Where do plants get the mass needed to grow from a seed to a grown plant?
Plants primarily get the mass needed to grow from three main sources:
1. Air: Plants absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air through tiny pores called stomata present on their leaves. During photosynthesis, plants use the energy from sunlight to convert CO2 into glucose and oxygen. This glucose serves as a building block for the development of various plant structures.
2. Water: Plants absorb water and dissolved nutrients from the soil through their roots. Water uptake helps in transporting essential minerals and nutrients throughout the plant. It provides the necessary hydration for cell expansion and overall growth.
3. Soil: The soil contains essential minerals and nutrients required for plant growth, including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and micronutrients. The roots of plants absorb these nutrients from the soil, aiding in their growth and development.
Through a combination of photosynthesis, water absorption, and nutrient uptake from the soil, plants accumulate the necessary mass to grow from a seed into a fully grown plant.