Nutrient elements

A simplified diagram representing the various reservoirs and transport mechanisms and pathways involved in the cycles of nutrient elements at and above the surface of the Earth is given in Eigure 1. The processes are those considered to be the most important in the context of this article, but others of lesser significance can be postulated. Eor some of the elements, notably carbon, sulfur, chlorine, and nitrogen, considerable research has been done to evaluate (quantitatively) the amount of the various elements in the reservoirs and the rates of transfer. 

Eig. 1. Generalized cycle of the various reservoirs and transport mechanisms and pathways involved in the circulation of nutrient elements. The numbered arrows represent processes by which elements transfer among the reservoirs. Processes shown are those considered to have the most important influence... 

Kenworthy AL, Miller EJ and Mathis WT (1956) Nutrient-element analysis of fruit tree and leaf samples by several laboratories. Proc Amer Soc Hortic Sci 67 16-21. 

Jassogne L, Hettiarachchi G, Chittleborough D, McNeill A. Distribution of nutrient elements around micropores. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 2009 73 1319-1326. 

Compounds bearing the functional groups of the present chapter are usually analyzed for the characteristic N heteroatom and less frequently for O. In this section some recent advances in the analysis of these heteroatoms are presented. A critical review appeared of the analysis of the nutrient elements C, N, P and Si, and their speciation in environmental waters, including sample collection and preservation, sample preparation and methods for end analysis5. 

The preparation of a reference material requires substantial planning prior to undertaking a specific project (see Box 5.1). The process begins with the definition of the material to be produced, for example, preparation of a seawater-based reference material containing the nutrient elements N03, P04, and Si(OH)4 at concentration levels appropriate to oceanic samples and certified for these constituents." Such definitions arise either from internal decisions by reference material producers (such as NIST or NRC-Canada) typically in response to perceived needs, or through external pressure on these producers from potential users. (This report, for example, explicitly identifies a number of pressing needs for reference materials for the ocean sciences.)... 

The committee recommends the development of a seawater-based reference material containing the nutrient elements nitrogen (as N03), phosphorus (as P04) and silicon (as Si(OH)4) at concentrations similar to those in oceanic deep waters (40 pM for N03, 3 pM for P04, and 150 pM for Si(OH)4) and certified for these constituents. 

Transformations of Nutrient Elements Accompanying Changes in Redox... 

TRANSFORMATIONS OF NUTRIENT ELEMENTS ACCOMPANYING CHANGES IN REDOX... 

Aller RC. 1980a. Diagenesis near the sediment water interface of Long Island Sound. I. Decomposition and nutrient element geochemistry (S,N,P). Advances in Geophysics 22 235-348. 

Ecosystems subjected to oxidant air pollutants must be carefully observed and described individually if we are to understand and predict the complex consequences of chronic injury. Woodwell has summarized some of the expected effects of air pollutants on ecosystems elimination of sensitive species and reduction of diversity in numbers of species selective removal of larger overstoiy plants and a favoring of small plants reduction of the standing crop of organic matter, which leads to a reduction of nutrient elements held within the living system and increase in the activity of insect pests and in some diseases that hasten producer mortality. Many other effects can be suggested. 

One of the predicted effects of pollutants on eco stems suggested by Woodwell is a reduction in the standing crop of organic matter, which would lead to a reduction in nutrient elements held within the living system. The evidence discussed earlier definitely shows that primary production is much lower in an ozone>stressed conifer-forest ecosystem. This result would be anticipated in all similarly stressed natural ecosystems or agroecosystems. 

In summary, it is anticipated that decreasing litter production by green plants experiencing pollutant stress would result in a similar reduction in the inventory of nutrient elements held within the system, owing to the interruption of cycling pathways and mechanisms of nutrient conservation. ... 

In a second experiment, we attempted to determine which nutrient elements gave the same quantitative response as the complete mineral nutrient solution. Results of this experiment demonstrated that nitrogen (NO3), phosphorus, and calcium, the elements applied in the field study, were the ones needed to produce a growth response quantitatively the same as the complete mineral nutrient solution. The need for repetitive application of these elements suggests that one or more may have a dual role, first as a nutrient and second as a soil conditioner that might exchange or complex with an Inhibitory molecule deposited in the soil by the herbaceous weeds. 

Allen, M. and Whitfield, A.B. (1964) Rapid methods for the routine determination of major nutrient elements and iron and manganese in the leaves of fruit trees. Annual Report of the East Mailing Research Station, pp. 143-147. 

Iodine is an essential nutrient element required for thyroid gland. It is added to salt and to animal feeds for the prevention of goiter. In medicine it is used as a therapeutic reagent for the treatment of various thyroid-related diseases. It also is used as an antiseptic. Radioactive isotopes of iodine are used for treating thyroid cancer, heart diseases including tachycardia, and as a tracer for diagnosing certain diseases. 

Multi-element trace analysis is an important prerequisite for the quality assurance of foodstuffs with respect to the characterization of non-essential, toxic and essential (nutrient) elements as pollutions or as mineral elements relevant to health. Contamination with heavy metals such as Cd, Pb or Hg has become a serious problem with increasing environmental (artificial) contamination e.g., due to industrial pollution. The increasing use of inorganic mass spectrometric techniques (especially of ICP-MS) in the analysis of foodstuffs for multi-element analysis of trace elements or the detection of selected elements and species at a low concentration level has resulted from advances in very sensitive and quantitative measurements of metals, metalloids and several non-metals, including their speciation. 

Harley, A.D. and Gilkes, R.J. 2000. Factors influencing the release of plant nutrient elements from silicate rock powders a geochemical overview. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 56 11-36. 

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