ABSTRACT
The existence of a set of mineral elements essential for all organisms reflects the composition of the environment in which life evolved. The most important resources for plants are generally light, carbon-dioxide, water, nitrogen, and phosphorus, so the availability of these has significantly influenced the evolution of terrestrial ecosystems. The existence of a set of mineral elements essential for all organisms reflects the composition of the environment in which life evolved. Plants use roots to mine the soil for nutrients. Roots evolved at least twice in land plants, once in lycophytes and at least once in euphyllophytes. As life colonized the land surface, plants evolved to mine the nutrients that their evolutionary past made essential. The continuing challenge of mining these essential and beneficial elements affects many processes in unmanaged ecosystems, and presents significant challenges for the management of agricultural ecosystems.
