Inorganic nutrients

Definition

Inorganic nutrients are essential chemical elements and compounds, excluding carbon-based substances, that organisms need to grow, reproduce, and maintain their biological functions. Common examples include minerals like nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Inorganic nutrients are critical for plant growth and are often a limiting factor in ecosystems.
2. They enter ecosystems through weathering of rocks, atmospheric deposition, and human activities such as agriculture.
3. Nitrogen and phosphorus are two of the most important inorganic nutrients for primary production in aquatic and terrestrial environments.
4. Excessive input of inorganic nutrients can lead to eutrophication in aquatic systems, causing algal blooms and oxygen depletion.
5. Plants absorb these nutrients from the soil through their root systems; animals obtain them by consuming plants or other animals.

Review Questions

• What role do inorganic nutrients play in ecosystem productivity?
• How do inorganic nutrients typically enter an ecosystem?
• What environmental issues can arise from an excess of inorganic nutrients?

Related terms

Eutrophication: A process where water bodies become enriched with excessive nutrients leading to excessive growth of algae.

Primary Production: The synthesis of organic compounds from atmospheric or aqueous carbon dioxide by photosynthetic organisms.

Weathering: The breakdown of rocks into soil particles that release inorganic nutrients into the environment.