The Effects of Nitrogen-Only Versus Phosphorus-Only Fertilizer in the Common Bush Bean (Phaseolus Vulgaris)

The effects of Nitrogen-only versus Phosphorus-only fertilizer in the common bush bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Introduction

Plants are our main source of converting carbon dioxide to oxygen. Maximizing plant growth will not only help the plants live a longer and healthier life, but increase the amount of oxygen produced. Studying the different effects of nutrients on plants and their surroundings will allow scientists to successfully grow plants that will be productive and fruitful. If we don’t understand what fertilizers do to plants now, in the future more work will have to be done in order to fix what is happening to our planet.

Photosynthesis requires phosphorus containing compounds in order to have efficient plant productivity. (Veneklaas et al. 2012). Nitrogen is required in order to synthesize proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, chlorophyll and amino acids. (Kusano et al. 2011). Most crop plants need around the same amount of phosphorus during the first few weeks after germination. There is a reserve of nutrients inside a seed that can last the plant until it is able to uptake the nutrients required for it to survive. Depending on the type of plant, the amount of phosphorus uptake after several weeks is different for all. When the plants starts to go into secondary growth instead of only primary growth, there is less phosphorus uptake and nitrogen plays more of a role in the plants life. (Veneklaas et al. 2012).

Nitrogen deficiency is affecting plants all over the world, even though it is one of the most abundant elements on the Earth. Healthy plants have anywhere between three and six percent of nitrogen in their tissue above ground. Under ground, in the soil, there is more nitrogen that is being drawn towards the roots of the plants. Phosphorus plays a role in the energy production during photosynthesis. It is needed in order to keep the cycle going and keep the plant alive during primary growth and the beginning of the plant’s life. (Crocker 1916)....