eli5 : If plants can make their food with water and carbon dioxide using photosynthesis why do they need manure and fertilisers ?
In: Biology
Plants make a special kind of sugar by photosynthesizing. Just like we need certain vitamins, minerals, and amino acids to grow and let our bodies function in a healthy way, plants also need minerals and other nutrients to stay healthy. They need things like nitrogen and phosphorous to grow. Usually they are able to get the nutrients they need from the soil in their environment. Because humans have altered the environment by building cities and farming which have changed how water and nutrients usually cycle through the environment, soil often doesn’t have the right balance of nutrients plants need. That’s where manure and fertilizers come in. They help supplement the nutrients the plants need but aren’t getting from the soil they are in. They are like foods we eat that are enriched with vitamins and minerals or vitamins and other nutritional supplements people might take to help balance their diet.
Latest Answers