What are Pollination and the benefits of it?

Pollination is a normal process that occurs in the life cycle of plants. In this process, the pollen of a flower is transferred to another flower for fertilization. There are several types of pollination, but the basic result is the same. The process of pollination makes sure that the diversity of plant types stays through pollinators like bees, birds, and insects.

Pollinators can be categorized as animals such as insects and some varieties of birds and animals that pollinate plants, leading to the development of seeds and the fruit surrounding them. Human species, along with other animals, depend on pollinators to produce nuts and fruits essential for a nourishing diet.

Out of the 1,400 crop plants that are grown around the world for food and plant-based industries, nearly 80% of them need pollination by animals. Pollination from bees and other pollinators also leads to larger and more savory fruits and greater crop harvests. Pollinators are essential for over three-quarters of the major food crops. Then some plants are pollinated by wind, such as wheat. But one can't deny the fact that, without pollination, human diets would be extremely restricted, and it would be extremely difficult for the body to obtain necessary vitamins and minerals to stay healthy.

Benefits of Pollination

Healthy ecosystem

Most of the plants found in natural habitat require pollination done by animals. Plants create the foundation of terrestrial food chains. Herbivores eat fruits, plants, and foliage, and those herbivores are hunted by carnivores. Moreover, plants offer habitat for many animal species. As a result, to maintain the diversity of the ecosystem, healthy pollination and pollinators are important.

Reduce carbon dioxide content in the air 

About 80% of flowering plants need pollination to continue to reproduce. If there is no process of pollination, only a small amount of flowering plants would be left on planet Earth.  And thus, it would also increase the presence of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Flowering plants use carbon dioxide for the growth and process of photosynthesis. During this process, they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen in the atmosphere.

Maintain the water cycle

The water cycle is a combination of multifaceted physical procedures, and one of those processes is where plants give moisture from the soil into the atmosphere through the method of transpiration. It covers about 10% of overall moisture content in the atmosphere, and the remaining 90% moisture comes from evaporation from water bodies. And since pollination helps in the growth of plans, it can help in improving and maintaining the water cycle in the atmosphere. Pollination also helps in the production of necessary nutrients naturally.

What you can do?

What you can do to help with the process of pollination? Well, you can take steps in your backyards, gardens, or communities to build a pollinator-friendly environment, which is vital to pollinators and others' survival. You can plant food sources for pollinators, such as a wide variety of flowering plants. It is a better option to choose from different flowering plants as your plants will bloom throughout the year and provide pollen and nectar in almost every season. Then you can add water for pollinators in your yard. There are many things you can do, you just need to take the first step and the rest will follow.