If we put protein supplements in plant soil, would it help grow? (For my biology project)?
14 Apr 2010
We have a project to see how plants can grow tall, and I am wondering what will happen if we put protein in it.
I don’t think it will do much because the protein supplements probably aren’t in a usable form for plants. They might be too large for absorption or the plants don’t have transporters for such macromolecules in their roots.
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Plants pick up their Nitrogen in the form of ammonia (NH4) or nitrates/nitrites; they get those from fertilizers, animals (excretions), and/or symbiotic microorganisms.
Looking at this question from another point of view, I doubt it will work because there isn’t much free proteins just lying around in the soil, so I doubt that plants have ever evolved the ability for soil protein absorption.
If you’re going to do this experiment anyway, it would be great if you would post the results!
One Response
AngryMob
2010 Mar 31 1I don’t think it will do much because the protein supplements probably aren’t in a usable form for plants. They might be too large for absorption or the plants don’t have transporters for such macromolecules in their roots.
Plants pick up their Nitrogen in the form of ammonia (NH4) or nitrates/nitrites; they get those from fertilizers, animals (excretions), and/or symbiotic microorganisms.
Looking at this question from another point of view, I doubt it will work because there isn’t much free proteins just lying around in the soil, so I doubt that plants have ever evolved the ability for soil protein absorption.
If you’re going to do this experiment anyway, it would be great if you would post the results!
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