Background Research: About Plant Transpiration
Transpiration is the process of a plant's moisture being carried out into the atmosphere through small pores (stomata) on the underside of its leaves where it changes to vapor and is released to the atmosphere; also known as evaporation. Similar to how humans sweat, the rates of which plants transpire varies depending on its surrounding (environmental) conditions.
There are several factors which can affect the rate at which plants loses water from the leaves (transpiration):
There are several factors which can affect the rate at which plants loses water from the leaves (transpiration):
- Type of Plant: Plants transpire water at different rates. Some plants which grow in arid regions, such as cacti and succulents, conserve water by transpiring less water than other plants.
- Stomata: The number of or spread of stomata each plant has will affect its transpiration rate.
- Temperature: When the air is warmer the plant pores (stomata), which control how much water is released open, whereas colder temperatures cause the pores to close.
- Humidity: It is easier for the plant to transpire in dryer air than saturated air.
- Soil: If the soil which the plant is in lacks in nutrition and moisture, it will transpire less water.