BRAINCAKEEffects of Fertilisers on Productivity
Productivity is the rate at which plants produce biomass. Plants need mineral ions to grow: nitrate provides nitrogen for amino acids, proteins, nucleic acids, ATP and chlorophyll, and phosphate provides phosphorus for ATP, nucleic acids and phospholipids. When these ions are in short supply they are limiting factors, and growth is slow.
Adding fertiliser removes this limitation. Plants make more proteins and chlorophyll, grow taller and develop a larger leaf area. A larger leaf area absorbs more light, so the rate of photosynthesis increases, net primary production rises and the crop yield increases.
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Key terms in this lesson
- limiting factor
- The factor that is in shortest supply relative to what is needed, and which therefore limits the rate of a process such as photosynthesis.
More in Nutrient Cycles
- Ammonification
- Nitrification
- Denitrification
- The Phosphorus Cycle
- Mycorrhizae
- Natural and Artificial Fertilisers
- Leaching
- Eutrophication
All 13 lessons in Nutrient Cycles · All AQA A-level Biology topics