Who suggested that the principal nourishment of plant was water

Francis Bacon (1591 - 1624) is the scientist who suggested that the principal nourishment of plants was water. The main purpose of the soil was to keep plants erect and to protect them from heat and cold.
Water helps a plant by transporting nutrients through the plant. Nutrients are drawn from the soil and used by the plant. Water carries dissolved sugar and other nutrients through the plant.