Siyavula: Life Sciences Grade 10 - Cd3wd.com

9Figure 1.2Minerals in traditional foods: Marogo, umno (isiZulu)Marogo is grown in southern Africa for its leaves, which are eaten like spinach. The young plants can begrown 25 cm apart and can yield between 30 and 60 tons per hectare. Maroga uses bright sunlight eectivelyfor photosynthesis and has a relatively low water consumption, which means that it is well adapted to hotand arid conditions in Southern Africa. The leaves are a valuable source of protein, and the minerals iron,magnesium and calcium. People should be encouraged to grow this crop, especially in rural areas where itcould help to reduce malnutrition in children.Photo: http://www.ickr.com/photos/oakleyoriginals/4639259240/sizes/l/in/photostream/1.1.1.3 Use of fertilisers• All plants require inorganic nutrients for growth. Articial fertilisers contain inorganic nutrients. Themain nutrients found in fertilisers are nitrogen, in the form of nitrates, phosphorous, in the form ofphosphates and potassium, magnesium, calcium and other minerals. These articial fertilisers should