Explain how do environmental factors affect plant rate of transpiration
Environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, light intensity, wind, and soil water availability can affect the rate of transpiration in plants.
Temperature: As temperature increases, the rate of transpiration increases. This is because higher temperatures increase the rate of evaporation of water molecules from the leaves and stems of plants.
Humidity: The rate of transpiration is lower when humidity is high, as there is less of a difference in water vapor pressure between the inside and outside of the plant, which reduces the rate of evaporation from the leaves.
Light intensity: The rate of transpiration is higher in bright sunlight as it increases the temperature of the leaves and therefore the rate of evaporation. However, if light intensity is too high, it can cause wilting and reduce the rate of transpiration.
Wind: Wind increases the rate of transpiration by removing water vapor from the surrounding air and increasing the concentration gradient of water vapor between the inside and outside of the plant. This can be both beneficial and detrimental depending on the rate of water loss and the plant's ability to absorb adequate water.
Soil water availability: The rate of transpiration is affected by the availability of soil water. If water is not available, the plant will limit its rate of transpiration to conserve moisture and avoid wilting. However, if soil water is plentiful, the plant will transpire at a higher rate.
Overall, these environmental factors can impact plant transpiration by changing the rate of water evaporation from leaves and the difference in water vapor pressure between the inside and outside of the plant.