absorbing something is a kind of process & if something is a vehicle for a process then that something performs that process ->  if something is a vehicle for absorbing something else then that something absorbs that something else  if something is a vehicle for absorbing something else then that something absorbs that something else & roots are a vehicle for absorbing water and nutrients from soil into the plant ->  roots absorb nutrients from the soil  roots absorb nutrients from the soil & some minerals are nutrients -> roots absorb minerals from the soil