The Mechanisms of Absorption and Nutrients Transport in Plants: A Review

Abstract

Plants need various essential nutrients to survive and to develop adequately. These nutrients are needed in sufficient amount and accessible for plant take-up. Furthermore, nutritional necessities change from one plant species to another and from one plant growth stage to another. Roots transit nutrients further into the plant. It is not uncommon for plant roots to develop in soils with under 3% of accessible nutrients. They need more nutrients including calcium and magnesium, for their normal life cycle, yet these soils require modest quantities of other nutrients, such as potassium and phosphorus. The accessibility of nutrients facilitates its transfer from soil to the plant roots through an assortment of mechanisms. While, the nutrient transit depends on the mass flow, diffusion and root interception. The paper aim to explore the current state of the art in the world of nutrient transport systems for plant survival. The structures involved, mechanism of absorption, and ion exchange mechanism are discussed. Factors affecting plant nutrient uptake, in relation to the percentage of nutrients in the soil solution, and some characteristics of the ion transport mechanisms that directly influence soil-based nutrient uptake processes are also highlighted.