What is required for nutrient uptake by roots?

• A. Soil texture
• B. Water and oxygen
• C. Nutrient abundance only
• D. Temperature

Answer: (B)

Nutrient uptake by roots relies on two key needs: a medium to dissolve and carry minerals to the root, and energy to move those minerals into root cells. Water provides the solvent that dissolves nutrients and enables their transport toward and into the root, through processes like mass flow and diffusion. Oxygen fuels root respiration, supplying the ATP that powers active transport systems in root cell membranes, which actively move ions against their concentration gradients. Without water, nutrients can’t reach the root surface or interior; without oxygen, the energy to pump nutrients into the roots isn’t available. Temperature and soil texture can influence how fast uptake happens and how well roots access water and air, but they aren’t the fundamental requirements for uptake itself, whereas nutrient abundance alone doesn’t guarantee uptake if the plant can’t supply energy or transport the minerals.