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Biology / Unit 11   Bio 2581 short lesson, about 20 seconds

"Plants Get Most of Their Mass From the Soil"

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The idea

Assuming a plant's mass comes mainly from soil overstates soil's contribution — most dry mass traces to carbon captured from air, not ground.

In practice

A tree's trunk gains most bulk from carbon fixed out of atmospheric carbon dioxide, not soil lost around its roots.

Where people slip

This entry states the popular assumption — Bio 2583 gives the reaction supplying most of a plant's mass.

Your place on the trail

Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.

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