EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Essentially all of the water used by land plants is absorbed from the soil by roots. A root system consists of a complex network of individual roots that vary in age along their length. Roots grow from their tips and initially produce thin and non-woody fine roots.

Detailed explanation-2: -Water in the soil is absorbed by the roots and travels through the stems to the leaves. Water carries nutrients back and forth between roots and leaves. During photosynthesis, plant leaves need water, nutrients and sunlight to make their own food. Water also helps a plant to stay cool.

Detailed explanation-3: -Water and mineral salts first enter through the cell wall and cell membrane of the root hair cell by osmosis. Root hair cells are outgrowths at the tips of plants’ roots (Figure 5.27). They function solely to take up water and mineral salts.

Detailed explanation-4: -Although all green plants make their food by photosynthesis, they also need to get nutrients from the soil. These dissolve in water and are taken up by the roots of the plant. The most important plant nutrients are nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), and potassium (K).