Prep notes for Oct. 5, 2004: roots and soil

Concepts: root anatomy, primary root growth, soil texture, soil organic matter, soil moisture, "clorpt" model of soil formation (Google it.)

Questions:

• What functions are served by roots?
• Why do some roots look like carrots, while other look like, well, roots?
• What soil characteristics makes soil good or bad at holding water? What makes soil good or bad at making it available to plants?
• What about mineral nutrients?
• And oxygen?
• What are the parts of the root, and how does the root grow?