Question

The roots of the plants of the grass family help to conserve soil.

Answer 1

Poaceae or Gramineae is a large and ubiquitous family of monocotyledonous flowering plants which are known as grasses. It includes the cereal grasses, bamboos and the grasses of natural grassland and also the species that are cultivated in lawns and pasture. The latter is commonly referred to collectively as grass.

Complete answer:
The different types of root systems which is present are:
1. Taproots
2. Fibrous roots
3. Adventitious roots
Plants of the grass family possess fibrous root system and do not have a tap root system. Fibrous roots spread through the soil and thus help to hold the soil more firmly compared to the tap roots. Fibrous roots are bushy roots in which thin, moderately branching roots grow from the stem. This helps prevent washing away of soil and thus, helps in conserving the soil. Monocotyledons possess fibrous root systems.
Whereas in taproots, they have a main central root upon which small, lateral roots called root hairs are attached. All dicotyledons are examples of taproot systems.

Hence, we can say that since grass families possess fibrous roots they help in conserving soil.

Note:
The functions of roots are that they absorb water and nutrients from the soil, anchor the plant firmly, help in storing food and nutrients and transport water and minerals to the plant. We must note that there are primary and secondary roots also. Primary roots are the early roots present in young plants that consist of taproots, basal roots, and lateral roots while secondary roots are the side branches of the primary roots.