Types of Nutrition in Plants

There are two main types of nutrition in plants.

1. Autotrophic nutrition
2. Heterotrophic nutrition

Let’s learn about them in detail.

Autotrophic Nutrition

In autotrophic nutrition, plants make their own food through the process of photosynthesis. Most plants are autotrophs. They use sunlight, carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the air, and water from the soil to produce glucose. Glucose is a type of sugar that serves as their primary source of energy. The glucose is also used to make other essential organic compounds like cellulose and starch. The presence of chlorophyll, a green pigment in the chloroplasts of plant cells, is important for capturing light energy needed for this process.

Heterotrophic Nutrition

Heterotrophic nutrition occurs in plants that do not have the capacity to produce their own food through photosynthesis. These plants depend on other organisms for their nutrients.

Heterotrophic plants can be further divided into several types:

• Parasitic plants – such as mistletoe, obtain nutrients by attaching to and drawing sap from a host plant.
• Saprophytic plants – such as some fungi, derive nutrients from decaying organic matter.
• Insectivorous or carnivorous plants – like the Venus flytrap and pitcher plants, trap and digest insects to obtain nutrients, especially nitrogen, which is often limited in their soil environment.

Facts About Nutrition in Plants: Nutrition is the process by which organisms take in and metabolize food substances to maintain life and growth. Whether they are plants or animals, all living things require nourishment to survive on this planet. Nutrition in Plants class 7 covered how plants obtain and utilize nutrients for growth and survival including photosynthesis and nutrient absorption. Plants are the only living things capable of making their own food. In this article, we will learn some interesting facts about nutrition in plants.