Biochemical cycles by JT

1. What changes do you notice in your plants this week? Describe the overall appearance of your plant.  Our plants very spread out leaves; 38 cm tall and is 34 cm wide, with the leaves having a sort of dark mint green color. What I also noticed was that we have the biggest and tallest plant in the garden, therefore it tells us that it is getting enough of water and sunshine. Something else we observed was that some of the leaves have been munched on by our neighboring pests. We don't think they will have any affect knowing that our plant is growing very well and healthy and it will find a way to regenerate.

     2. How do your plants participate in the movement of water in the biosphere? How do               your plants' roles in the water cycle relate to the changes you observed in your plants           this week?Our plant has to absorbs the water, then it releases it back into the atmosphere                 from the small pores in the underside of it's leaves. It is called transpiration. This is           letting the plant release the water it doesn't need so it doesn't drown or get too soggy           if that's a thing. Also, it may be the reason why it's leaves aren't a bright green like                 most plants. The amount of water it releases is sufficient for the plant to stay healthy             but not enough to give it that bright green other plants.  
   
     3.How do your plants participate in the movement of carbon in the biosphere?  How do  your plants' roles in the carbon cycle relate to the changes you observed in your plants         this week? They do this process called photosynthesis. This is where they absorb the carbon dioxide from the           atmosphere and mix it with water. Using the energy of the sun of course. During this             process, they also make their own food, this is why we have the biggest plant because  our plant is doing more of the photosynthesis 

     4.How do your plants participate in the movement of nitrogen in the biosphere?  How do          your plants' roles in the nitrogen cycle relate to the changes you observed in your                plants this week? The bacteria from our plant forms into  nitrogen in the soil into ammonia, this is                    called fixation. Then they go through the process of nitrification which lets the bacteria          turn the ammonium into nitrates which the plants can absorb through their roots.                    Plants need certain minerals for healthy and one of them being nitrate. Nitrates help              the plant make amino acids which are needed to make proteins.