A green plant can use light energy to make sugars from water and carbon dioxide. Water usually enters through roots, while carbon dioxide comes from the air. Oxygen can be released. Soil supplies important minerals, but it is not the whole food supply: much of the carbon in a growing plant comes from the air.
Plants, animals and ecosystems · Discover & try
Where does a plant get the material for growth?
Reading level 1 of 5 · EarlyChange
Word help
photosynthesis
Using light energy to help form sugars from inorganic inputs.
carbon dioxide
An atmospheric gas that supplies carbon for photosynthesis.
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Schematic input-output model, not a complete chemical pathway or crop-growth prediction.
What to look for
- Light supplies energy
- Carbon dioxide supplies carbon
- Water and minerals have different roles
Explain what you noticed
A sapling gains carbon while growing in a pot. Which source supplies most of that carbon?
Keep this idea: Separate the source of energy from the sources of plant matter.
Follow the sources
- U.S. Department of Energy — DOE Explains the Plant Microbiome
- U.S. Department of Energy — DOE Explains the Carbon Cycle
Source material checked 2026-10-28. Explanations and activities by Nepedia. Source links do not imply endorsement.
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