Mineral Nutrition – NEET 2025 Complete Notes (With Diagrams & PYQs)

Mineral nutrition neet notes, essential elements in plants, nitrogen fixation, deficiency symptoms in plants, mineral nutrition class 11 ncert

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🌿 Introduction – Why Plants Need Minerals?

Hello NEET aspirants 👋
Aapne dekha hoga ki plants bina khana khaye bhi kaise grow karte hain 🌱
Par kya aapko pata hai, unke “food” ka major part minerals hote hain jo soil se absorb hote hain?

Aaj hum Mineral Nutrition chapter ko ekdum simple aur NEET-focused way me samjhenge.
Yahan se 1-2 direct questions har saal aate hi aate hain —
chahe wo essential elements, deficiency symptoms, ya nitrogen fixation se ho!

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🧬 1. Mineral Nutrition kya hota hai?

Definition (NCERT):

“Mineral nutrition deals with the study of the source, mode of absorption, transport, and function of inorganic nutrients in plants.”

Simple words me —
Plants soil se inorganic ions lete hain like N, P, K, Mg, Fe etc.,
aur unse apne growth aur metabolism ke liye important molecules banate hain.

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🌱 2. Essential Elements

Aapko yaad rakhna hai — 17 essential elements NEET ke liye important hain.
Ye teen groups me divide hote hain 👇

(A) Macronutrients – Large quantity me required

C, H, O, N, P, K, S, Ca, Mg

(B) Micronutrients – Chhoti quantity me required

Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, B, Mo, Cl, Ni

(C) Beneficial Elements – Helpful but not essential

Na, Si, Co, Se

💡 Trick to remember:
CHOPKINS CaFe Mg – "Come Have Our Pretty Kitty CaFe, Mighty Good!" ☕😄

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🧠 3. Criteria for Essentiality (NEET Favourite)

Arnon & Stout ne bataya tha (1939) —
Koi element essential tab hota hai jab:

1. Plant bina uske apna life cycle complete nahi kar sakta.

2. Element kisi aur se replace nahi ho sakta.

3. Direct role ho metabolism me.

💡 Trick: “Essential = Irreplaceable + Indispensable.”

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🌿 4. Function of Essential Elements

Element	Function	Deficiency Symptoms
N	Protein, chlorophyll synthesis	Chlorosis in old leaves
P	Energy (ATP), nucleic acids	Poor root growth
K	Opening of stomata	Leaf edge yellowing
Ca	Cell wall formation	Death of meristem
Mg	Part of chlorophyll	Interveinal chlorosis
Fe	Chlorophyll synthesis	Yellowing of young leaves
Zn	Auxin synthesis	Little leaf disease
Cu	Enzyme activity	Exanthema in citrus
B	Pollen germination	Death of root tip
Mo	Nitrogen fixation	Whiptail in cauliflower

💡 Note:

• Chlorosis = Yellowing due to lack of chlorophyll.

• Necrosis = Death of tissues.

• Stunted growth = Less elongation.

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🌸 5. Deficiency Symptoms – How Plants Tell You!

Symptom	Cause	Examples
Chlorosis	Lack of N, Mg, Fe, Zn	Pale leaves
Necrosis	Lack of Ca, K	Dead leaf tips
Inhibition of cell division	Lack of N, K, S, Mo	Small leaves
Stunted growth	Lack of N, P, K	Dwarf plants
Premature leaf fall	Lack of P	Early senescence
Purple leaves	Lack of P	Anthocyanin pigment

💡 Trick:
“NPK ke bina Plant OK nahi!” 🌿

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🌾 6. Hydroponics – Soilless Cultivation

Hydroponics ka matlab hai — plants ko nutrient solution me grow karna, without soil!
Ye technique use hoti hai essential elements identify karne ke liye.

💡 Trick: “Hydroponics = Soil nahi, Solution se hi grow!”

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🌿 7. Nitrogen Metabolism – The Most Important Section!

Nitrogen is a major component of amino acids, proteins, nucleic acids, etc.
Isko plants soil se nitrate (NO₃⁻) aur ammonium (NH₄⁺) form me lete hain.

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🌱 Nitrogen Cycle – Simplified

1. Nitrogen Fixation: N₂ → NH₃

2. Nitrification: NH₃ → NO₂⁻ → NO₃⁻

3. Assimilation: NO₃⁻ used in amino acids

4. Ammonification: Organic N → NH₃

5. Denitrification: NO₃⁻ → N₂ (back to atmosphere)

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🌾 Biological Nitrogen Fixation

Performed by prokaryotic organisms — bacteria & cyanobacteria.

Type	Organisms	Example
Free-living	Azotobacter, Clostridium	Soil
Symbiotic	Rhizobium	Root nodules of legumes
Cyanobacteria	Nostoc, Anabaena	Rice fields

💡 Trick:
Rhizobium = “Root partner bacteria” 🌿

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🌱 Root Nodule Formation

1. Rhizobium bacteria recognize root hair of legume.

2. Form infection thread → reach cortex.

3. Nodules form → contain enzyme nitrogenase.

4. Nitrogenase converts N₂ → NH₃.

5. Process occurs under anaerobic conditions (O₂-free).

💡 Fact: Leghaemoglobin provides anaerobic condition (binds O₂).

Reaction:

$$N_2 + 8H^+ + 8e^- + 16 ATP → 2NH_3 + H_2 + 16 ADP + 16 P_i$$

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🌿 8. Important Enzymes & Cofactors

Enzyme	Function	Cofactor
Nitrogenase	N₂ → NH₃	Fe + Mo
Nitrate reductase	NO₃⁻ → NO₂⁻	Mo
Nitrite reductase	NO₂⁻ → NH₃	Fe

💡 Trick: “FeMoCo” = Iron + Molybdenum cofactor 💪

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🌾 9. Biofertilizers – Nature’s Nitrogen Source

Biofertilizers are microbes that enhance soil fertility naturally.

Type	Example	Function
Nitrogen fixers	Rhizobium, Azospirillum	Add nitrogen
Phosphate solubilizers	Bacillus megaterium	Release phosphate
Mycorrhiza	Fungi + roots	Increase water/mineral absorption

💡 Trick: “Biofertilizers = Live helpers of soil!”

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🧠 10. NEET PYQs (2017–2024)

Year	Question	Answer
2024	Enzyme in biological N₂ fixation	Nitrogenase
2023	Cofactor in nitrate reductase	Molybdenum
2021	Free-living nitrogen fixer	Azotobacter
2020	Symbiotic nitrogen fixer	Rhizobium
2019	Leghaemoglobin function	Maintain anaerobic condition
2018	Mineral deficiency causing chlorosis	N, Mg, Fe, Zn

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🧾 11. Quick Summary Table

Concept	Keyword	Quick Fact
Essential Elements	17 elements	CHOPKINS CaFe Mg + Micro
Nitrogenase	Enzyme	Anaerobic, FeMoCo
Deficiency	Symptom	Chlorosis, Necrosis
Hydroponics	Technique	Soil-less growth
Rhizobium	Symbiotic	Legume nodules

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🎯 12. NEET Strategy Tips

✅ Memorize all 17 essential elements
✅ Learn deficiency symptoms with mnemonics
✅ Revise nitrogen cycle + enzyme table
✅ Solve last 10 years’ NEET questions
✅ Practice NCERT line-by-line

“If you master this chapter, you’ll never lose a single question on plant physiology!” 🌿

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🔗 Related Blogs

• 🌱 Plant Growth and Development – Day 52

• 🌿 Photosynthesis in Higher Plants – Day 50

• 🌾 Transport in Plants – Day 20

• 🍃 Respiration in Plants – Day 51

• 🌸 Plant Hormones Chart – Download Free PDF

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🏁 Conclusion

Mineral Nutrition is not just about memorizing elements — it’s about understanding the link between soil and life.
Every atom of nitrogen in your DNA once came from a bacterium fixing N₂ underground 🌾

So, revise it daily, make your own deficiency chart, and never ignore NCERT line diagrams.