The growth of plants is dependent on interactions between their genetic potential and the
ground/environment in which they are growing. The principal environmental requirements for
plant growth include adequate space for root and canopy development, sufficient light, water,
oxygen, carbon dioxide, and mineral elements, and temperature suitable for essential physiologic
processes. Therefore, this paper will discuss in details the requirements for plant growth.
According to Williamson (200) the vital needs of a plant are very much like our own which are
light, water, air, nutrients, and a proper temperature. The relative importance of each of these
needs differs widely among plants. The ability of a plant species to spread throughout a
geographic area is a direct result of its adaption to the abiotic and biotic components of the area.
Although most habitat components act on a plant simultaneously and should be considered
together, the lack of one essential component can determine the health of a plant.
Sufficient light is an important requirement for plants to grow. Light reaching the surface of a
plant is either absorbed, reflected, or transmitted. Energy, in the form of sunlight is one of the
driving forces in the chemical reaction known as photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process
by which green plants manufacture food, mainly sugars, from carbon dioxide and water in the
presence of chlorophyll (a green pigment), utilizing light energy and releasing oxygen and water.
Together the quality, quantity, and duration of light influences plant growth. Plants grown in
direct sunlight are typically compact, where as those in shade are taller and elongated. Seeds may
start to grow (germinate) without light, but the plant growing from it must have light if it is to
continue to grow.
Plant growth requires energy, and through the process of photosynthesis, leaves of trees and
shrubs capture light energy from the sun and convert it to soluble carbohydrates (starch and
sugar). In turn, these soluble carbohydrates are transported to all parts of the plant to satisfy
energy needs.
According to Janice (1997) water is essential for life as it is one of the most important
requirements for plant growth. Water is the main component in plants cells, it keeps the plant
turgid (stiff), it is used in photosynthesis, and transports nutrients throughout the plant. Plants
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also use water to lower leaf temperature, increase mineral absorption, and pull water from the
roots to the top of the plants through a process known as transpiration (Janice, 1997).
An adequate amount of water is essential for plant growth and maintenance of essential plant
processes. In fact, no organic process occurs in the absence of water. But plants probably suffer
more from moisture related problems than from any other cause. Either inadequate amounts of
water or too much water is considered by many to be the primary cause of death for newly-
planted trees and shrubs. The problem of excess water is often compounded if turf grass and
woody plants are installed coincidentally, since turf installation techniques (seeding or sodding)
require large amounts of water for successful establishment. In many landscapes, about 1 inch of
water every 7 to 10 days is sufficient to support tree and shrub growth. And because many soils
will not allow penetration of this amount of water all at once, it is more efficiently applied in two
or three applications.
Appropriate temperature is also another requirement for plant growth. High temperatures are
unfavorable for growth of many landscape plants because their rate of photosynthesis begins to
decline rapidly after a critical high temperature is reached. It is difficult to define one critical
high temperature for plants because it varies with species, however, temperatures in the 90° to
100° range undoubtedly slow this important food-making process. Unfortunately for trees and
shrubs, respiration is not quite as sensitive to high temperatures, and continues day and night,
further depleting food reserves. Finally, high temperatures may simply cause injurious water loss
when transpiration (the process by which leaves release water vapor to the atmosphere) exceeds
moisture absorption by the roots. High temperatures also can injure roots.
The atmosphere surrounding which is the source of oxygen and carbon dioxide is an important
requirement for plants. Plant growth cannot occur without oxygen which is essential for
respiration (the plant process that releases the energy of stored sugars to fuel growth), and carbon
dioxide which is required for photosynthesis. Compacted soils frequently are oxygen deficient.
In extreme cases, plants can die suddenly from lack of soil oxygen. More commonly, poorly
aerated soils gradually weaken plants and predispose them to other problems. In areas where
soils are poorly-drained or compacted, landscape plants benefit when they can be planted a few
inches above grade.
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Minerals are important for plant growth. Following absorption by the roots, mineral elements are
translocated to various parts of the plant for utilization in important biological functions. There
are 16 mineral elements essential for normal plant growth classified as either macronutrients
(hydrogen, carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and sulfur) or
micronutrients (molybdenum, copper, zinc, manganese, iron, boron, and chlorine), according to
their relative concentration in plant tissue. Throughout a plant’s life, mineral elements are
required for growth and maintenance.
The soils in which plants grow consists of a mixture of mineral materials, organic matter, water,
and air in varying proportions. The small fragments of mineral materials are derived from rock
over long periods of weathering. The organic matter consists of living organisms, their
excretions, and decay products. The texture of soils refers to the sizes of the particles that
dominate. The texture of a soil influences the amount of air, water and nutrients held in the soil.
In general, the penetration of air, water, and roots occurs much more readily through soils in
which large particles (sand) dominate. On the other hand, water-holding capacity and fertility are
mainly a result of small particle size (silt and clay) and organic matter.
Adequate space for crown (canopy) development is a basic requirement for plants growth. Space
for lateral and overhead clearance as well as clearance for pedestrians and vehicular traffic must
be provided. Equally important is adequate space for root growth. Many of the problems
associated with declining plants in urban and suburban environments can be attributed to
restricted root growth because of inadequate soil volumes. Roots are responsible for water and
mineral element uptake, energy storage, synthesizing important organic compounds, and plant
anchorage. If root growth is restricted, these important processes and functions are slowed or
impeded and plant health will be jeopardized.
In conclusion, plants need five things in order to grow: sunlight, proper temperature, moisture,
air, and nutrients. These five things are provided by the natural or artificial environments where
the plants live. If any of these elements are missing they can limit plant growth.
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References
Jeff, I. (2001). Requirements for plant growth. Lowa state: Lowa State University and
community forestry council.
Janice, E. (1997). What makes plants grow? Florida: University of Florida.
Lynne, S. (2015). The culture of growing trees. Muchigan: Harper and Craw.
Williamson, J. (2007). Climate protection through growth of trees. Cardiff: Cardiff University.