Root Development vs Plant Growth

natmoon

Well-Known Member
A while ago now, I got the idea that roots take in oxygen and transform it into co2... although a search of the web ended up fruitless. The idea has come back again, strongly.

I believe that roots actually turn the oxygen into co2 for the plant above. Whether this happens in the root, or inside the actual plant, I don't know... but this would help explain why DWC and Aero grows so quickly. Might also explain why plants still grow at night. The plant itself may well be incapable of absorbing co2 during lights out, but once the lights are out the roots become more active, and actively take over from the plant in making co2. Maybe not even take over, but CONTINUE to work while the rest of the plant rests.

On a side note... the best way to restrict side growth is to cram in more plants. With poorer access to light side branches won't grow as big.
This is a theory that i think has some merit:blsmoke:
 

natmoon

Well-Known Member
Only if he meant O2...
I think you have misunderstood the theory from a lack of basic knowledge of how a plant takes in co2.

The pores that are underneath the leaves that take in the majority of the co2 in the air close up during the dark period.
What skunkys saying is that we could help the plants to take up more co2 from their root system whilst the dark period is in effect and gain a growing boost similar to an aero grow in soil by say adding a small amount of carbonated drinking water before the lights go out or making sure that the medium is drier at the lights out time so that the root system can convert the oxygen thats trapped in the soil into co2 and supply it to the plant that way.

So i reckon that the best way to achieve this would be to add a sip of carbonated water near lights off time and try to make sure that your medium is fairly dry at the dark cycle.:blsmoke:
 

silk

Well-Known Member
It turns into oxygen gas? And what would be the point of this?

Can you explain yourself better please?
Plants don't produce CO2, it's an input not an output. The general equation is:

6CO2 + 12H2O + energy -----> C6H12O6 + 6O2 + 6H2O

Photosynthesis produces glucose, oxygen and water not carbon dioxide. I couldn't tell you the point of it, it's just that once the sugar is formed there is excess O2 ,which does not bond and is released into the atmosphere.
 

natmoon

Well-Known Member
Plants don't produce CO2, it's an input not an output. The general equation is:

6CO2 + 12H2O + energy -----> C6H12O6 + 6O2 + 6H2O

Photosynthesis produces glucose, oxygen and water not carbon dioxide. I couldn't tell you the point of it, it's just that once the sugar is formed there is excess O2 ,which does not bond and is released into the atmosphere.
Plants do produce co2:blsmoke:
 

silk

Well-Known Member
Plants do produce co2:blsmoke:
Yes they do during cellular respiration which would generally happen during photosynthesis which in turn uses the co2 while it is aqueous and still within the plant. Why would the roots produce co2 if they were up taking it from a carbonated water solution?
 

skunkushybrid

New Member
So what do the roots do with the oxygen then? Like I said, this is just a theory, and I couldn't find anything to prove or disprove it.

I understand photosynthesis, but what is actually known about the roots? Why take in oxygen? Why is it that DWC/Aero grows which have access to more oxygen explode in upward plant growth?

Is there any scientific evidence that says roots do not turn oxygen into co2?
 

natmoon

Well-Known Member
Roots supposedly do not like pure co2,this is not something that i have tested myself though.
I believe that oxygen and co2 molecules exist in the soil and that the root systems break this down into an absorbable package and delivers it to the plant.

I think the theory has merit because i know that the plant shuts its pores down when its not photosynthesizing and it is entirely possible that the roots are the only way that a plant can absorb co2 whilst it is in the dark period.

I think the theory has merit and needs to be looked into but i don't have other info on it,but its a theory that i think deserves a bit more work and investigation:blsmoke:
 

silk

Well-Known Member
Why take in oxygen? Why is it that DWC/Aero grows which have access to more oxygen explode in upward plant growth?

Is there any scientific evidence that says roots do not turn oxygen into co2?
This is because the nutrients and oxygen reach the plant faster than in soil, certainly faster than in nature. Assuming you have the optimum mix of nutrients, oxygen and co2 you will have the most efficient plant growth. As far as I was taught, both photosynthesis and cellular respiration occur in the plant cells that have significant chloroplast. This would be found primarily in the leaves but also the stalks/stems/branches of the plant. The roots if at all, have the least amount of chloroplast.

so to summarize what I have said previously in this thread:

1. I don't think your experiment shows evidence that root system growth is unimportant but it does show that efficient nutrient uptake is possible without a large root system. What you may prove is growing advice about larger containers and larger feeding is unnecessary and a waste. I believe that greenhouse hydroponics already empirically prove this however disproving such cannabis growing mythology is a helpful and positive endeavor.

2. I don't believe there is any significant co2 production from roots due to textbook understanding of photosynthesis and cellular respiration. (basic knowledge).

3. Keep on doing a good job with this thread and your experiment!

:hump:
 

skunkushybrid

New Member
1. I don't think your experiment shows evidence that root system growth is unimportant:hump:
Technically it does... at least in some small way. The fact that much less root is needed numbs the importance somewhat.

I see your point though on the actual development of the root system itself. As it still needs to have a root system, and a developed one... maybe just not as an extensive or far reaching as we first thought. So in this respect alone is where the development loses importance.

I'm still not quite convinced that roots do not convert oxygen into co2, but I must bow to your expert knowledge on the subject. Thankyou for being here.
 

skunkushybrid

New Member
2. I don't believe there is any significant co2 production from roots due to textbook understanding of photosynthesis and cellular respiration. (basic knowledge).
What happens at night, when the plant is resting... has anyone studied the roots then?

Tell you what, could you just show me a site that can explain all this to me?

Unfortunately, I left school at a very early age. I educated myself through reading literature which offers a broad range of knowledge on a broad range of subjects. I'm more of a creative person than a scientific one.
 

silk

Well-Known Member
Technically it does... at least in some small way. The fact that much less root is needed numbs the importance somewhat.

I'm still not quite convinced that roots do not convert oxygen into co2, but I must bow to your expert knowledge on the subject. Thankyou for being here.
I think we are stuck on semantics as opposed to actually disagreeing about the points. Lets just clarify that I am not an expert.
 

skunkushybrid

New Member
I think we are stuck on semantics as opposed to actually disagreeing about the points. Lets just clarify that I am not an expert.
Ok, I'll clarify too... your better knowledge on the subject. Although, do you know of anywhere on the web that would know? I have searched, fairly extensively...and not found anything. I must be asking the wrong questions.
 

skunkushybrid

New Member
This is because the nutrients and oxygen reach the plant faster than in soil,
:hump:
Why? How do the nutes reach the plant faster? In soil, the roots are everywhere. It doesn't sound logical to me.

When a feed is made up there is equal nutrients to each relative part of water.

The reason aero and dwc grow so quickly is because of the extra oxygen. The roots NEED oxygen. Why? They don't just need it, but plants thrive when they have it in abundance. Why?
 

silk

Well-Known Member
What happens at night, when the plant is resting... has anyone studied the roots then?

Tell you what, could you just show me a site that can explain all this to me?

Unfortunately, I left school at a very early age. I educated myself through reading literature which offers a broad range of knowledge on a broad range of subjects. I'm more of a creative person than a scientific one.
At night the plant can still grow it's just not creating more of the energy it needs. However it can use the energy it has stored when necessary. Plants have and will continued to be studied. Fundamentally the root system is used to transport water and nutrients. You can read a primer on wikipedia here: Root - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In my experience school only really offers a framework in which to develop your own learning. So without school there is more responsibility on your shoulders because you aren't forced to learn. That doesn't mean you can't be more knowledgeable than myself or anyone else, you just need to put in more effort because you didn't experience the structure.
 

silk

Well-Known Member
Why? How do the nutes reach the plant faster? In soil, the roots are everywhere. It doesn't sound logical to me.

Why? They don't just need it, but plants thrive when they have it in abundance. Why?
Because in soil it takes time for h20 to reach the root system, it has to seep through the soil and may not all go towards the root system. In an aero/dwc system it takes little time at all. Also any nutrients available in soil have to also be in contact with the roots, in the above mentioned hydroponic solutions the o2/h2o and nutrients are sprayed directly onto the roots. Whatever is not absorbed falls back into the reservoir and can be used later. In a container grow, the excess of what the media or roots cannot absorb will exit the container.
 

Weedhound

Well-Known Member
root/shoot ratios and media/biomass ratios are different in hydro than in soil.

What does this mean? I have no clue. But I got this info from someones who knows his shit and when I told him what you were doing he said yes....quite possible in hydro due to the statement above. Went on to say he used to keep moms in 6 inch Cultilene (which I don't know what that is) and the biggest problem he remembered was the plants tipping over.

I notice you've just started an expirement for seeds Skunk. :)

I have NO idea if this statement helps or not but there it is. ;)
 
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