THE EFFECTS OF THE DIFFERENT KINDS OF WATER USED TO WATER PLANTS

A Research Proposal

Submitted to the Department of Science

University of Asia and the Pacific

In Partial Fulfillment

of the Requirements of the Course

Biology (BIO101)

1POLECO - Group 2

Angeles, Joshua William Francis Vivo (Leader)

Calsado, Lourdes Antonette Villabroza

Jordan, Mary Anne Martha Castillo

Reyes, Antonio Miguel Buenviaje

July 30, 2015

I. Introduction

Brief background of the study

Keeping in mind the knowledge that a whopping ‘70%’ of man’s freshwater go to

agriculture, the idea of conservation of water does struck the mind. Regularly, it is but a
routine for some of us to water our plants. There obviously is at least a gleam of striving
to conserve water resources. Although Philippines, archipelagic in its own way, is
surrounded with bodies of water, people still consider conservation of these resources a
responsibility. In finding ways to conserve water and so as to avoid drought, people often
reuse water that has been previously used for other things to water the plants they have.
This study aims to find out the advisability of this practice and the plausible effects of
using recycled water to water plants to the plant growth and soil of the plant.
Most plants need both sunlight and water to be able to grow and photosynthesize.
Because we have a finite supply at hand, people need to reuse water, whatever kind is at
hand, which is mostly grey water but in this project the experimenters are going to try to
explore the many possible water types that can be used to water plants so that the
knowledge about this particular topic will broaden.
Here, the aim is to find the water that will have a positive effect on the plant as
the time goes by, this way people will be able to grow plants properly and grow the plant
optimally with the type of water needed to aid the plant in its growth and development.

Objectives (Major and Minor) of the Study

This study therefore primarily goes to show the difference in effect of the
different kinds of water because of the different components contained in them. With
additional information to be addressed regarding the conservation of water are to be put
into place, this paper desires to relay practical tips on how to utilize proper use of water
resources, primarily in connection to plants. Furthermore, it aims to inform people how to
utilize the water that is most accessible to them so that they do not overuse the water that
is supposedly for other, more important projects, works, etc.

Significance of the Study

Earth is comprised of a massive amount of water. Approximately seventy-one

percent (71%) of the Earth’s surface is covered in huge masses of water. And with this
amount of water, only for about three-percent (2.5% to be more precise) of which is fresh
water, by then, humans may safely drink. WIth this kind of information, it is then an
initiative to put into light the determinants of plants’ growth when exposed and treated
with varying environments of water. Safe-drinking water is essential to humans and other
life forms - it is a fact that we cannot deny.
However, do we also consider the same ideology when it comes to plants? Going
back to the idea of water, barely a percentage of earth’s water is in its acceptable state for
plants - liquid. With this ‘very’ little amount of fresh water, it would be very appalling to
use it to water the plants. One big concept that actually cancels out this type of thinking is
the avoidance of landslides. The idea behind reforestation as a way to prevent sudden
landslides related to plants’ compatibility to the type of watery environment rain
provides. Aside from rooting together formations of land (anchoring them in a way), so
as to make them intact, completely going against torrents of rainwater, trees (which are
also plants) do eventually apply their basic job, which is to take nutrients and chemicals
from the soil - and everything in between, supposedly water during heavy rainfall.
In addition, global warming nowadays is relatively apparent. Evidently, the first
ones to suffer would be the polars, which would then lead to massive changes to ocean
levels. This then leads to a series or chain of problems that one may find difficult to
attend to. One major cause of global warming includes the excessive amount of carbon in
the atmosphere. With this idea at hand, we can connect it to our basic knowledge on
trees, which serve as storage of carbon, can lessen the amount of carbon in the
atmosphere, thereby preventing global warming, together with its greenhouse effect..
Trees also provide one of the world’s most vital gas - the oxygen, by not using artificial
and technological means. This is the result or the byproduct of the plants’ photosynthesis.
People couldn’t just simply ignore plants for they contribute to a large portion of the
earth’s oxygen, particularly assisting another major contributors - the phytoplanktons.
Not to put aside its significance to wildlife, trees also provide us the right and appropriate
materials to build our every family’s basic need, their shelter.
Considerably, plants are basically the producers. WIthout their presence, lifeforms
are basically doomed to meet their ends. Everything that we consume as primary,
secondary, tertiary, etc - consumers actually comes from the plants, directly or indirectly.
Roughly seven thousand species of plants have been used as ‘food’ by people, their
primary source of energy to produce work. Work in itself is essential, without it, there
will be no significant changes at all. And change begets the ability to survive.
Finally, plants also serve its role as regulators of the ever-infamous water cycle.
Through their known process of transpiration, these plants are able to help move water
from the soil back to the atmosphere, for the next processes, condensation and
precipitation, to take place. Thus, being able to distinguish kinds of water which are then
to be applied to plants is important. The process of the water cycle may have not been
interrupted, and due actions to it may not actually affect the course of the cycle, still, the
aim is not entirely to see its effect on the water cycle, but to distinguish dissimilar and
common characteristics of plants exposed in different environments of water.
 To provide necessary resources to plants is, then, a duty. For it controls food,
water, medicine, wildlife, the air, and climate, to accord what is due to them, the proper
resources, is a way of giving back. And also, having prior knowledge of these things
would gradually produce multitudes of effects to the society. With the right conduct and
having an intimate understanding of plant life, the world’s leading foundation (trees) will
always be looked upon.

Scopes and Limitations

This study will focus on the effects of the water used to the plant. This will barely
touch the topics concerning the characteristics of the treatment, processes of creating the
resources thereof, comparison of the kings of water thereof, fundamental principles
regarding the kinds of the water thereof, but will instead highly focus on the appearance
of the kinds of water upon application, the initial effects of the kinds of water on the
plant's’ current state, mainly about growth, day-to-day observations in accordance to the
state of the plants treated with different kinds of water, processes that underwent when
the experiment took place, and the knowledge behind the results (lasting observations) of
the experimentation.
To be more particular and realistic, this paper is only directed to concrete regular
observations on the plants, having treated with different kinds of water. There will be no
further experimentation if the certain type of water is acidic or basic instead of neutral.
This to provide information on the plant life and not the chemicals involved which make
the result of the experiment turn out in a particular way.

II. Review of Related Literature

The authors (Robert S. Ayers, Extension Soils and Water Specialist, UC, Davis; Roy L.
Branson, Extension Soils and Water Specialist, UC, Riverside; and John H. Madison, Jr.,
Professor of Environmental Horticulture, UC, Davis, with the assistance of Raymond H.
Coppoch, Extension Communications Specialist, UC, Davis) of a particular leaflet of the
University of California inform the viewers that applying dishwater, bathwater or laundry water
would not actually do much of an effect to the systems of the plants as long as reasonable care is
followed. Although, the paper also coined the term ‘graywater’ which refers to the type of water
that may contain food residues and other organic matter that may attract insects and rodents.
Household wash water, according to them, is definitely better than providing no water at all to
the plants. However, by using this type of water, it may have some side effects alongside with it.
It is then advisable to use bathwater and rinse water from dishes and laundry to water the plants,
and use the soapy water to flush the toilet instead, for these kinds of water may appear harmful to
the plants. Accidental usage of soapy water may result to a number of side-effects. Soapy wash
water from dishes or laundry will help keep plants alive in an emergency, but you should be
aware of certain possible problems. First, the presence of Chlorine. According to the leaflet, if
you are to irrigate the plants using wash-cycle method, it is better to not use Bleach. Second, the
presence of Boron. Soapy water may have the possibility of having significant amount of boron
compounds, which are toxic to plants. In any case, accumulation of boron compounds to plants is
extremely not advisable. Finally, the paper also suggested a number of practical rules when
irrigating the plants safely. It is said that (1) upon using the wash-cycle method, the rinse-cycle
laundry water must then be followed. (2) Second is to observe the plants, and if they receive
damages, those plants are probably more sensitive than the others, and so the use of wash water
is questionable. (3) Do not use wash water to plotted plants for because of their root zones, they
are more inclined to damages. (4) Do not pour water directly at the base of tree trunks or shrubs
for it may cause crown rot, besides, the feeder roots that take up the water are located farther out.
And lastly, (5) be sure to provide sufficient water to the plants, especially the deep-rooted ones.
Secondly, a blogger by the name Heather Rhoades does not recommend using softeners
at home. For these softeners use sodium and potassium recycling process, which are harmful to
the plants. He also recognizes tap water as not an advisable kind of water to be provided to the
plants, for it contains harmful chemicals that may go against the growth of a certain plant.
However, tap water may sometimes be applicable especially to outdoor plants which are used to
these kinds of environment. The later part of his discussion narrates the importance of watering
the plants by using distilled or tap water. And also, the importance of applying temperature
consistency was highlighted. Heat tends to evaporate the water provided for the plants, and
instead of being put into good use, tendency was they are just being wasted. He pointed out the
importance of positioning plants at room temperature. He also mentioned the process of making
distilled water at home, that is, collecting tap water or rain water, and waiting for them to
dissipate.

III. Materials and Methods

The first step of the procedure is gather all the necessary materials. The
researchers need 4 bottles, graywater, distilled water, purified water, 4 plants. Once all materials
have been gathered the researchers should label each bottle "GRAYWATER", "SOAPY
WATER", "DISTILLED WATER" and "PURIFIED WATER". The plants should also be
labelled the same way to represent which type of water was used to water each plant.
The plants should be placed in an open air environment that receives enough sunlight
needed by the plants. These plants will be watered once a day daily for a month, photos and
recordings will also be done each day for observation.
 II. Abstract

Hypothesis

The plants, considering that they were exposed with similar levels of sunlight, the
same temperature, given same amount but varying kinds of water and were placed right
next to each other, appear to be versatile under varying kinds of water conditions.
Although if the plants were to be given fresh water, it may appear during the latter part of
the experimentation that they appear to have greener leaves.

Problem(s)
The paper will answer the following questions progressively: (1) What are the
reactions of plants when immersed to different kinds of watery environment, (2) Were the
effects that significant? Did it display huge differences, making room for comparisons
between the plants treated differently? (3) Does this experiment also include not-so-
water-dependent plants like the cacti? (4) What realizations can we draw out from the
observations if there ever are huge differences in terms of physical state of the plants?
and (5) If the plants appear to behave more properly with the treatment of fresh water,
how will the people conserve water and at the same time take good care of their plants?
While these questions are being addressed, this paper is then attributed to conclude
whether varying treatment of different kinds of water would affect the phases of growth
of the plant, its appearance, etc. or not.

IV. Bibliography
References Page

Bjornsson, E. (2013 September) . Determine the effect of gray water on plant growth .

Education.com.Retrieved from:http://www.education.com/science-fair/article/determine-effect-

gray-water-plant/
Plants.(n.d.) Why plants are important?. BGCI: Plants for the Planet. Retrieved from:

http://www.bgci.org/plantconservationday/whyplantsimportant/

Rhoades, H. (n.d.). Softened water and plants: using softened water for watering. Gardening

Know How . Retrieved from: http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-

problems/environmental/softened-water-and-plants.htm

“Using”(n.d.). Using household waste water on plants. University of California: Vegetable

Research and Information Centre: Retrieved

from:http://vric.ucdavis.edu/pdf/fertilization_Householdwastewater.pdf