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Did you know how transpiration allows plants to "breathe"?
In nature, plants have many magical functions, one of the most important processes is transpiration. This process, considered "breathing", not only involves the movement and evaporation of water, but also plays a key role in the growth and development of plants. Transpiration mainly refers to the evaporation of water into the air through leaves and other parts after water is absorbed from the roots of the plant. This process is very passive and does not consume the energy of the plant.
Transpiration is crucial to plant physiological processes because it not only helps plants cool down, but also changes the osmotic pressure of cells, allowing plants to absorb nutrients.
When the amount of water absorbed is less than the amount of evaporation, plants will close their pores (stomata) to reduce water loss. However, this action will also reduce the absorption of carbon dioxide, which will affect the plant's metabolic process and photosynthesis, ultimately reducing its growth rate. Therefore, transpiration is not only the movement of water, but also closely related to the survival of the entire ecosystem.
Absorption of water and nutrients
Plants need water to grow, but only 2% to 3% of the water absorbed from the roots is used for growth and metabolism. Most of the water is lost through transpiration. Water and its dissolved nutrients are penetrated by the roots, then transported to the leaves through the xylem along the adhesion and cohesion between water molecules, and finally released through the stomata.
The area around the stomata is composed of guard cells and their accessory cells. These cells can help open and close the stomata to regulate water loss.
The movement of water is affected by two main factors: the hydraulic conductivity of the soil and the pressure gradient in the soil. Capillarity also plays a key role in this process. Just like a thin tube, when the pressure gradient is large enough, water is attracted from the roots to the leaves and then released outward.
Regulate transpiration
Plants regulate the rate of transpiration mainly by controlling the opening and closing of stomata. In this process, environmental factors, such as humidity, temperature, wind speed and sunlight intensity, will affect the efficiency of transpiration. In addition, soil moisture and temperature will also affect the growth of plants because they have a direct impact on water absorption by the roots.
As a plant grows, it often evaporates far more water than its own weight.
For example, an acre of cornfield may release 3,000 to 4,000 gallons of water each day, while a large oak tree can use up to 40,000 gallons of water per year. Not only are these data stunning, they also make people think about the role plants play in ecosystems.
Environmental impact of transpiration
Transpiration not only affects the growth of plants themselves, but also has a significant impact on the environment. As water evaporates, it carries heat energy, allowing plants to cool down during high temperatures.
During this process, the latent heat of water is extremely large, which can effectively take away the heat inside the plant.
All these cooling effects of transpiration have important implications for the surrounding ecosystem. In addition to increasing the humidity of the surrounding environment, the regulation of surface temperature cannot be ignored.
Transpiration and ecological balance
In short, transpiration not only allows plants to "breathe", but also has a profound impact on the water cycle and climate regulation of the entire environment. As climate change threatens the natural environment, maintaining healthy ecosystems has become increasingly important.
In this increasingly changing era, we can't help but think: In the face of global change, how can we protect these "breathing" plants so that they can continue to provide support and balance to our ecosystem?
