Table of contents

1. Introduction to Biology2h 42m
2. Chemistry3h 37m
3. Water1h 26m
4. Biomolecules2h 23m
5. Cell Components2h 26m
6. The Membrane2h 31m
7. Energy and Metabolism2h 0m
8. Respiration2h 40m
9. Photosynthesis2h 49m
10. Cell Signaling59m
11. Cell Division2h 47m
12. Meiosis2h 0m
13. Mendelian Genetics4h 44m
14. DNA Synthesis2h 27m
15. Gene Expression3h 6m
16. Regulation of Expression3h 31m
17. Viruses37m
- Viruses
  37m
18. Biotechnology2h 58m
19. Genomics17m
- Genomes
  17m
20. Development1h 5m
21. Evolution3h 1m
22. Evolution of Populations3h 53m
23. Speciation1h 37m
24. History of Life on Earth2h 6m
25. Phylogeny2h 31m
26. Prokaryotes4h 59m
27. Protists1h 12m
28. Plants1h 22m
29. Fungi36m
- Fungi
  19m
- Fungi Reproduction
  17m
30. Overview of Animals34m
- Overview of Animals
  34m
31. Invertebrates1h 2m
32. Vertebrates50m
33. Plant Anatomy1h 3m
34. Vascular Plant Transport1h 2m
- Water Potential
  1h 2m
35. Soil37m
- Soil and Nutrients
  20m
- Nitrogen Fixation
  16m
36. Plant Reproduction47m
- Flowers
  33m
- Seeds
  14m
37. Plant Sensation and Response1h 9m
38. Animal Form and Function1h 19m
39. Digestive System1h 10m
- Digestion
  1h 3m
- Blood Sugar Homeostasis
  7m
40. Circulatory System1h 49m
41. Immune System1h 12m
42. Osmoregulation and Excretion50m
- Osmoregulation and Excretion
  50m
43. Endocrine System1h 4m
- Endocrine System
  1h 4m
44. Animal Reproduction1h 2m
- Animal Reproduction
  1h 2m
45. Nervous System1h 55m
- Neurons and Action Potentials
  1h 8m
- Central and Peripheral Nervous System
  46m
46. Sensory Systems46m
- Sensory System
  46m
47. Muscle Systems23m
- Musculoskeletal System
  23m
48. Ecology3h 11m
49. Animal Behavior28m
- Animal Behavior
  28m
50. Population Ecology3h 41m
51. Community Ecology2h 46m
52. Ecosystems2h 36m
53. Conservation Biology24m
- Conservation Biology
  24m

35. Soil

Soil and Nutrients

General Biology

35. Soil

Soil and Nutrients

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1:32 minutes

Problem 2

Textbook Question

Plants require the smallest amount of which of the following nutrients?
a. Oxygen
b. Phosphorus
c. Carbon
d. Iron

Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Understand the context of the question. Plants require various nutrients for growth and development, but the quantity needed for each nutrient varies. Some nutrients are required in large amounts (macronutrients), while others are needed in trace amounts (micronutrients).

Step 2: Review the options provided. Oxygen, phosphorus, and carbon are macronutrients, meaning plants need them in relatively large quantities for processes like photosynthesis, energy transfer, and structural development. Iron, on the other hand, is a micronutrient, required in much smaller amounts.

Step 3: Recall the role of iron in plants. Iron is essential for the synthesis of chlorophyll and is involved in various enzymatic processes, but plants only need trace amounts of it compared to macronutrients.

Step 4: Compare the roles and quantities of the nutrients listed. Oxygen and carbon are integral to photosynthesis and respiration, and phosphorus is crucial for energy transfer (ATP). These are required in larger amounts than iron.

Step 5: Conclude that among the options provided, iron is the nutrient required in the smallest amount by plants, as it is a micronutrient.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Essential Nutrients for Plants

Plants require a variety of nutrients to grow, which are categorized into macronutrients and micronutrients. Macronutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, are needed in larger quantities, while micronutrients, like iron, are required in smaller amounts but are still vital for plant health.

Role of Iron in Plants

Iron is a micronutrient essential for plants, playing a crucial role in chlorophyll synthesis and various enzymatic processes. Although plants need iron in smaller amounts compared to macronutrients, its deficiency can lead to chlorosis, affecting overall plant vitality and growth.

Photosynthesis and Carbon Dioxide

Carbon dioxide is a critical component of photosynthesis, the process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy. While plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in significant amounts, it is not classified as a nutrient in the same way as minerals, making it distinct from the other options listed.

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Related Videos

Related Practice

Textbook Question

The inorganic nutrient most often lacking in crops is:

a. Carbon

b. Nitrogen

c. Phosphorus

d. Potassium.

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Textbook Question

Consider the following statements regarding limiting nutrients. Select True or False for each statement.

T/F Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) are common examples.

T/F Their presence limits the availability of micronutrients.

T/F Their availability tends to limit plant growth.

T/F Certain macronutrients and micronutrients can be considered limiting nutrients.

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Textbook Question

Micronutrients are needed in very small amounts because

a. Most of them are mobile in the plant

b. Most serve mainly as cofactors of enzymes

c. Most are supplied in large enough quantities in seeds

d. They play only a minor role in the growth and health of the plant

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Textbook Question

Where is the start codon located?

a. At the start (5′ end) of the mRNA

b. In the DNA just upstream of where transcription starts

c. At the downstream end of the 5′ untranslated region (UTR)

d. At the upstream end of the 3′ untranslated region (UTR)

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Textbook Question

Where does most nutrient uptake occur in roots?

a. At the root cap, where root tissue first encounters soil away from the zone of nutrient depletion

b. At the Casparian strip, where ions must enter the symplast before entering xylem cells

c. In the symplastic and apoplastic pathways

d. In root hairs, in the zone of maturation

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Textbook Question

Why are proton pumps in root-hair plasma membranes important?

a. They pump protons into cells, generating a membrane potential (voltage).

b. They allow toxins to be concentrated in vacuoles, so the toxins do not poison enzymes in the cytoplasm.

c. They set up an electrochemical gradient that makes it possible for roots to absorb cations and anions.

d. They set up the membrane voltage required for action potentials to occur.

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Textbook Question

Why is the presence of clay particles important in soil?

a. They provide macronutrients—particularly nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

b. They bind metal ions, which would be toxic if absorbed by plants.

c. They allow water to percolate through the soil, making oxygen-rich air pockets available. d. The negative charges on clay bind to positively charged ions and prevent them from being leached out of the soil.

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Textbook Question

A problem with intensive irrigation is

a. Overfertilization.

b. Aquifer depletion.

c. The long-term depletion of soil oxygen.

d. The clogging of waterways by vegetation debris.