Biology/Watering plants
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Question
If you just used plain water with regular household plants would this create a isotonic enviroment? I am confused in how osmosis works with plants. Hypertonic can happen if you over fertilize cause plasmolysis to occur during osmosis. But if you use just 100% H2O what happens?
Dear Cyndi,
If you use pure water for your plants, it won't immediately create a hypotonic solution because of all the salts still in the soil. But eventually, over time, the pure water would leach the nutrients out of the soil more quickly than water containing ions, minerals, etc. You'd have to use fertilizers and trace elements to replace the lost chemicals.
When the soil is super-saturated with water, the problem is not so much that water will enter the cells and cause damaging turgidity. There are ATP-requiring systems that prevent that. But a plant root, like the other organs, needs oxygen. And in water-saturated soil, the oxygen content can become so low that the plant literally drowns.
Hope that helps.
Dana
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Answers by Expert:
Dana Krempels, Ph.D.
Expertise
I can answer biology-related questions in the areas of evolution, zoology, botany, genetics, and ecology. But I don't answer homework questions or provide ideas for your science fair projects. So students please do your learning the right way by reading your text assignments and studying!
Experience
At the University of Miami, I teach Evolution and Biodiversity, Botany, Zoology, Genetics, Ecology, and a variety of seminars (e.g., the Biology and Evolution of Human Gender Roles).
Education/Credentials
I have a B.S. in Biology and an A.B. in English from the University of Southern California (1980).
I earned my Ph.D. in Biology in the area of evolutionary biology/visual physiology from the University of Miami in 1989.
Past/Present Clients
I am currently an "expert" in both the "Rabbits" and "Wild Animals" categories.
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