A housewife added excess sodium nitrate and phosphate fertilizer to the soil of her
chili plants. After 3 days, she found her chili plants withered and died.
i.
Explain what happened to the plant after fertilizer is added?
(4 marks)
ii.
What should the housewife do before adding the fertilizer to the soil to prevent
the plant from withering?
(4 marks)

Excess sodium nitrate and phosphate fertilizers cause plant dehydration and death due to increased water draw from roots. To prevent plant withering, avoid over-applying nitrogen fertilizers and ensure adequate moisture after applying salts.

Explanation:

Explain what happened to the plant after fertilizer is added: When excess sodium nitrate and phosphate fertilizers are added to the soil, the salts in the fertilizer lead to increased water draw from plant roots, causing dehydration and cell collapse in the plants. This excessive salt concentration damages the roots beyond recovery, leading to withering and plant death.

What should the housewife do before adding the fertilizer to the soil: To prevent plant withering, the housewife should ensure not to over-apply nitrogen fertilizers, especially in hot weather with limited soil moisture. Adequate moisture levels should be present after applying fertilizers high in salts to minimize damage to plant roots.

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