Question

If elements Na and K are accumulated in plants what does that refer to? Is it goor or not for people, environment and soil?

Answer 1

There are seventeen elements that are essential for the plant growth they are, nitrogen, phophorouus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulphur, boron, chlorine, iron, manganese, zinc, copper, molybdenum and nickel.

Sodium( Na) is the sixth most abundant in earth's crust, where it comprises some 2.8%.

Role of Sodium(Na) accumulated in plant

Sodium is not an essential element for plants. Sodium have a ubiquitous presence in soils and waters and are widely taken up and utilized by plants, but are not considered as an plant nutrient. But it can be used in plant matabolism and also in process of synthesis of chlorophyll.Ions of soil minerals such as sodium are absorbed by the plant roots and accumulate in the plant stem and leaves for longer time. These accumulate ions can become toxic to plants. Sodium salts in soil can absorb water this results in less water. Excess of sodium salt in soil has adverse effect on plants. Too much sodium salt can cause toxicity and reacts on plant tissues and rsults in condition in which water in plant tissues are diverted, this is osmotion.

The sodium salt stays in water until it is drained out by water. Depending on the amount of salt used as an herbicide, or pesticide it could take years for rain water to remove sodium salt from soil, to make soil suitable for plant growth.

If humans take food rich in sodium, excess sodium increases blood pressure and also adverse effect on the functioning of heart, and may results in heart stroke, heart failure etc.

Potassium(K) is a silvery white metal. Potassium accumulated in plants play a very important role in plant growth.

In photosynthesis, potassium regulates the opening and closing of stomata, and regulates carbon dioxide uptake.

It helps in seed germination and emergence, stomatal regulation, phloem transport, cation anion balance.

Potassium triggers activation of enzymes and is essential for production of Adenosine Triphophate.

Too much potassium is unhealthy for plants because it affects the way the soil absorbs other nutrients.

An effective method of rising poassium levels in soils is burrying banana peels an inch below the soil's surface. Thus through stored potassium in plants we can enrich the fertility of soil.

Rich potassium diet may reduce blood pressure and water retention and protect against stroke. It helps to regulate food balance, muscle contractions and nerve signals.