Upon reflction, that thimble full probably refers to mineral ash. Still seems low though.
But of course air is made up of matter - molecules of nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide. These particular molecules are gaseous at normal temperatures, but the elements they contain can be used to form other molecules that are solids or liquids.
Think of the process in reverse - when you burn wood, most of its weight is converted from solids into gases.
Much of the good information here deals with the specifics of photosynthesis and basic soil components. Plants are fine, adaptable subjects to human-aided growth, and you can grow them with basic chemical knowledge, without soil.
Soil science, like so many others, is currently exploring the complexity of it’s domain. In forestry and horticulture, there is research exploring the interaction of soil microbes and mycorhyzzia (fungus), and how that aids in plant growth. Basically, it is a symbiotic relationship, with benefits to both. Here’s a link: http://www.ffp.csiro.au/research/mycorrhiza/intro.html for more detail.
You can grow plants through simple chemistry, but the way plants compose themselves for optimum survival is quite complex. We tend to focus on the easily observable, and use for us, but note that at least half of any plant’s existence is underground. It’s an unseen world we’re just beginning to understand.
Doesn’t it depend a lot on the plant? I would expect that the amount of water in plants varies considerably. Anyone have some info on how much of the mass of various plancts is made up of water?
Plants are usually described as being about 70% water, but in reality that number varies all over depending on climate, time of year etc.
Here’s some numbers for wheat (techy article, click on at own risk)
Obviously, the water content of corn plants, elm trees, bristlcone pine, sujuaro, and welwitschia will vary across species as well.
It’s usually assumed int hese sorts of discussion that it’s dry weight, not wet weight. Obviously most of the wet wieght will come from water, but that’s just as true of people as it is of plants.
Right- the bulk of the mass of a plant is from water, then air. The 'drit" adds very little mass- but very critical elements.
Has it been determined how hardwoods or tree matter in general can combine co2, water, nitrogen, potassium and other minerals to create the hard material that comprise the trunk or roots of trees? or to put it more simply, how does the tree do it?