Question

Discuss how water availability influences root growth

Answer 1

Plants absorb the nutrients in water dissolved form through their roots from soil. So, generally roots grow in a positive hydrotropic manner within the soil. This results in the root systems of actively growing plants continually explore new regions of soil.

Most rapid water absorption is considered to occur from zones of maximum root density near the surface.

In order to absorb good amount of nutrients in their water dissolved form, the root growth is essential. The plants, which grow in arid to semi arid regions develop deep roots than the plants that grow in moist soils, because the plants that grow in arid regions are required to develop deep roots to absorb the water from the deeper sections of the soil, whereas the plants that grow in normal wet soils do not require deep roots, since there is large or enough availability of water at shallow depth itself.
Eg: Desert plants have very deep roots
Hydrophytes or water living plants have almost no roots or they have the roots only for anchorage.