Nutrition in plants refers to the process through which plants get nourishment to stay healthy, grow, and repair damaged body parts. There are different modes of nutrition in plants – autotrophic and heterotrophic.

In this article, we will discuss how plants get nutrition. Also, find the nutrition in plant notes here.

Nutrition in Plants

Plants obtain their nutrition primarily through a process called photosynthesis, where they convert sunlight into chemical energy. This process takes place in the chloroplasts, using chlorophyll to capture light energy. Carbon dioxide from the air and water from the soil are used to produce glucose and oxygen.

Besides photosynthesis, plants also absorb essential minerals and nutrients from the soil through their roots. These nutrients are important for plant growth, development, and overall health. Some plants have unique nutritional adaptations, such as carnivorous plants that derive nutrients by trapping and digesting insects.

Mode of Nutrition in Plants

Nutrition is a crucial biochemical and physiological process through which an organism utilizes food to sustain life in a healthy manner. Nutrition gives nutrients to organisms, which can then be digested to produce energy and chemical structures. Malnutrition occurs when adequate nutrients are not obtained. Thus, nutrients are the necessary components of food. Plants use raw resources to make their food. These resourves mainly come from their surroundings and include minerals, carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight.

There are two modes of nutrition in plants which are:

1. Autotrophic Nutrition: Plants have the unique ability to manufacture their food by converting readily available inorganic elements like sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into organic ones. They are often known as primary producers, as they exhibit autotrophic nutrition.
2. Heterotrophic Nutrition: The heterotrophic nutrition refers to plants that lack chlorophyll and rely on food from other plants. Both humans and animals rely on plants for nourishment, they are referred to as heterotrophs.

Autotrophic Nutrition in Plants

Autotrophs are living things that can make their own nourishment from inorganic resources and can survive by themselves entirely without the help of other living things. Because of this, autotrophs are referred to as “producers.” They give the energy that all heterotrophs need in order to survive, and they are the foundation of an ecosystem’s energy pyramid. For instance, there would be no herbivorous animals and no carnivorous creatures that consume herbivores if there were no plants.

Photosynthesis

Green plant leaves use a process called photosynthesis to turn sunlight energy into chemical energy by producing carbohydrates. The process of photosynthesis occurs in the chloroplast. Chlorophyll is a green pigment present in all the green parts of plants and is localized inside the chloroplast. It facilitates solar energy absorption. In the process of photosynthesis, food is prepared by using water and carbon dioxide in the presence of sunlight. It is clear that solar energy is a major part of the food-making process of plants and plant is a primary producer. So, we can conclude that the Sun is the main source of energy for all living things.

Steps of Photosynthesis

The steps of photosynthesis are:

1. Light Absorption: Chlorophyll in leaves captures light energy.
2. Water Splitting: Light energy is used to split water molecules, releasing oxygen.
3. Energy Transfer: Energy from light is converted into ATP and NADPH (energy carriers).
4. Carbon Fixation: CO2 is captured and converted into organic molecules.
5. Sugar Production: Using ATP and NADPH, glucose (sugar) is made from captured carbon.

Obtaining Various Components for Photosynthesis

To carry out the photosynthesis plant obtain various components from its surrounding, those are:

Plants obtain Carbon dioxide

• The leaf surface of plants consists of numerous small pores known as stomata.
• These pores are the entrance gate of carbon dioxide gas.
• A pair of guard cells surround each pore in the stomata.
• These stomatal pores opening and shutting are controlled by the guard cells.
• The stomatal openings close when a plant doesn’t require carbon dioxide and wants to conserve water.

Pants obtaining Water

• The amount of water needed for photosynthesis is taken up by the roots of plants from the soil through the osmosis process.
• The xylem vessels of the plant carry the absorbed water upward to the leaves.
• Additionally, the plants require additional raw components including nitrogen, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, etc. These elements are taken up by plants from the soil.

Heterotrophic Plant Nutrition

In this type of nutrition, plants lack chlorophyll and rely on other plants for their existence. These plants are also known as parasites.

Heterotrophic Plants

Following are many heterotrophic plant species that are primarily categorized according to how they obtain their nutrition:

1. Parasitic
2. Insectivorous
3. Saprophytic
4. Symbiotic

Parasitic Nutrition

Some heterotrophic plants rely on food from other plants and animals. These plants are referred to as parasitic plants. The parasitic plant takes its nutrition and does not benefit its host in any aspect.

Example: Cuscuta and Cassytha.

Insectivorous Nutrition

Some plants are referred to as carnivorous or heterotrophic plants as they intake insectivorous nutrition and have unique structural characteristics that enable them to capture insects. They release digestive fluids and break down the insects and extract their nutrition. These plants grow and flourish on mineral-deficient soil.

Example: Pitcher plants and Venus flytrap

Saprophytic Nutrition

Saprophytic nutrition revolves around dead and rotten plants and animals as it is the source of food for saprophytic plants. They basically release digestive secretions and break down the dead and rotting debris and assimilate the nutrients.

Example: Mushrooms and mold

Symbiotic Nutrition

Symbiotic nutrition refers to a close relationship between two distinct plants from two distinct categories where they gain nutrients from each other.

Example: The relationship between fungi and trees.

Plant Nutrients

Plant nutrients are essential elements that plants absorb from the soil to support their growth, development, and overall health. These nutrients are classified into:

• Macronutrients
• Micronutrients

Also Read: Difference Between Micronutrients and Macronutrients

Now let’s see it in detail.

Macronutrients

Essential elements required in large quantities for plant growth. Macronutrients include:

• Nitrogen (N): Vital for leaf and stem growth.
• Phosphorus (P): Important for root development and energy transfer.
• Potassium (K): Regulates water uptake and enzyme activation.
• Calcium (Ca): Strengthens cell walls and influences cell division.
• Magnesium (Mg): Central component of chlorophyll for photosynthesis.
• Sulfur (S): Essential for protein synthesis.

Micronutrients

Essential elements needed in small quantities for plant development. Micronutrients include:

• Iron (Fe): Necessary for chlorophyll synthesis and energy transfer.
• Manganese (Mn): Involved in photosynthesis and enzyme activation.
• Zinc (Zn): Important for hormone production and enzyme function.
• Copper (Cu): Plays a role in photosynthesis and respiration.
• Molybdenum (Mo): Helps in nitrogen fixation and enzyme function.
• Boron (B): Vital for cell wall formation and reproductive growth.
• Chlorine (Cl): Involved in osmosis and ionic balance.

Soil Nutrient Replenishment

If a plant is deficient in an essential nutrient, it will not be able to complete its life cycle. The plant fail to produce healthy roots, leaves, or flowers, and it won’t be able to produce seeds for new plants. The plant will often die. Conversely, too much of a nutrient can harm or even kill plants.

For instance, excess nitrogen may cause a plant to grow more leaves but little to no fruit, and too much manganese can turn leaves yellow and cause them to die. An excess of boron can also be fatal. Thus, a balanced nutrient cycle is necessary. Plants are directly linked to the soil and obtain their major nutrients from it. Replenishment of soil nutrients is essential for plant growth, as the nitrogen content of the soil declines after harvest.

Plants require a lot of nitrogen to produce proteins, but they cannot use atmospheric nitrogen gas directly. Specific bacteria transform this nitrogen into a form that plants can easily utilize. The root nodules of leguminous plants contain Rhizobium bacteria, which absorb atmospheric nitrogen gas and transform it into water-soluble nitrogen compounds for the plants’ growth. In return, leguminous plants provide food and a habitat for Rhizobium bacteria, which cannot produce their own food. This mutually beneficial relationship is crucial for farmers as it reduces the need for soil fertilization.

Conclusion – Nutrition in Plants

In conclusion, nutrition in plants is vital for the growth, development, and reproduction of plants. Plants obtain their nutrients through processes like photosynthesis and the absorption of minerals from the soil. A balanced nutrient cycle is essential, as both deficiencies and excesses can harm plants. The symbiotic relationship between leguminous plants and Rhizobium bacteria helps maintain soil fertility, benefiting both plants and farmers. Overall, understanding plant nutrition and its complexities is crucial for successful agriculture and ecosystem health.

Also Read:

• Facts About Nutrition in Plants
• How Do Plants Absorb Nutrients?
• Mineral Requirements of Plants
• Importance of Plants to Human
• Role of Macro and Micro-Nutrients in Plants
• Food Sources – Food from Plants and Animals
• CBSE Class 11 Mineral Nutrition- Essential Mineral Elements

FAQs on Nutrition in Plants

Why is Nutrition Important for Plants?

Nutrition is crucial for plants as it ensures proper growth, development, and the ability to complete their life cycle, including producing roots, leaves, flowers, and seeds.

What is Plant Nutrition Called?

Plant nutrition is called mineral nutrition. It involves the uptake and utilization of essential elements from the soil to support plant growth and development.

What is the Function of Plant Nutrition?

Plant nutrition provides the necessary elements and compounds that support various physiological functions, including photosynthesis, respiration, and growth.

What are the Plants Nutrition Types?

Plants utilize two main types of nutrition: macronutrients (e.g., nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) and micronutrients (e.g., iron, manganese, zinc).

What is the Plants Nutrition Importance?

Proper plant nutrition is essential for healthy growth, disease resistance, and optimal yield in agricultural and natural ecosystems.