In plants,
mineral uptake is the way in which minerals enter the cellular material, typically following the same pathway as
water. The most normal entrance portal for mineral uptake is through plant roots.(Roots, 2005) Some mineral ions diffuse in-between the
cells. In contrast to water, some minerals are actively taken up by plant cells. Mineral
nutrient concentration in roots may be 10,000 times more than in surrounding soil. During transport throughout a plant, minerals can exit
xylem and enter cells that require them. Mineral ions cross plasma membranes by a chemiosmotic mechanism. Plants absorb minerals in
ionic form:
nitrate (NO
3-),
phosphate (HPO
4-) and
potassium ions (K
+); all have difficulty crossing a charged
plasma membrane.