The green plants in a terrestrial ecosystem absorbs sunlight that falls on their leaves and convert it into food energy. The percentage of solar radiation absorbed by all green plants for the process of photosynthesis is about

According to ecological principles and NCERT (Class 10 Science, Chapter: Our Environment), green plants in a terrestrial ecosystem capture approximately 1% of the total energy of sunlight that falls on their leaves and convert it into chemical food energy through photosynthesis.

• Total Solar Radiation: While plants capture about 2-10% of the Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR), the percentage relative to the total incident solar radiation reaching the Earth is significantly lower, averaging around 1%.
• Energy Flow: This captured energy forms the foundation of the ecosystem's energy pyramid. It is distinct from Lindeman's 10% Law, which states that only 10% of energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next (e.g., from producers to primary consumers).
• Efficiency: Most of the incident solar energy is reflected, absorbed by the atmosphere, or lost as heat, leaving only a small fraction for biological productivity.