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Nutrition: The food that organisms consume for their survival and growth is called nutrition.
The various mode of nutrition are as follows:
The organisms that prepare their own food to consume is called autotrophic nutrition. Example: Green plants prepare their own food by the process of photosynthesis.
The organisms that depends on plants for their nutrition is called heterotrophic nutrition.
The organisms that consume decaying matter is called saprotrophic mode of nutrition. Example: fungi.
The plants use photosynthesis to prepare their own food.
During photosynthesis, plants use water, carbon dioxide, and sunlight in the presence of chlorophyll to prepare their food.
Chlorophyll: It is a green pigment that helps the leaves to capture sunlight.
The plants that eat insects are called insectivorous plants. The plants such as pitcher plants have lid on their top, when insect enter their opening the lid trap the insect inside and consume the insect with the help of its digestive juice.
The plants that live on host plants are called parasitic plants. Example: Cuscuta.
Host: The plant that provide readymade food to another plant is called host.
A relationship in which two plants depend on each other for their survival is called a symbiotic relationship.
Example: Algae and fungus depends on each other for their survival. The algae provide food to the fungus and in return, fungus provide water, shelter and mineral to algae.
Soil contains various nutrients such as phosphorous, potassium and nitrogen. Over time, the plants consume these nutrients.
A bacterium called Rhizobium is present in the roots of plants such as gram, peas and moong. This bacterium converts the nitrogen in useful form, which is taken up by the plants.
In return, the plant provides food and shelter to Rhizobium. This is how the nutrient such as nitrogen gets replenished.
Other nutrients such as phosphorous and potassium are replenished with the help of fertilizer or manure.