Plant roots play a major role in absorbing water and minerals from the soil. In fact, root development is one of the most important stages in a plant’s life cycle.
Early roots enable a plant to absorb water and minerals from the soil, which supplies it with the components it needs to grow and develop. At this stage, the roots also support the plant as it grows taller and heavier.
Later on, older roots function as storage units for nutrients that a plant requires. When plants are exposed to environmental stresses like drought or poor soil quality, they can return to these stored nutrients to stay healthy.
Research has shown that all parts of a root can absorb water and nutrients, but what part of the root absorbs the most? What makes this part special? Let’s find out!
This article is written by **Emily Emley**, BA | @emilyemley | emilyemley@gmail.com with permission from Science Career Magazine to be published on ScienceNetLinks. sciencenetlinks.
Trunks are water absorbers, too
All plants need a foundation to grow on, and that foundation is the soil. All plants have roots that absorb water and mineral from the soil, but what about the rest of the plant?
Yes, the trunk and leaves of a plant can also absorb water and minerals. In fact, an interesting study found that when a plant needs to up its water intake quickly, the trunk can actually absorb some water.
This is important because it shows how adaptable plants are. If there is not enough rain, the trunk can help draw in more water to keep the plant from drying up.
When it comes to which part of a plant absorbs the most water and minerals, it depends on what part of the plant you are talking about. The roots absorb more than the leaves do, for example.
Leaves are water absorbers, too
In addition to roots, most plants have another way to take up water and minerals from the soil: their leaves.
Leaves are primarily responsible for taking up water and minerals from the soil and transporting them to the plant’s stems and shoots.
Some plants, like Banana trees, do not have roots, only leaves. Even then, the leaves act as the primary absorber of water and minerals.
So why do plants have both roots and leaves? What is the difference between the two? Let’s dive into the anatomy of a leaf to find out!
The layer of cells at the top of a leaf is called the epidermis. This tough protective layer contains dead cells that eventually peel off, enabling new cells to form below them. These new cells eventually die as well, creating a fresh layer every few days.
Water moves up the plant from the roots
When a plant is watered, water moves up from the roots to all the above-ground parts of the plant: the leaves, stems, and flowers.
Water also moves into the plant’s cells where it is absorbed and used for things like growth and metabolism.
The way this happens is by osmosis, a natural process where a higher concentration of molecules outside of a cell forces water to move into the cell.
A good analogy for osmosis is how sweat drips off your skin—the outside environment is highly concentrated with water so your skin pushes out what it can’t hold. Plant cells work the same way. The inside of the cell is more concentrated, so water moves in to equalize the concentrations on both sides.
However, only some parts of the plant absorb most of the water that enters through the roots and goes up through the rest of the plant.
Plants use water to make oxygen
Plants use water to produce oxygen through a process called photosynthesis. During photosynthesis, plants combine carbon dioxide from the air with water from the soil and from their roots to make glucose.
They then use the sun’s energy to convert the glucose into oxygen and carbohydrate molecules, called starches. These can be used for food by the plant itself or can be stored for later use.
Plants need water not only to make oxygen but also to uptake minerals from the soil. Mineral nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, and zinc are needed for many processes in plants.
Water is a critical component of life
Many plants require a significant amount of water to stay alive and healthy. In fact, some plants depend on rainwater or other sources of precipitation to thrive.
Plants absorb water through their roots. This is why it is important to keep the soil around the roots moistened – the roots need to absorb the water so the plant can thrive.
Because plants take in nutrients from the soil through their roots, it is important that the soil is rich in nutrients. If the soil is low in nutrients, then the plant will not grow or thrive as well.
When looking for plants, check to see if they are tall and have vibrant colors. This means that they are taking in enough water and nutrients from the soil.
Plants need water to live
Plants are made up of cells, just like you are. These cells need water to function properly. The cells in plants use water to carry nutrients from the soil up to the leaves and photosynthesis enzymes in the leaves where carbon dioxide is turned into sugar for energy.
Water is also needed to regulate plant temperature. Plants need to sweat through their leaves to regulate how hot or cold they feel.
When the air around a plant is drier, it needs to take up more water from the soil to keep functioning properly. If a plant took in the same amount of water, then it would wilt and die.
There are two parts of a plant that absorb most of the water and minerals taken up from the soil. These parts are the roots and the cambium layer (also known as the apical meristem).
Dry soil means dry plants
When plants are watered in Fallout, they take up water through their roots. This is what grows the plant and keeps it alive. By extension, water is also necessary to photosynthesize, or produce energy in the form of sugars and carbohydrates. These are needed for the plant to grow and thrive.
As we mentioned earlier, too much water can be just as bad for a plant as no water at all. When a plant takes up too much water through its roots, it can kill the plant or at least make it sick.
We know that sounds strange, but it happens because of something called osmotic pressure. It’s kind of a complicated science thing, but we’ll try to break it down for you.
Osmotic pressure occurs when a solvent (a liquid) contains a solute (a particle). When more particles enter the solvent, the pressure increases between them and other particles already in the solvent. This makes it harder for other particles to move around freely.
Too much water is bad for plants
A common mistake beginner gardeners make is over-watering their plants. They feel bad for their plant, thinking it is not getting enough water, so they add more and more water.
This is not good for the plant!
Plants need moisture, but they need to dry out a little between waterings. When a plant is completely wet, it does not grow or thrive. Its roots cannot take up nutrients and water when it is underwater.
If your plant appears to be wilting and looking pale, try reducing the amount of time it sits in water. You can also use less frequent watering to help prevent this.
