Introduction

Plants need carbon dioxide, sunlight and water to survive. They need these in order to ensure
that they produce carbohydrates through the process of photosynthesis. To ensure a healthy
growth and a healthy plant (for survival), plants also need sufficient minerals such as Nitrogen,
Magnesium, Calcium and Phosphate ions. A deficiency in these minerals could show in their
physical appearance. These minerals are extremely crucial and are needed for various parts of
the plants. Magnesium is needed to make chlorophyll, which is crucial in the process of
photosynthesis as chlorophyll contains chloroplast that is needed for the absorption of light in
order for photosynthesis to occur. It also helps activate many plant enzymes needed for growth.
Soil minerals, organic material, and fertilizers are main source of Magnesium ions. Nitrogen is
needed for amino acids and to ensure optimal growth for the plant as amino acids (which make
up proteins that are crucial for the growth of the plant) are made from nitrogen. Nitrogen often
comes from fertilizer application and from the air. Calcium is needed to maintain the structure
of the plant cell wall. Phosphate ions are needed to make the fruits and the flowers of the plant,
which is very important to ensure that the plant survives and reproduces through the dispersing
of the seeds through wind or through the animals. These minerals are usually absorbed through
the roots of the plant, from the soil it is buried in. Calciums also promotes activity and
development of enzymes and vitamins.
Most of the time, the mineral ions in soil water are present only in low concentration, often
lower than that in cytoplasm of root cells. So, in order to obtain mineral ions into the cells, they
are taken up selectively against the concentration gradient by active transport, using energy
from the respiration of plants.
Once the mineral ions reach the tissues (as they are transported through the xylem) where they
are needed, they move out of the xylem into the cells either by diffusion or active transport,
depending on the permeability of cell membranes and relative concentrations of ions inside and
outside the cells.
Nutrients are divided into 2 types of nutrients; macro and micro nutrients. Macronutrients can
be broken down into 2 other groups; primary and secondary nutrients.
The primary nutrients are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). These major
nutrients usually are lacking from the soil first because plants use large amounts for their
growth and survival. The secondary nutrients are calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and sulfur (S).
There are usually enough of these nutrients in the soil so fertilization is not always needed.
As mentioned earlier, sulfur is usually found in sufficient amounts in the soil from dead organic
matter and is important for

In this experiment, we will use pond weeds to ensure that the plant is experimented under the
conditions that we want, with minimal disturbances from other variables. The nutrients (or a
lack of them) will be placed in the water and the duckweed will absorb them through the roots.
Pistia:

Plan:
1: Make up the culture media and set up eight tubes containing the following:
- Complete (normal) medium
- Medium lacking phosphate
- Medium lacking nitrate
- Medium lacking calcium
- Medium lacking potassium
- Medium lacking magnesium
2: Cover the test tubes with black paper