Abstract
Plants, besides their key importance in energy flow, also play a major role in the circulation of the chemical elements. Primary production, i.e. conversion of radiant energy into chemical energy in photosynthesis, necessarily involves a large number of chemical elements. Primary production, i.e. conversion of radiant energy into chemical elements. The elements essentially required for the life processes are known as nutrients. Energy and the chemical elements flow together through the community and are indeed inseparable and interdependent. However, unlike energy, chemical elements return to their respective pools after death and decay of the organisms and are available for reuse.
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Gopal, B. (1990). Nutrient dynamics of aquatic plant communities. In: Gopal, B. (eds) Ecology and management of aquatic vegetation in the Indian subcontinent. Geobotany, vol 16. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1984-6_8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-1984-6_8
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