July 13th, 2011 Plant Physiology and Hydroponics
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For some, the phrases ‘plant biology’ or ‘plant physiology’ or even the word botany brings to mind scary images. Certainly, the more advanced aspects of each can require in depth knowledge of the subjects. Despite this, having a little basic knowledge of some plant biology can benefit the average gardener, and grasping the basic concepts is actually quite easy.
With that said, we look at a branch of horticulture called ‘Hydroponics‘. Before diving into cultivating plant, it helps to know what you’re doing, which is where some botany concepts some into play.
Plants are living things, however they have some obvious and important differences from animals. The biggest differences being how each take in nutrients and generate the energy they need to sustain themselves. Many plants, for example, absorb sunlight and turn it into energy through photosynthesis. At the same time, it can extract available chemical elements from the surrounding medium, then transform them into food for itself.
Animals, by contrast have to get their food from other sources, either other animals or plants. Sunlight is a good source of heat, however doesn’t provide them with energy. There are exceptions, as there are throughout biology. Some extremely small organisms that are sometimes thought of as animals can perform plant-like activities. These hybrid creatures are usually extreme exceptions though.
The method most plants use to generate the energy they need is a process called photosynthesis. The chemical equation of photosynthesis looks like this:
6CO2 + 12H2O + light = C6H12O6 + 6O2 + 6H2O
Six molecules of carbon dioxide (6CO2) and 12 molecules of water (12H2O) combine by using energy provided by light. The chemical reaction produces glucose (C6H12O6), a type of sugar. Like animals, plants then break down the glucose to provide them withthe energy they need to sustain them. As a ‘side benefit’ (to us, that is) six molecules of oxygen (6O2) and six of water (6H2O) are given off.
That relatively simple chemical reaction allows plants to be self-sufficient.They take in available energy, pull nutrients from the surrounding and produce their own energy and food. It would be great if humans could do the same!
But there’s much more to the plant’s life than just energy production and food consumption. In order to perform those functions plants have to be sturdy and to breathe.
As mentioned, plants need to have a stable physical support in order to carry out their essential processes. With hydroponics , there is no soil so this physical support needs to be considered. Internally, the plant supplies it’s own support through its own cells using elements from the environment. Outside the plant, support comes in the form of strings, rockwool or supporting trays.
Calcium, for example, plays a large role in forming cell walls. These cells allow the plant to withstand forces like wind and gravity by building up tissues that resist.
Plants, like animals, perform a kind of respiration – breathing. It’s commonly known that plants breathe in carbon dioxide (CO2) and exhale oxygen (O2). But they also consume oxygen. They simply give off more than they consume.
While plants don’t use lungs to breathe, they do however have pores, called stoma, which they use to breathe in oxygen and carbon dioxide and exhale oxygen. That process is called cellular respiration and it’s essential to root growth.
These are only a few of the many fascinating features of plants that give them the ability to provide food, beauty and delightful smells to their fortunate caretakers: hydroponic gardeners.
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- All About Hydroponics Vegetable Gardening (realestatenoevalley.com)
- How to Start with Hydroponics (sustainableprojectmanagement.com)
- The Basics of Hydroponics (realestatenoevalley.com)
- How To Find Hydroponic Starter Kits (sustainableprojectmanagement.com)
- A Particular Introduction To Aeroponics (bearathome.com)
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