What substance do plants primarily take in from the soil for growth?

Plants primarily absorb minerals from the soil to support their growth and development. These minerals include essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur. Each of these elements plays a critical role in various physiological processes, such as photosynthesis, energy transfer, and synthesizing vital compounds like proteins and nucleic acids.

While water is also crucial for plant growth—serving as a solvent for nutrients and playing a key role in photosynthesis—the focus of this question is specifically on the substance most directly associated with soil uptake for growth. Similarly, plants utilize carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during photosynthesis, and they take in oxygen for respiration, but these substances do not primarily come from the soil. The emphasis on minerals highlights the essential elements that are often absorbed through the root system, which supports overall plant health and productivity.