In order to stay healthy and fresh, plants like every other living organism require certain substances. One of those substances is WATER, which the plant gets by absorption via the root hairs. The water circulates throughout the plant with the aid of a water-conducting vascular tissue called XYLEM. Without the xylem, water will not be transported throughout the plant.
The xylem tissue helps provide structural support to the plant as it helps the plant cell to be turgid. A non-functional xylem means the conduction of water is impossible, hence causing the plant cells to become flaccid and lose strength; a process called wiltering.
Leaching is the process where dissolved nutrients in the
soil profile moves downward with percolating water. It is the loss of
water-soluble plant nutrients from the soil. The nutrients that seep through
the rooting zone may be recycled if roots grow deeper.
