BIOL 1010 Lecture Notes - Lecture 72: Topsoil, Soil Fertility, Micronutrient
14 May 2017
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Iron: is a component of cytochromes, proteins in the electron transport chains of chloroplasts and mitochondria. Micronutrients can generally be recycled repeatedly, so plants need very little quantities of these elements from the soil. Yet a deficiency from a micronutrient can weaken or kill the plant. Molybdenum: there is only one atom of this rare element for every. 60 million atoms of hydrogen in dried plant material. It can support abundant plant growth by providing conditions that enable plant roots to absorb water and dissolved nutrients. The a horizon, or topsoil is subject to extensive weathering (freezing, drying and erosion). Topsoil is a mixture of rock particles of various sizes, living organisms and humus, the remains of partially decayed organic material produced by the decomposition of dead organisms and fungi. The rocks provide a large surface area where it retains water and minerals while also forming water spaced containing oxygen for the roots.
