Back to Basics . . . Part 2 Photosynthesis, chlorophyll, water, carbon dioxide, oxygen, light . . . how does it all fit together ? The word “photosynthesis” literally means to manufacture or put together (synthesis) in the presence of light (photo) . Green plants literally have the ability to manufacture oxygen in the presence of light. While manufacturing the oxygen we all need to live, they are constantly removing the carbon dioxide from the air. If this were not so, the carbon dioxide produced by both animal and plant respiration, combustion of fossil fuels like coal and oil in power plants, automobile exhausts, fires and any other type of combustion would increase while the oxygen supply was depleted making our planet earth uninhabitable by all life forms in a very short period of time. Here’s how it works . . . Plants as well as animals, “breathe” oxygen to support the processes that allow them to grow. This is called respiration, the chief waste product of which is carbon dioxide. In plants, this process occurs during the dark hours of night. During the sun lit hours of the day, photosynthesis take place in green plants according to the following process. Green plants (plants with chlorophyll), in the presence of sunlight, combine carbon dioxide and water and convert them to carbohydrates (which are used by plants for their growth processes) and oxygen. We have all heard about the destruction of the tropical rain forests for the sake of converting the land to agricultural and other uses. The loss of this valuable vegetation as oxygenating plant life reduces the planet’s ability to clean the air of carbon dioxide, and as we have learned recently, many other waste gases and pollutants. Another major area of concern here, although a different topic, but equally important, is the loss of hundreds of species of plants, many still undiscovered, that may hold the key to the control or eradication of any number of diseases and other human ailments. Still another major concern . . . is the pollution of our oceans. Since approximately 70% of the earth’s surface is covered with water, and since the oceans are literally teeming with plant life that carries on photosynthesis every day, it is obvious that pollution or any other practice that impairs the ocean organisms’ ability to produce oxygen is ultimately life threatening to every animal and human being on this planet. The problem is insidious however, in the fact that daily abuses usually do not produce immediate or visible symptoms of a threat to our survival which is why most people do not perceive this as an immediate danger. At this point you are probably saying to yourself . . . “this is all well and good but what does it have to do with planting a few petunias in my back yard” ? I call attention to these topics to show that gardening should not only be fun, but if practiced correctly and if the various products (pesticides immediately come to mind) are used responsibly, we can all do our part in helping to preserve the environment for our children. Responsible gardening practices can and should have a positive effect on our environment.
Posted on: Fri, 20 Sep 2013 04:45:24 +0000
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