Scientists at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev have made a groundbreaking discovery that overturns a fundamental assumption about how plants feed themselves, according to an announcement made by the university on Tuesday.
The research team discovered that vegetation can take in vital nutrients directly from dust particles in the air through their leaves, contradicting the traditional scientific belief that plants obtain nourishment exclusively through their root systems from soil.
Published in New Phytologist journal and covered by Xinhua news agency, the research demonstrates that plant leaves can capture minerals like iron and phosphorus from dust floating in the atmosphere. Scientists explained that this feeding process works because leaves have a mildly acidic surface that dissolves dust particles, freeing up nutrients for the plant to absorb.
The research team conducted field testing under Mediterranean climate conditions, including locations in the Judean Hills, to verify their findings. Native plant species cistus creticus and salvia fruticosa that were subjected to artificial dust exposure displayed increased levels of iron and phosphorus in their upper portions, while nutrient concentrations in their root systems stayed essentially the same.
According to the research team, their discoveries reveal that plant leaves actively participate in nutrient collection rather than simply acting as inactive surfaces. Through a combination of field studies and worldwide data analysis, the scientists determined that nutrients obtained from atmospheric dust can significantly contribute to plant nourishment.
The study revealed that in certain areas, nutrients taken in through leaves represented as much as 17 percent of iron consumption and 12 percent of phosphorus consumption compared to nutrients obtained from soil. When intense dust storms occur, the quantity of nutrients absorbed from the atmosphere can equal or surpass the amounts gathered from ground sources.
The research indicates this feeding method could be especially crucial in locations where soil nutrients are scarce or hard for plants to reach. The scientists noted that this process might have a major impact in desert regions and ecosystems with poor soil quality.
The study also suggested that atmospheric nutrient absorption could become more significant as climate change influences worldwide dust movement patterns, potentially changing how plants obtain essential minerals across different geographical areas.
