Plant-Water Relations

Plant-Water Relations

Water is essential for all physiological activities of the plant and plays a very important role in all living organisms. It provides the medium in
which most substances are dissolved. The protoplasm of the cells is nothing but water in which different molecules are dissolved and (several particles) suspended. A watermelon has over 92 per cent water; most herbaceous plants have only about 10 to 15 per cent of its fresh weight as dry matter. Of course, distribution of water within a plant varies-woody parts have relatively very little water, while soft parts mostly contain water. A seed may appear dry but it still has water- otherwise it would not be alive and respiring. Terrestrial plants take up huge amount water daily but most of it is lost to the air through evaporation from the leaves, i.e., transpiration. A mature corn plant absorbs almost three litres of water in a day, while a mustard plant absorbs water equal to its own weight in about 5 hours. Because of this high demand for water, it is not surprising that water is often the limiting factor for plant growth and productivity in both agricultural and natural environments.