Student:

Hannah Joy A. Segura

Lab Section: Y-2L

Date:

May 4, 2016

Submitted to: Professor Lilian F. Patea

Discussion Exercise 5
Laboratory Exercise No. 5
Mineral Nutrition

Discussion
Regarding the exercise on mineral nutrition, tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants were
used as a crop wherein they were subjected to various levels of concentration of specific
nutrients. Six set-ups were used namely: complete, -Ca(calcium), -K(potassium), -N(nitrogen),
-P(phosphorus), +++Fe(iron). In a span of four weeks the set-ups were monitored and these are
the results:

-Ca

COMPLETE

-P

-K

-N

+++Fe

On week 1, set-ups COMPLETE, -P and +++Fe exhibited green color on their leaves
while K and Ca set-ups exhibited yellow green color on their leaves, and the N set-up had
yellowish leaves. With regards to plants height, the set-up on +++Fe, particularly on plant B,
exhibited the highest height. While on root vigor, the Ca set-up exhibited the highest rating of 4
on plant A. All of the tomato plants did not produce any flower and also a single fruit. It was
noted that some plants were dead already on the first week observation plant D on
COMPLETE, plant C on P, and plant C on Ca.
As the observation weeks progress, some plants seem to be dying yet there is a significant
increase on the plants height. On week 2, the color of the leaves from week 1 was retained. With
regards to root vigor, plant A on COMPLETE and plant D on +++Fe set-ups got the highest root
vigor of 5. Yet, it was noted that plant A on +++Fe wilted and considered dead. Still all of the
tomato plants did not produce any flower and also a single fruit.

On the third week, more plants wilted because of the increase in temperature in the
greenhouse. It was noted that plant C on N, plant B on P, and plant D on Ca wilted and
considered dead. Still there was a significant increase in the height of the tomato plants as well
the highest rating of root vigor were found on set-ups COMPLETE and +++Fe. On the other
hand, the color of the leaves, were ranging from yellow, yellow green to brown. Similarly to the
second week, all of the tomato plants did not produce any flower and also a single fruit.
On the last week of observation, most of the plants were dead and their leaves turned
brown. The dead plants after four weeks of observation were- plant D of COMPLETE set-up,
plants C and D of N set-up, plants B and C of P set-up, plants C and D of K set-up, plant A of
+++Fe set-up, and plants A, C, and D of Ca set-up. The highest rating of root vigor retained on
set-ups COMPLETE and +++Fe. Apart from the root vigor, the plants height exhibited a
decrease while few exhibited an increase in height. As the plants continues to wilt, most of them
exhibited brownish color on their leaves while some are light green generally considered of
having necrosis. Similarly to the third week, all of the tomato plants did not produce any flower
and also a single fruit.
Based on the observed characteristics of the tomato plants, the relevance of nutrients for
the plants growth and development was seen. The plants on COMPLETE and +++Fe set-ups
survived yet with some deficiencies. This means that enough nutrients should be considered for
the plants nutrition as this will help in maintaining the wholeness of the plant without exhibiting
deficiencies.
The nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, iron and calcium are needed by
the plant as these are component of biomolecules for the plants metabolism. Nitrogen is the
constituent of many important molecules including proteins, nucleic acids, hormones and
chlorophyll. Less nitrogen present in the soil would exhibit a retarded growth and general
chlorosis then enhanced senescence of older leaves. Phosphorus is a component of nucleotides,
phospholipids, ATP, ADP, NADPH and plays an integral role in the energy metabolism of cells.
Inefficient amount of phosphorus would exhibit a reduction in leaf expansion, darker color
leaves, delayed flower initiation and restricted seed formation. Potassium serves to activate a
number of enzymes, notably those involved in photosynthesis and respiration. Symptoms of
potassium-deficient soil exhibits growth retardation as well as leaves and stems become chlorotic

and necrotic. Calcium is required for the physical integrity and normal functioning of cell
membranes and regulates the activities of a number of enzymes. Deficiency can be seen in fastgrowing tissues and organs, for example the tipburn in lettuce, blackheart in celery, blossom end
rot in tomato or watermelon. Iron is part of the catalytic group for many redox enzymes involved
in photosynthesis and respiration and an essential nutrient in the electron transport system. Less
iron on the soil would exhibit chlorosis on younger leaves, inhibited root elongation. For iron,
toxicity symptoms are similar to those for deficiency.

Reference:
Crop Science Cluster. (2012). Crop Science 1 Laboratory Manual. Philippines: Author