Aquatic Pollution and Coastal Management

Unit 3 : Agricultural wastes and eutrophication

3.13.2.A. Element form of Concentration Some Functions Absorption as a % of dry wt.

• Nitrogen NO₃^- ( NH₄⁺) 1-3% Amino acids, proteins, nucleic acids, chlorophyll, coenzymes
• Phosphorus (H₂PO₄) 0.05-1.0% High energy molecules ATP, HPO₄^2- ADP, nucleic acids, phosphorylation of sugars, essential coenzymes, phospholipids.
• Potassium( K⁺) 0.3-6% Enzymes, amino acids, protein synthesis, enzyme activator, stomata opening/closing
• Calcium (Ca⁺) 0.1-3.5% Cell wall formation, enzyme cofactor, cell permeability.
• Magnesium (Mg²⁺) 0.05-0.7% Part of chlorophyll, enzyme activator.
• Sulfur (SO₄^2-) 0.05-1.5% Some amino acids, Coenzyme A.
• Iron (Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺) 10-1500 Chlorophyll synthesis, ferredoxins, cytochromes