for growth and other living activities. 

As a result, these mineral components must be consumed in sufficient proportions in our diets. A mineral deficit causes an anomaly in the metabolic functioning of the body of the organism. 

Approximately 105 minerals have been found to date, with 60 to 65 of them being absorbed by plants from the soil. Mineral absorption varies by plant species. 

Calcium, nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, sulphur, and other important minerals are required by plants for growth and development. 

Soil is the fundamental medium from which practically all plant species get their necessary nutrients.

 Plants are also cultivated on mineral nutrient medium without soil to contribute more to the fields of horticulture, agriculture, and other fields. 

Hydroponics is the term for the modern method of growing plants without soil. 

Because not all minerals absorbed by plants are required for their survival, it is critical to understand the importance of minerals to different plant kinds. 

This can be accomplished using a variety of methods.

 The following are the criteria for determining which minerals are essential to the plant:

 Mineral ions dissolved in soil medium are mineral ions absorbed from soil by plant roots. They support plant life throughout its full life cycle, as well as seed production. 

Plants require a few minerals, such as magnesium and phosphorus, for growth, development, and reproduction. 

Mineral deficiencies in plants, such as nitrogen, iron, copper, and sulphur, cause stunted growth, poor development, insufficient chlorophyll in leaves, cell senescence, and other issues.

 Potassium has a significant impact on the quality of fruits and vegetables. Minerals such as potassium, sodium, magnesium, and other components are required for proper plant metabolism.

Plants’ Essential Mineral Elements

There are two types of minerals that are required for plant growth. They are as follows: 

1. Macrominerals

Phosphorus, carbon, sodium, nitrogen, potassium, silicon, magnesium, hydrogen, calcium, oxygen, selenium, and sulphur are all essential minerals for plant growth and are abundant in plant tissues. As a result, they are referred to as macrominerals.

2. Minerals and microminerals

Iron, boron, nickel, manganese, copper, zinc, cobalt, chlorine, molybdenum, and other minerals are called microminerals because they are required in smaller amounts for normal plant growth. They’re sometimes referred to as trace elements.

Mineral Elements Absorption in Plants Plants absorb mineral elements from the soil through one of two mechanisms:

1. Mineral Absorption That Is Active

Active transport is the sort of absorption that occurs in the presence of a concentration gradient and is active. Active transportation necessitates the use of energy. Plants’ inactive transport roots gather up mineral ions and transport them across the cell membrane.

2. Mineral Absorption in the Passive State

Passive transport is a type of transfer that occurs along a concentration gradient and so requires no energy. In this kind of transport, transmembrane proteins serve as selective apertures for carrying mineral ions into the apoplast via ion channels.

Mineral Elements in Plants and Their Functions

Plant Body Formation

The presence of numerous mineral elements in various components of the plant body indicates that these elements are important in the creation of the plant body. 

For example, the compound protein is made up of nitrogen and sulphur; iron is found in cytochromes; phosphorus is found in nucleic acids; and magnesium is found in chlorophyll, which is a plant food.

Identifying the Plant Cell’s Osmotic Potential

The osmotic potential gradient is determined by mineral components contained in the cell sap of plants, which are important in maintaining cell turgidity.

Keeping the pH in check

Minerals taken by plants have an impact on the pH of plant cell sap.

The Cytoplasmic Membrane’s Permeability

Cations and anions in mineral elements alter the permeability of cytoplasmic membranes in plants.

Catalytic Effects Mineral elements such as copper, iron, zinc, and others are used to create catalytic effects in plants.

Toxic Mineral Element Balance

Potassium and magnesium, for example, mitigate the harmful effects of other minerals. Mineral elements contribute to the ionic balance.

Transport of Phloem Tissue

Elements like boron and potassium help to transport organic compounds through the phloem tissue.

Conclusion

Water, minerals, and other nutrients are absorbed by plants from the soil and transferred to other areas of the plant through plant tissues (mostly xylem). 

Minerals are abundant in the soil, which are absorbed by the roots and transmitted to the other parts of the plant

 This is how all other living beings, such as people and animals, get nutrients from the plant when we eat different sections of it.