Plants, Food and Man

#3
Where does man’s food come from? If we think carefully about where our food comes
from, you will realize that all our food ultimately comes from plants. Eg- Cereal,
Vegetables and fruits are directly supply by plants. But, don’t forget that any kind of food
you eat containing the organic matter first made by plant by photosynthesis. For example,
if you eat beef, the cow from which the meat comes would have eaten grass to obtain
material to build up its body. The milk and all other dairy products have their origin in the
grass that the cow ate.

This series of food link is called a food chain a food chain has a plant at the base called a
primary producer (they produce the protein and carbohydrates) which are eaten by
Herbivores; these Herbivores may be eaten by Carnivores.

Eg Cabbage Snail Bird Cat

Plant Herbivore Carnivore Carnivore

Plant Nutrition:

Most plants produce their food by the process of photosynthesis. The raw materials are
mainly water and other minerals obtained from the soil through their roots and Carbon
dioxide obtained from the air through their leaves (pores) water and Carbon dioxide are
combined together in the Chloroplasts.

The Chloroplasts contain the enzymes needed for the reaction. The energy needed for the
reaction is provided by the sunlight. Sugar is produced and oxygen is released as waste
product. The sugar that is produced is converted to starch and stored in the plant. Some of
the Starch/Carbohydrates are converted to protein, fats and vitamins.

light

6H2O + 6CO2 → C6H12O6 + 6O2

Water carbon chlorophyll sugar oxygen

 The Carbon Cycle

The Carbon cycle describes the circulation of Carbon compounds between the living and
the non-living world. Photosynthesis is the only means by which Carbon dioxide can
enter the living world. The organic compounds that are formed in Photosynthesis supply
food for all other organisms, firstly for herbivores and then the carnivores.

Carbon dioxide is returned to the atmosphere during the respiration of all organisms.

When organisms die, they are decomposed (broken down) by microorganisms such as
bacteria and fungi. These in turn respire and return the Carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.
If decay is prevented, then the organism is preserved. Coal and wood from trees are burnt
by man as fuel also return Carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. The amount of Carbon
dioxide in the air remains constant at 0.03% in spite of the changes in the rate of
Photosynthesis, respiration and combustion. This is because C0 2 is soluble in water and
the excess will dissolve in lakes, the oceans and rivers. These act as reservoir to maintain
a constant level of 0.03% Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

LAKE, OCEANS
DISSOLVES

COMBUSTION
ATMOSHPERE
COALY& WOOD
CARBON DIOXIDE
0.03%
PHOTOSYNTHESIS

RESPIRATION RESPIRATION

RESPIRATION RESPIRATION

PLANTS FEED FEED CARNIVOLE DECAY BY

AMNIVOLES
MICROS

DEATH DEATH DEATH

DECAY PREVENTED
The Chemical Cycles
The Nitrogen Cycle
Organisms require nitrogen to produce amino acids. Nitrogen makes up seventy-eight
percent of the atmosphere, but most organisms cannot use this form of nitrogen, and must
have the fixed form. The nitrogen cycle produces the fixed form of nitrogen these organisms
need.

Step 1: A special type of bacteria called nitrogen fixing bacteria take in atmospheric
nitrogen and produce ammonia (NH3).

Step 2: Other bacteria use this ammonia to produce nitrates and nitrites, which are nitrogen
and oxygen containing compounds.

Step 3: The nitrates and nitrites are used by plants to make amino acids which are then used
to make plant proteins.

Step 4: Plants are consumed by other organisms which use the plant amino acids to make
their own.

Step 5: Decomposers convert the nitrogen found in other organisms into ammonia and
return it to the soil. A few of these types of bacteria return nitrogen to the atmosphere by a
process called denitrification, however this amount is small.
 Nitrogen free
in the AIR N2

Bacteria in the root nodules death and decay by

Of legumes micro-organisms
de-nitrifying nitrogen fixing
bacteria in bacteria in soil Plant protein eating Animal protein
soil
lightning forms faces
oxides of nitrogen Ammonium compounds
Absorbed by roots

rain Nitrifying bacteria in soil

Nitrates in the soil Nitrifying bacteria

Nitrites
in soil

Industrial fertilisers