Question

Why is the study of the rhizosphere critical to understanding plant nutrition?

Short answer

The rhizosphere is found close to the living roots of the plants. This region is home to various soil organisms. Organic and inorganic materials are rich in the rhizosphere. Thus, it makes it hard to understand the exchange of nutrients between plants and soil.

Step-by-step solution

Nutrition in Plants

Most of the green plants are autotrophic; they obtain nutrition from inorganic chemicals with the help of sunlight. The heterotrophic plants without chlorophyll are adapted to a parasitic mode of nutrition. For example, insectivore plants are heterotrophic plants.

Rhizosphere

The organic and inorganic elements are rich in the zone of the rhizosphere. This region of the soil directly influences the plants. The soil of the rhizosphere comprises soil pores and contains various microorganisms.

Components of the hydrosphere

The endo-rhizosphere, rhizoplane, and ecto-rhizosphere are components of the rhizosphere. A portion of the root cortex is found in the endo-rhizosphere. The ecto-rhizosphere contains microbes and mineral ions. The zone near the root epidermal cells is rhizoplane.

Microorganisms and plants exhibit many forms of symbiosis, such as mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism.The exchange of nutrients between all types of microorganisms and plants makes it complicated to understand in the rhizosphere.

As many microorganisms are living in this zone, it becomes difficult to track the nutrient exchange.