Is it true that soil minerals are the major source of carbon for plants?

The correct answer is that it is false to state that soil minerals are the major source of carbon for plants. Plants primarily obtain their carbon from carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere through the process of photosynthesis. During this process, plants absorb CO2 through their leaves and convert it into organic compounds, which serve as the fundamental building blocks for plant growth and energy storage.

Soil minerals play a critical role in providing essential nutrients and influencing soil structure, but they do not serve as a direct source of carbon. The carbon in plants typically comes from atmospheric sources rather than from the soil itself. This understanding highlights the distinction between the role of minerals in soil fertility and the fundamental processes of plant metabolism related to carbon acquisition.