Blog Post #3 (Connor)

Biogeochemical Cycles and Your Plants

         

        Our plants have grown considerably throughout the past three weeks, and they look green and healthy. One of our pants seems to have a kale implanted in the same spot so the collared greens and kale are growing together in what my group calls collared kale. They seem to have grown couple inches, and are now being attacked by caterpillars, which eat the leaves and nutrients of the plants. However, the soil seems to be fertile and the plants are growing well, so there are only minor problems as of now.

         Currently, the plants play a large role in the water, nitrogen, and carbon cycles. The plants absorb the rain, redistribute it to the soil, and through transpiration the plants give back moisture to the atmosphere. This affects our plants because it has an impact on how it grows and lives. Although it hasn't rained as much as we would have wanted because of the drought, the plants still seem to be growing as if the drought doesn't affect them.

          In the carbon cycle, the plants absorb carbon dioxide and redistributes it to the Earth, creating fossil fuels. Later, the plants then give back carbon through plant respiration. This is important to our plants because the carbon has influence over how much the plant grows. The plants absorb sunlight through photosynthesis and changes CO2 to sugar and carbon rich nutrients to feed themselves. Since our plants have been growing, it can be concluded that the plants are participating well and feeding themselves. 

            In the nitrogen cycle, our plants do not exactly participate, but the plants benefit the most. Our plants use nitrates and ammonia, products of the cycle, to grow and give themselves nutrients. The nitrates and ammonia are made by nitrogen fixed bacteria, which converts nitrogen to nutrients. Because the plants are growing, it can be concluded that the plants have been participating and prospering from this cycle.