HORTICULTURE

Detailed explanation-1: -Root hair absorbs water from soil through osmosis. Water will be absorbed by root hairs by osmosis as the environment in the soil is hypotonic. This kind of absorption takes place passively. The water can easily move from the region of higher concentration to the low concentration without expenditure of energy.

Detailed explanation-2: -Fine roots are the most permeable portion of a root system, and are thought to have the greatest ability to absorb water, particularly in herbaceous (i.e., non-woody) plants (McCully 1999).

Detailed explanation-3: -Plants absorb water and nutrients through the xylem: a tissue made up of thin tubes located just below the surface of the plant’s stems. The molecules in this tissue attract water molecules from the soil, so that the water is pulled upwards. This process is called capillary action.

Detailed explanation-4: -Diffusion operates by these highly concentrated ions moving as far away from one another as possible, and becoming exposed and available to the plant roots. Phosphate, potassium and zinc are the main nutrient ions moving as a result of diffusion.