Blog Post #3: Biogeochemical Cycles, Update

             After we planted the stronger Broccoli Romenesco plant in the garden, it has continued staying healthy. We have also been noticing a greater rate in which the plant has been growing. This may be due to the fact that there is a greater amount of space for the plant to spread and grow compared to when it was growing in the cup. There has also been a significant difference with our Broccoli Romenesco plants. Because of the greater amount of space in the garden, the plants started spreading their roots to other areas, therefore making more plants sprout. In addition, the stems have grown wider and stronger, which serve the purpose to keep the plant straight. The leaves on the plant have grown in numbers, in size, and slightly darker in color.
           Our Broccoli Romanesco plants plays a important role in the water cycle. To the water cycle, they contribute water through the processes of transpiration. When it rains, the rain sinks through the earth to the underground water, thus raising it. The more water the plants are able to access, the more water will get absorbed through the plant. When the water enters the leaves of the plant, some of the water will evaporate on the surface of the leaf, through a process called evapotranspiration. Even though the amount of water vapor being evaporated isn't that much, it will still eventually become part of the water vapor in the atmosphere. 
           The Broccoli Romanesco plant also plays a role in the nitrogen cycle. Nitrogen enters the soil many different ways. One way the soil obtains nitrogen is as an organic form from dead plant or insect matter. The organic nitrogen is chemically converted into nitrites, then nitrates due to the process of nitrification. This inorganic nitrogen matter (nitrates) is then absorbed by our Broccoli Romanesco plants. Atmospheric nitrogen is also a sure of nitrogen that is acquired by the soil and our Broccoli Romanesco plants. Atmospheric nitrogen goes through a process called atmospheric fixation, which allows nitrogen to bond with oxygen, making it easy to dissolve in water. Therefore when it rains, nitrogen is brought down into the soil and absorbed by the plants' roots.
           Our Broccoli Romanesco plants play a role in the carbon cycle. Our plants absorb carbon dioxide and convert it to oxygen using the process called photosynthesis. As our plants grow taller and larger each day, they are able to absorb more cordon dioxide and let out more oxygen. When insects and other matter die, the matter is converted into inorganic carbon which is useful for our plants.