AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Nitrogen is so vital because it is a major component of chlorophyll, the compound by which plants use sunlight energy to produce sugars from water and carbon dioxide (i.e., photosynthesis). It is also a major component of amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. Without proteins, plants wither and die.

Detailed explanation-2: -Iron and magnesium are essential for the synthesis of chlorophyll of plants.

Detailed explanation-3: -Without nitrates, the amount of chlorophyll in leaves reduces. This means leaves turn a pale green or yellow colour. This reduces the plant’s ability to photosynthesise and grow properly, which reduces the farmers’ crop yield .

Detailed explanation-4: -Nitrogen is required for production of chlorophyll, nucleic acids, and enzymes. Nitrogen is essential for plants to synthesize amino acids, which are the building blocks for protein synthesis.

Detailed explanation-5: -Nitrates will be used by the plant to make amino acids, proteins and DNA and these can pass up food chains.