1. C HAPTER 30.1 Plant Nutrients and Availability in Soil AP Biology Spring 2011

2. T HE R EQUIRED N UTRIENTS Sixteen essential elements are required for plant growth and survival Macronutrients: used in significant quantities Nine elements C, H, O, N, K, Ca, Mg, P, S Micronutrients: used in trace quantities Seven elements Cl, Fe, B, Mn, Z, Cu, Mb

3. T HE R EQUIRED N UTRIENTS Deficiencies in any nutrient can visibly impact a plants health

4. P ROPERTIES OF S OIL Soil consists of particles of minerals mixed with humus Humus: dead organisms and their litter Particles come in 3 sizes: Sand Silt Clay

5. P ROPERTIES OF S OIL Clay: the smallest, holds onto nutrients as water percolates through the soil Loams: soils with nearly equal proportions of the three particle types Plants do best in loams

6. P ROPERTIES OF S OIL Layers of soil can be classified by profile properties Topsoil's: the uppermost, is he most essential layer for plant growth

7. L EACHING AND E ROSION Leaching: removal of some nutrients from soil as water percolates through it Erosion: movement of land under the force of wind, running water, and ice The loss of topsoil can have a huge economic impact due to inability to grow crops