Soil, water, roots, and nutrient uptake

Glossary

Terms that have earned their place

Root zone

The soil volume explored by active roots, where water, air, dissolved nutrients and associated organisms interact.

Soil structure

The arrangement of soil particles into aggregates and the connected pores between them, affecting water movement, air and roots.

Mycorrhiza

An association between a fungus and plant roots that can exchange plant carbon for improved access to some soil nutrients.

Nutrient uptake

The movement of available dissolved nutrient ions into living roots and onward through the plant.