Plants get their nutrition mainly through a process called photosynthesis. In this process, plants use sunlight, carbon dioxide from the air, and water from the soil to make their own food in the form of glucose. This happens in the leaves, which contain a green pigment called chlorophyll.
Besides making their own food, plants also absorb minerals and nutrients from the soil through their roots. These nutrients help in the growth, development, and health of the plant.
There are two main types of nutrition in plants:
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Autotrophic Nutrition – where green plants make their own food (like most plants).
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Heterotrophic Nutrition – where some plants get nutrients from other sources, like insect-eating plants (e.g., pitcher plant) or parasites (e.g., Cuscuta).
Plants need a balance of sunlight, water, air, and nutrients to grow properly and stay healthy.