Question

Suman purchased a number of earthen flower pots (gamle) and planted beautiful plants in them by adding proper fertiliser to the soil. She started watering these plants everyday by putting lots of water in the earthen flower pots. After about one month, Suman noticed that though most of the potted plants were growing well and appeared to be healthy, but one of the plants was on the verge of dying (though it was being watered daily alongwith other potted plants). Suman told about this problem to her friend Geeta. Geeta examined the earthen flower pot of this dying plant carefully including its bottom and immediately understood what the problem was. She adivsed Suman to change the earthen pot of this plant. Suman then shifted this plant to another earthen pot and watered it. The same plant now started growing normally and became a healthy plant after some time.
(a) What defect do you think could have been observed by Geeta at the bottom of earthen pot of this plant ?
How was this defect affecting the growth of plant and making it almost die ?
(c ) Which life process could not be performed efficiently by the roots of this plant under these conditions ?
(d) What special term is used for the condition which existed in this particular earthen flower pot ?
(e) Why did Suman use another earthen pot for this plant ?
(f) What values are displayed by Geeta in this incident ?

Answer 1

(a) Geeta could have observed that there was no hole at the bottom of this earthen flower pot (gamla) for the excess water to be drained out.
(b) Since there was no hole at the bottom of this earthen pot, too much water collected in it. This too much water expelled all the air from in-between the soil particles in the earthen flower pot. Due to this, oxygen was not available to the roots of this plant for aerobic respiration. Under these conditions, the roots respire anaerobically, producing alcohol. And this was killing the plant gradually.
(c ) Aerobic respiration.
(d) Waterlogging.
(e) Suman used another earthen pot for this plant which had a hole at its bottom (to drain off the excess water).
(f) The values displayed by Geeta in this incident are (i) Awareness (or knowledge) that plant roots require air for respiration (ii) Curiosity to get at the bottom of the problem, and (iii) Helping nature.