Question

How is iron, copper and manganese made available to plants?

Answer 1

Electron transport system:

1. The electron transport chain is a series of molecules that accept or donate electrons easily.
2. Iron, copper and manganese are transported in bivalent form via this system.
3. Iron is mainly available in the ferrous form and absorbed in the ferric form, and are involved in the electron transport system in photosynthesis.
4. Iron is absorbed by the roots in mostly in the root zone between cell elongation and maturation, about 1 to 4 cm behind the root tip.
5. Copper is absorbed as Cu²⁺ on clay particles from where it is absorbed by plants through the exchange mechanism.
6. Copper is provided by water soluble and controlled release fertilizers.
7. Manganese is absorbed by plants as Mn²⁺ . It is involved in the photolysis of water during photosynthesis, thus helping electron transport to chlorophyll.
8. The concentration of Mn²⁺ in the soil depends on its pH, with levels dropping as the soil becomes acidic.