Blog Post #3 (Noah)

Biogeochemical Cycles and Your Plants

Our plant has matured an exponential amount since the last time I checked on it. The leaves and stem are becoming darker and more green, and the size of the plant is greatly increasing. The roots are getting bigger and spreading out, and the plant is taking up more space. The stem is stronger and thicker, and the leaves are becoming larger and more numerous.

In the environment, our plant plays a large role in moving water around. Precipitation from the heavens is generously laid down upon my beautiful plant’s soil. The roots gradually absorb and store the water in the plant until it must be used to produce oxygen or do other plant-like tasks. Water is stored inside cells in the stem and leaves. H2O is used for photosynthesis, as well as feeding the plant. The remaining water is evaporated into the atmosphere, back up to the clouds where more clouds and precipitation are created.

Our plant plays a role in the nitrogen cycle as well. Soil obtains nitrogen from several different places. One of those places is dead organic plant or animal matter. Another nitrogen resource is the groundwater. Nitrogen is converted into nitrates by denitrifying bacteria. It is then sucked up through the plant’s roots, and the plant uses it for food. When the plants die, nitrogen is released as the organic matter decays. Other living things absorb this nitrogen, and the cycle continues.
Lastly, our plant plays a minor role in the carbon cycle. One way our plant receives carbon, is by absorbing carbon dioxide from the air, and converting it to breathable oxygen, using a process called photosynthesis. The larger the plant is, the more carbon it can consume and convert. All living things are based around carbon, so when plants or animals die, the plant can use that carbon. This also means that when the plant dies, the carbon is available for another living thing to utilize.