mineral salts are taken up in the roots by active transport using energy from respiration.
Normally, ions will diffuse from high concentrations to low concentrations. This is known as the concentration gradient. For plants to absorb mineral ions like nitrates and magnesium from very dilute concentrations in the soil into cells with much higher concentrations, they have to "pull" against the concentration gradient. This requires energy, which is provided by respiration (using up glucose and oxygen).
Over-watering plants makes this more difficult as the concentration gradient is made worse.
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