Question

Why do crops get killed when excess fertiliser is added to the soil?

• A. Excess of anything is bad!
• B. Excess fertiliser makes the solution around the cells hypertonic and therefore lots of water enters the root hair cells, thereby making the cells turgid.
• C. Excess fertiliser makes the solution around the cells hypotonic and therefore lots of water enters the root hair cells, thereby making the cells turgid.
• D. Excess fertiliser makes the solution around the cells hypertonic and therefore lots of water leaves the root hair cells, thereby causing the cells to become plasmolysed.

Answer 1

The correct option is D

Excess fertiliser makes the solution around the cells hypertonic and therefore lots of water leaves the root hair cells, thereby causing the cells to become plasmolysed.

Excess fertiliser in the soil, would make the soil a relatively hypertonic solution, thereby causing water to be pulled out of the plants by exosmosis, causing the cells to become plasmolysed and the plant to die.