People hardly think about the root systems behind the big trees, the beautiful plants we see, and the crops and vegetables we eat every day. However, plant roots are very important to the survival and continued existence of our species. Roots are so important that an entire field of research is devoted to them. Finally, it is important to ensure that future generations are fed when natural disasters and natural forms of erosion and degradation inevitably have their impact. This important part of the breathing cycle also needs to be preserved.
In countries where natural disasters such as volcanoes are destroying large swathes of land and causing soil erosion, root protection and restoration becomes an important task. Roots also protect against pathogens, pests and toxins. Efforts to improve fertilization efficiency while protecting the environment are part of the root conservation process.
This feature shows how plants adapt to ensure they can produce crops year-round or adapt to the seasons. We also get a glimpse into groundbreaking research that is finding innovative ways to enable plants to adapt to climate change while working to prevent it. Some roots form plant networks that grow together, an interconnected system that makes it difficult to disrupt underlying growth. Instead, they allow visible vegetation to be removed and continually regenerate underground.
Plants stabilize the ground, reducing the energy of large waves before they reach land. They aid in coastal protection and allow the land to grow and expand.
The researchers even developed a support structure made from potato starch that can serve as a temporary support system for eroding plants until the soil is sufficiently consolidated to subside on its own.
They even discovered that rare earth metals could be mined using the plants’ special roots. Corn, buckwheat and sugar cane are some of the plants that can be used to extract rare earth minerals from the ground.
If you are interested in environmental protection, this is an interesting and insightful documentary.
Directed by: Stefanie Fleischmann, Christina Gantner
