Multiple Choice
How does wildfire help restore soil nutrients?
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Soil and Nutrients
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In most terrestrial ecosystems, which nutrients are most commonly limiting for plant growth?
A
Sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl)
B
Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P)
C
Iron (Fe) and copper (Cu)
D
Carbon (C) and oxygen (O)
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the concept of limiting nutrients: In terrestrial ecosystems, limiting nutrients are those essential elements that are in shortest supply relative to the needs of plants, thus restricting their growth.
Recall that while plants require many nutrients, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are often the most limiting because they are critical for key biological molecules like proteins and nucleic acids, and they are less abundant or less available in many soils.
Recognize that sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl) are not typically limiting nutrients for plants because they are either required in very small amounts or are more readily available in the environment.
Note that iron (Fe) and copper (Cu) are micronutrients needed in trace amounts, so they rarely limit plant growth on a large scale.
Understand that carbon (C) and oxygen (O) are abundant in the atmosphere and are not limiting factors for plant growth in terrestrial ecosystems.
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