Hobbies And Interests
Conveying Water to the Plant
Water is an essential element that sustains life for all plant life, and peanut plants are no different. The root system brings water from the soil up to the rest of the peanut plant, giving it the necessary moisture to thrive.
Hosting Bacteria -- Nitrogen Conversion
Peanut plants are similar to alfalfa and clover in that they contain specific bacteria in their root systems. These bacteria take nitrogen naturally occurring in the atmosphere and turn it into ammonia, which is a vital step in keeping the soil fertile.
Hosting Bacteria -- Ammonia to Nitrates
Other bacteria in the peanut root system take the newly formed ammonia and convert it into nitrites and nitrates. Some of these will stay in the plant, while others will leach out into the surrounding soil, adding nutrients for later cultivation.
Nutrients for Consumption
Peanut roots not only deliver nutrients to the plant, but they also contain some nutrients that are important for human health. Resveratrol, a substance that has been shown in studies to reduce levels of "bad" (LDL) cholesterol and aid the heart in other ways, is found in peanut roots and leaves. Such dishes as peanut root soup can help people consume those nutrients.