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Plant root growth penetrates small cracks and crevices in rock and spreads them further apart with hydraulic action. Root growth can also lift rock, causing fracture to occur. Other plants can attack the surface of rock directly, extracting nutrients.

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How can trees and other plants cause weathering?

they cause it by their roots growing into rocks and breaking up the rocks. After the rocks have been broken up by trees and plants' roots, water and air will wash it away, and eventually dissolve it.


What can happen to rocks as plants grow?

As plants grow, their roots can penetrate small cracks in rocks, causing them to break apart through a process called biological weathering. This can further lead to the rocks being broken down into smaller pieces and eventually forming soil. Additionally, the release of acids by plant roots during growth can also contribute to the breakdown of rocks.


How do rocks effect plants?

Plants roots are surprisingly strong. They can break into rocks with there roots and break them apart.


What are organisms that have roots that can crack rocks?

Plants are the organisms which have roots and can crack rocks


How are mechanical and chemical weathering affected by plants?

to be honest in mechanical weathering plants grow their roots in the cracks of rocks. In chemical weathering plants grow their roots in the cracks of rocks, and the roots release acid that weathers away the rock.


How do plants break rocks into smaller pieces?

plant roots grow into cracks in rocks


Why do plants struggle to grow in hard rocks?

because the rocks are hard and the plants can't mack their roots to go throw them


How do plants and roots effect weathering?

Plants and roots play a role in weathering by physically breaking apart rocks as their roots grow and expand, causing root wedging. Additionally, plants secrete acids that can chemically weather rocks and minerals. Overall, the presence of plants and roots can accelerate weathering processes on rocks and contribute to soil formation.


Why are large rocks broken into smaller pieces by plants?

Plants can break down large rocks into smaller pieces through a process called physical weathering. Plant roots can grow into cracks in rocks and expand as the plant grows, exerting pressure and causing the rock to break apart. This can help to create soil for the plant to grow in.


What effect do plants have on rock?

Certain plants are able to get their roots into cracks in rocks. As the plant grows, the thickening roots may force the crack to widen. That, and the expanding ice in winter, may crack the rock wide open.


How do plants help to weather rocks?

Simple. The roots of a plant. Plants weather rocks by growing in small moist crevasses. As their roots expand the rock cracks. The process is very similar to the action of ice entering the crevasse or crack and freezing thus expanding the crack. Over time the rock fractures.


What is it called when roots grow on rocks?

When roots grow on rocks, it is known as lithophyte or lithophytic growth. This adaptation allows plants to anchor themselves and absorb nutrients from the rock's surface.