Microbiological Assays of Hays for Their Amino Acids According to Soil Types and Treatments Including Trace Elements

T plant is composed of carbohydrates, fats, nitrogenous compounds including proteins and vitamins, inorganic elements, and other substances possibly not classified in the above categories. The carbohydrates are produced by photosynthesis with the aid of a few inorganic elements such as magnesium in the chlorophyl, potassium for conversion of sugar to starch, and some of the minor elements, like manganese, for the transformation of sugar and starch to fats. The production of amino acids and protein is, however, not a photosynthetic but a biosynthetic process. This process probably depends on both the presence of, and the balance of, the supplies of inorganic elements in the plant as well as on the supply of carbohydrate. The quantities of these elements ,present are probably not the most important criterion of their service. Rather, the activities of the cationic and anionic constituents should probably be taken into account. It appears as if the role of these elements is mainly a catalytic one with only some of the elements actually becoming components of the protein molecule.