Plants take in oxygen, water, and minerals through their roots and leaves to undergo two key processes - respiration and photosynthesis. Respiration allows plants to breathe and release carbon dioxide, while photosynthesis uses sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to produce food for the plant in its leaves. Minerals dissolved in water are absorbed by the roots and transported throughout the plant to enable these important functions.

1. PLANT NUTRITION

2. RESPIRATION
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Plants breathe.
They take oxygen
from the air and
release carbon
dioxide.
This process takes
place in leaves.

3. Plant nutrition
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Plants are
autotrophs: they
make its own food.
To make food, plants
need:
sunlight,
carbon dioxide,
water and
minerals.

4. Water and minerals
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In the soil, minerals
dissolve in water.
Plants absorb this
water through their
roots.
These nutrients, raw
sap, travel up the
stem to the leaves.

5. PHOTOSYNTHESIS
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Photosynthesis
enables plants to
make food from
sunlight, carbon
dioxide, water and
minerals.

6. PHOTOSYNTHESIS
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Photosynthesis
takes places in the
leaves.
Raw sap mixes
with carbon dioxide
and becomes
elaborated sap.

7. PHOTOSYNTHESIS
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This elaborated sap
is the plant´s food.
Sunlight is essential
for photosynthesis.
During
photosynthesis,
plants release
oxygen.