Question

Plants can be grown in
A)Soil with essential nutrients
B)Water with essential nutrients
C)Either water or soil with essential nutrients
D)Water or soil without essential nutrients

Answer 1

Hint: Plants grow in various habitats like terrestrial, aquatic. For the growth, development and carrying out various physiological processes, they absorb essential nutrients from the habitat in which it is growing. The habitat provides all essential nutrients required for the growth.

Complete answer:
Plants being the living beings require basic essential things for their growth and development. It includes correct temperature, light, water, air and nutrients. The plants obtain essential nutrients for the medium in which it is growing.

1)Plants growing in terrestrial habitat- These are the plants which grow on land and obtain water and nutrients from the soil. The roots of the plants are well built and capable enough to absorb all the essential water and nutrients from the soil. The important nutrients needed for the plants for its growth is nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. The nitrogen and phosphorus forms the basis of genetic material. The potassium is required for the transport system. All the essential nutrients are already present in the soil. So the plants require only soil for its growth.

2)Plants growing in aquatic habitat- The aquatic plants also perform photosynthesis but their structure is different and are adapted differently for living in water. They get the sunlight and the required water and nutrients from the surrounding water. The minerals and other essential nutrients are provided by the fishes. Other than nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, iron, manganese, magnesium etc is produced by the fishes and oxygen is already present in the water.

Hence, the correct answer is option (D)

Note: When the soil is deficient of the nutrients, then only the nutrients have to be supplemented artificially. In case of plants growing artificially in water, the nutrients need to be supplemented for the proper growth and development of plants.