Seed Update #3

During our most recent visit to the garden, the group noticed that more white flowers have bloomed from the bean plants. They have also sprouted even taller than the last time we had seen them.  The leaves and stems have become thicker and greener than before.
The participation of our plants in the movement of water in the biosphere lead to their participation in the water cycle.  The plants take part in the water cycle by absorbing water from the ground and taking it up through their roots.  For example, if it rains enough for rain to seep deep into the ground the roots are able to uptake the water. Then the water is released out through the leaves in the air during the transpiration process back into the atmosphere.  Our plants have been able to get used to their living conditions by using their ability to extract water from their environment, which allows them to grow at a steady rate.  Besides the water cycle, the pants also take part in the carbon cycle.  The sun provides the plants with enough energy to produce glucose during the process of photosynthesis.  This glucose is consumed by animals and broken down by both plants and animal to help them survive.  They also collect carbon to produce carbohydrates that animals consume as well.  Eventually, the consumers pass down all the nutrients they collect from plants to their consumers and so on.  Once dead organisms are broken down by fungi and bacteria, carbon dioxide is released into the air. The nitrogen cycle is another cycle our plants take part in.  In order for plants to gain access to nitrogen, bacteria in the soil converts unusable nitrogen into ammonia, which then becomes nitrates. The roots of plants use the nitrates in the soil to make proteins. These proteins are then consumed by animals that eat plants, which is then transferred throughout the food webs.