Colorado Reader 01/2018 | Page 3

Photosynthesis A hay field is a large solar collector that maximizes a plant’s ability to photosynthesize carbon dioxide from the air and water from the soil to make carbohydrate sugars. Here is the formula for the process: 6 CO2 + 6 H2O + sunlight = C6H12O6 + 6 O2 6 Carbon 6 Water Sugar 6 Oxygen and Dioxide Molecules Molecules Molecules plants Four Examples of Common Hay Plants Red Clover (legume) Alfalfa (legume) Colorado Ag in the Classroom Orchard Grass (grass) 3 Timothy (grass) www.growingyourfuture.com