Question 25
Work in pairs. Read the extract below about how fertilisers influence plant growth.
Just like people, plants need nutrients to grow. From the air, plants obtain the oxygen and carbon dioxide that they need. During photosynthesis, they make glucose in the presence of sunlight. However, basic nutrients cannot be produced through photosynthesis, so plants need to extract these from the soil. Mineral salts such as nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus help plants grow new cells, supporting different growth and food production processes.
A good fertiliser contains many of these essential nutrients, as well as others such as calcium, magnesium and sulfur. Calcium is needed for building cell walls and cell membranes. Magnesium helps plants make chlorophyll, which is needed for photosynthesis. Sulfur is an important part of proteins and plant enzymes.
While plants can survive without fertilisers, it may take a longer time for them to get the nutrients they need to thrive.
What do fertilisers offer that could help plants grow better?
Just like people, plants need nutrients to grow. From the air, plants obtain the oxygen and carbon dioxide that they need. During photosynthesis, they make glucose in the presence of sunlight. However, basic nutrients cannot be produced through photosynthesis, so plants need to extract these from the soil. Mineral salts such as nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus help plants grow new cells, supporting different growth and food production processes.
A good fertiliser contains many of these essential nutrients, as well as others such as calcium, magnesium and sulfur. Calcium is needed for building cell walls and cell membranes. Magnesium helps plants make chlorophyll, which is needed for photosynthesis. Sulfur is an important part of proteins and plant enzymes.
While plants can survive without fertilisers, it may take a longer time for them to get the nutrients they need to thrive.
What do fertilisers offer that could help plants grow better?
