All living organisms for existence must be fed, including the plant. It breathes, grows, removes unnecessary substances, multiplies. A living organism is a biosystem. But what do plants absorb from soil and air?
Air power
Plants absorb the required elements from the air. But the most important process that allows the formation of organic matter is photosynthesis. For this, solar energy is used, which interacts with chlorophyll contained in green leaves. A chemical reaction occurs. Plants absorb carbon dioxide and water for the synthesis of carbohydrates. Subsequently, oxygen is released, which is necessary for the life of many creatures on Earth.
Further, complex carbohydrates and organic bonds are formed in plants. Mineral nitrogen compounds contribute to the synthesis of proteins, amino acids. For this, energy is used, which appears due to ATP bonds during photosynthesis.
Plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air for their existence. And the intensity of photosynthesis depends on lighting, the amount of the required element in the air, water, and mineral elements.
For photosynthesis, most plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air, and 5% is obtained through the roots. With the help of leaves, both sulfur and nitrogen are absorbed. But most of these elements come from the soil.
Root nutrition
Many elements required for the existence of plants absorb from the soil. Nitrogen and zonal elements come from cations and anions. Only legumes have the ability to absorb atmospheric nitrogen on a molecular basis. There are a number of elements that absorb plant living organisms:
- nitrogen;
- phosphorus;
- sulfur;
- calcium;
- potassium;
- sodium;
- magnesium;
- iron.
Plants are able to act on the soil in solid form, translating the required substances into the necessary state.
Absorption capacity of the root system of plants
Different plants differ in the power of the root system. The root grows at the very tip, which protects the root cap. Root hairs grow from it at a distance of 1-3 mm. With their help, water moves from the root to the part of the plant that grows above the ground. In addition, other elements are absorbed with their help.
Root hairs are thin outgrowths of external cells. There are a lot of them, maybe hundreds, or even thousands. The absorption capacity of the plant depends on this.
Nutrient absorption
Thanks to the mineral nutrition, the necessary elements move through the plants. Nutrient salts are formed in the soil, they dissolve, decompose into ions. When breathing, a green plant absorbs them through the roots, while emitting carbon. After this, metabolic processes occur. This is the first stage of nutrition with which the root surface is saturated with nutrient salts.
The movement and transformation of salts
After the roots have received nutrient salts, they move and turn into necessary substances. In this case, energy is released. Thus, the necessary conditions for root respiration are created. If the aeration of the soil is good, then proper oxygen supply occurs. Affects the life of the plant and the corresponding temperature, the presence of poisons in the soil.
All mineral and organic substances that have formed move toward the leaves.
Thus, the flow of ions of substances to the plant takes place in 3 stages:
- change of ions from the solid form, movement to the surface of the roots;
- penetration into the roots;
- their movement into the organs of plants that are above the ground.
Carbon dioxide and plants
When breathing, a green plant absorbs carbon dioxide, from which it receives carbon. This element is simply necessary for him to exist.
In addition to air, carbon dioxide is contained in the soil. Therefore, many gardeners fertilize the soil with special organic and mineral solutions.
Living beings are another source of this vital element. They secrete it when breathing. Because of this, its amount increases in the air, and plants due to this develop, bear fruit.
By the way, greenhouses contain a small amount of carbon dioxide, so barrels are placed where a solution of bird droppings or roaming mullein is poured. From this, the content of the desired element increases. And in the open ground fertilizers are used.
The role of soil in plant life
Soil is the top layer of the planet. With its help, plants develop and bear fruit. It appears from the interaction of living organisms with rocks and substances that appear from their destruction. The soil contains mineral particles, mineral salts, organic matter and air. Due to the fact that the dead remains of living organisms are decomposed, organic soil appears. It is called humus.
The growth and development of plants depends on the amount of water in the soil. Green inhabitants of the planet absorb this substance in dissolved form. Because of this, some plants do not survive in arid areas. But abundant moisture can destroy them, this causes decay, the roots die off.
Air is also of great importance in the life of the plant. In the soil, its presence is mandatory. Both water and air penetrate better into the loosened surface of the soil. Therefore, in the gardens several times a year, the soil is loosened. From this sowing is better developed and bears fruit.
Nutrition role
Plants absorb the necessary elements from the air to ensure the following processes:
- life activity;
- organ growth;
- stock of substances;
- the appearance of fruits and seeds.
From a lack of required elements, the plant develops more slowly. With a sharp shortage of food, plant growth stops. But an excess of any elements can also be harmful.
Often, people who grow crops create the necessary soil conditions using fertilizers (this ensures good growth and development of plants). Also regulate air power.
Many are interested in which plant absorbs oxygen. There are actually a lot of them. Thanks to sunlight, photosynthesis takes place, carbon dioxide is absorbed, but in the dark, plants breathe oxygen.
Soil protection
People have a devastating effect on nature, destroy forests, build reservoirs, and reduce soil fertility by irrigation. As a result of this, plants cannot exist, because salts in large quantities disrupt their development.
Due to salinization and other phenomena of the land, areas that could bear fruit are decreasing. But the deserts are increasing their area. Over the past 20 years, they have increased by 100 million hectares. If this continues, then over time on the planet the earth will not be able to be used for agriculture.
In order to preserve the soil, it is necessary to take measures to prevent salinization. It is necessary to cultivate the land without harm to it, to fertilize it correctly, it is not necessary to use pesticides. To control pests, there are analogues that do not harm the biological environment.
To preserve the upper soil layer from the wind, shelterbelts must be made. They will allow moisture to stay in the fields.
The spectrum of radiation absorbed by plants
What radiation spectrum do plants absorb? Thanks to plant organisms, photosynthesis takes place, the energy necessary for their existence is released. It uses solar lighting. It absorbs its chlorophyll in the red and blue parts of the spectrum.
In addition to photosynthesis, other processes occur in the plant. They are affected by light from different parts of the spectrum. The rapid and slow development of a plant depends on the alternation of dark or daylight hours. Red parts of the spectrum affect the development of roots, flowering, emergence and ripening of fruits. Therefore, sodium lamps are placed in the greenhouses , which emit the red zone of the spectrum. But the blue area affects the growth of leaves and the plant itself. If this section is not enough, the seedling will stretch up in search of the right light.
Therefore, a person who grows plants should install lamps that emit red and blue colors. Various manufacturers specifically for gardening produce such lighting fixtures.
So, for development, growth, fertility, the plant needs nutrition. It implements it with the help of soil and air. From the lack of an element, inappropriate conditions, the development of the plant will slow down.