Question

We water the soil but it reaches the topmost leaves of the plants. Explain in brief the process involved.

Answer 1

The process involved is transpiration pull, which is part of the water transport mechanism in plants. The steps are as follows:
• Absorption by Roots: Water is absorbed by root hairs from the soil through osmosis and enters the xylem vessels.
• Capillary Action: Xylem vessels, being narrow tubes, facilitate the upward movement of water due to adhesion and cohesion forces.
• Transpiration Pull: Water evaporates from the stomata in leaves, creating a negative pressure that pulls water upward from the roots.
This cohesive and adhesive force enables water to travel against gravity to reach the topmost leaves.