How do plants transpire?
All plants, from the smallest weed to the tallest tree need water. They can transpire in 2 different ways. By being stiff with water pressure, the plants can transpire faster. They let out vapour by the opening on the special pores on the leaves. Transpiration plays a crucial role in Earth's water cycle, by helping us survive and providing us with fresh air to breath in, and help us function.
The first step in the transpiration process is when water enters the roots from the soil. These roots work like when we are using a straw and our mouths suck up the water going against gravity. That is exactly like the roots. The water travels from the soil where the rainwater has soaked into, to the roots. In Autumn and Winter, plants don't have high transpiration rates due to the fact that there are less leaves on the tree than Summer and Spring. When there is more rain and moisture on earth's surface, some of it can soak into the ground while leftover water starts the water cycle. Roots that are growing underground in soil that is packed with too much open water may die because they can't get the amount of oxygen they need to function normally.
The next stage in the process is when the water molecules travel through the xylem tubes; long hollow tubes that are actually dead and empty. These tubes are actually located inside the tree or plant trunk. The xylem tubes are held up by complex organic large molecules or polymers. These molecules are called lignin. When the oxygen and water molecules are traveling upwards, they are actually going against gravity, attached to each other by a slight electric charge that helps them go that direction. A potometer measures the rate of transpiration and is an airtight seal between the plant and the water filled tubes.
The last step is when the molecules reach the end of the tree, and exit the leaves’s surface through the stomata-microscopic pores that are almost identical to the ones we have on our faces. As soon as the water leaves the stomata, it evaporates into water vapour that will be removed by moving air. If the stomata is closed photosynthesis cannot happen and the plant could starve and die.
In conclusion, plants need water to survive, function and help us live. This amazing cycle is called transpiration and is the reason why we are all here today. I hope you have learnt more about this wonderful cycle.
