You plant two identical seeds in identical pots with the same amount of soil but add 1 gram of fertilizer to one pot. Both pots receive the same amount of water and sunlight, but the plant with fertilizer grows to 50 grams, and the one without grows to 35 grams. From where did the larger plant gain its additional mass?

Question

A) Water and soil provided most of the additional mass.
B) The fertilizer enabled the plant to gain additional mass from water and air.
C) The fertilizer provided all the additional mass.
D) The fertilizer enabled the plant to obtain additional mass from the soil.

Answer 1

The correct answer is B) The fertilizer enabled the plant to gain additional mass from water and air.

Here's the reasoning:

Plants primarily gain their mass through a process called photosynthesis, which involves taking in carbon dioxide from the air and water from the soil. The fertilizer helps by providing essential nutrients (such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) that can enhance the plant's growth and efficiency in utilizing available water and air (carbon dioxide).

While the fertilizer itself is a source of mass, as it provides nutrients that aid growth, the majority of the plant's mass comes from the carbon dioxide absorbed from the air and the water taken up from the soil. Thus, the additional mass gained by the fertilized plant is a result of the fertilizer enabling better utilization of these natural resources, leading to more growth overall.