Understanding Our PlantRich Planet

1
Understanding Our Plant-Rich Planet

• Ron Smith, Ph.D.
• Extension Horticulturist Turfgrass Specialist
• NDSU Department of Plant Sciences
• Pictures, tables, information taken from
• B.C. Wolvertons (1997) How to Grow Fresh Air
• Power Point Designed By Andrea Carlson

2
The Living Biosphere

• Earths Age 4.5 billion years
• Microorganisms 1st forms of life
• Millions of years later Plants appeared
• Millions of more years
  Higher life forms
• Biosphere life exists deep in
  earths crust to lower
  atmosphere

3
The Living Biosphere
CO2
Phytochemicals
Photosynthesis
H2O
Chlorophyll
O2
Transpiration
Phloem-Food (Sugars)
XylemH2O Minerals
O2
CO2
Respiration
Microbes
4
Earth Viewed As Living Organism

• Rainforests earths lungs
• Wetlands earths kidneys
• Evolutionary processes over billons of years have
  yielded a complex, inter-
  dependent ecosystems
  dependent on each other
  for survival

5
Geography, Biology Human Intervention

• Local environmental climatic conditions
• Removal of trees other vegetation from vast
  areas of land causes environmental changes in
  soil composition weather patterns

6
Plants Supply Many Human Needs

• Food
• Medicines
• Energy
• Building Materials
• Clothing Fibers
• About 400,000 species of
  plants on earth still learning
  about their potential

7
Studies by U.S Russian Space Agencies Show.

• Astronauts consume 2.0 lbs of oxygen exhale 2.4
  lbs of carbon dioxide every 24 hours
• Based on this data, about 1.4 lbs of new dry
  plant material must be produced via
  photosynthesis every day to
  meet the oxygen needs of
  one adult

8
Scientifically Speaking

• Plants are dynamic
• Creating emitting invisible substances around
  their leaves roots which provides for their
  protection well-being

9
Scientifically Speaking

• Plants secrete a mix of sugars, amino acids,
  hormones, organic acids, other substances that
  stimulate microbes they need for survival

10
Leaf Absorption Translocation

• Translocation characteristic is exploited by
  insecticide industry chemicals applied are
  translocated in phloem to roots, out to
  surrounding soil
• Xylem moves water soluble
  soil minerals from roots to
  foliage

11
Leaf Absorption Translocation

• Plants have capacity to absorb volatile organic
  chemicals (VOCs) deactivate in rhizosphere via
  microbial action

12
Transpiration

• Plants emit water vapor controlling humidity
  climatic conditions
• Process cools plants via water movement
• Causes convection
  currents, which
  rise, cool,
  cause
  precipitation

13
Phytochemicals

• Some terpenes (Black walnut) inhibit germination
  or root growth of other plants
• Origins of some medicines
• Aspirinwillow
• Quininecinchona
• Digitalisfoxglove
• TaxolPacific Yew tree

14
How Houseplants Purify the Air
Stomata absorb pollutants in air
H2O vapor is emitted into atmosphere
Pollutants transported to root zone
Root microbes breakdown pollutants to be used as
a food source for plant microbes
15
Plants Clean Air of Toxins

• VOCs create sick building syndrome
• Plants in isolated
  chambers with known
  VOC concentrations
  showed a substantial
  reduction after a
  
  24-hour period

• Symptoms associated with sick building
  syndrome
• Allergies
• Asthma
• Eye, nose, throat irritations
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Nervous-system disorders
• Respiratory congestion
• Sinus congestion

16
Plants Clean Air of Toxins

• Formaldehyde, VOC is ubiquitous in
• Building interiors
• Garbage bags
• Carpet backing
• Adhesives
• Gas stoves
• Tobacco smoke
• Bioeffluents are released
  during human respiration
  increase IAQ problems

17
Plants Clean Air of Toxins

• Plants were found to be effective in removing the
  4 most common found in a crowded classroom
• Ethyl alcohol
• Acetone
• Methyl alcohol
• Ethyl acetate
• Top air cleaners
• Palms
• Rubber Plants
• Dracaena
• Ferns
• English Ivy
• Peace Lily
• Golden Pothos

18
Questions?