What are the primary sources from which plants derive their matter?

Plants primarily derive their matter from air and water through the processes of photosynthesis and respiration. During photosynthesis, plants take in carbon dioxide from the air and water from the soil or their environment to produce glucose, which serves as their main energy source and forms the basis of their biomass. The oxygen released into the atmosphere as a byproduct comes from the splitting of water molecules.

While soil and minerals, light and nutrients, and the sun's energy play significant roles in plant growth and development, they do not provide the primary matter that constitutes the plant's physical structure. Light is essential for powering photosynthesis, soil provides nutrients, and the sun is crucial for energy, but it is the carbon dioxide from air and the water that directly contribute to the plant's mass.