Explain two (2) alternative ways in which plants can obtain nutrients when they live in nutrient poor soils. Solution When plants live in nutrient poor soils they develop specific adaptations to obtain nutrients. For example, carnivorous plants such as Nepenthes, Dionea, Urticularia, that are growing in nitrogen poor soils developed modified leaves into pitchers, fly traps and urticles that can trap insects and enzymes produced in these structures digest them. Some plants like legumes develop symbiotic association with nitrogen fixing bacteria like Rhizobium and form root nodules. The plants provide shelter to bacteria and bacteria fix the atmosphric nitrogen and supply to the plants. Mangrove plants like Avicennia growing in oxygen poor marshy soils develop aerial roots that obtain oxygen. Some plants establish mutual relationship with Mycorrhiza (fungus) to obtain nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorous. Therefore, plants develop adaptations for obtaining nutrients and survival in nutrient poor soil environments..