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  4. Which of the four most abundant elements in most plants (C, H, O and N), does a terrestrial green plant procure mainly through its roots from the soil ?

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Q. Which of the four most abundant elements in most plants (C, H, O and N), does a terrestrial green plant procure mainly through its roots from the soil ?

Mineral Nutrition

Solution:

Hydrogen $(H)$ is mainly obtained from soil water by roots. Oxygen $(O)$ is either derived from the air or from the water. Carbon $(C)$ is derived from atmosphere as $CO_2$. The plants are unable to use atmospheric nitrogen. It is inert and plants cannot make use of it directly. By the process of fixation of atmospheric $N_2$, plants obtain it from soil in the form of nitrites $(NO^-_2)$, nitrates $(NO^-_3)$, ammonium ion $(NH^+_4)$, etc. These nitrogenous compounds enter plants as nutrients through the roots and are assimilated as organic nitrogen.