How Does A Plant Take Minerals Into Its Root From The Soil?

Absorption of mineral salts takes place mainly in the zone of root hairs. Each root hair is a fine tubular outgrowth of an epidermal cell. The partially permeable cell surface membrane in the root hair cell does not allow substances such as sugar and starch to pass out of the root hair into the soil. However, it allows dissolved mineral salts in the soil solution than in the root hair cell, calcium ions will diffuse into the root hair. However, the root hair is able to absorb calcium ions from the soil solution even though there are more calcium ions in the root hair than in the soil. This means that the root hair is now absorbing calcium ions against a concentration gradient, like active transport of calcium ions taking place here. This type of transport requires energy and so only occurs only in the living cells, because only they respire. Through simple diffusion does play a part in the absorption of minerals, present indications suggest that the absorption of minerals by the root hairs is brought mainly by active transport.

In order to remain healthy, plants need to photosynthesise, using energy from sunlight to use carbon dioxide and water to synthesis sugars. These are then used as building blocks to synthesise more complex carbohydrates, proteins and lipids. The plant uses these to build its tissues and structures, to grow and to maintain itself.

Like animals, plants need other nutrients in very small, sometimes trace amounts. They require mineral ions such as iron, phosphates, copper and zinc to use as non-organic components of important enzymes.

Plants absorb the mineral ions they need from the soil, which is rich in these nutrients. Many mineral ions are present in very small amounts in the soil, and it is impossible for the plant to take them up by relying on the process of diffusion. Substances cannot diffuse against a concentration gradient. The plant therefore has specialised proteins that actively transport minerals ions into the root cells using energy in the process.

Water takes it in