A Comparative Hydroponic Water Study Involving Growth and Root Formation of the Plant Glechoma hederacean.
Abstract
This study investigated whether or not there were any conclusive differences in Glechoma hederacean plant clipping growth using a hydroponic medium of only water. Tap Water and two types of Aquarius™ Oxygen Water were used in this study to see if there were any observable differences in growth patterns of the plant clippings. What was found was an unquestionable, better overall growth pattern with Aquarius™ Oxygen Water as compared to conventional Tap Water. Not only were the plant growth ratios different between the water types, but the root formation in all of the samples containing both types of Aquarius™ Oxygen Water was remarkably different than Tap Water. All the plant clippings that were placed in Aquarius™ Oxygen Water showed a significant difference in root formation, plant height, leaf plasticity and hydration level as compared to Tap Water.
Materials & Methods
It is known that most plants need water, nutrients, trace deposits and minerals to proliferate and grow in a healthy manner. In most cases the soil provides the necessary growth medium to allow plants to continue reproduction and allow hereditary traits to be passed along. However, in the early 1800s it was found that plant growth does not always need soil if nutrients are provided to a plant in solution. Plant physiology researchers discovered in the 1800s that plants absorb essential mineral nutrients as inorganic ions in water. In natural conditions, soil acts as a mineral nutrient reservoir but the soil itself is not essential to plant growth. When the mineral nutrients in the soil dissolve in water, plant roots are able to absorb them. When the required mineral nutrients are introduced into a plant’s water supply artificially, soil is no longer required for the plant to thrive and thusly hydroponic growth methods are introduced. Almost any terrestrial plant will grow with hydroponics, but some will do better than others. Most if not all hydroponic solutions on the market contain dissolved nutrients within the solution. These nutrients are mostly, inorganic and ionic in form. Primary among the dissolved cat ions (positively-charged ions) are Ca2+ (calcium), Mg2+ (magnesium), and K+ (potassium); the major nutrient anions in nutrient solutions are NO3− (nitrate), SO42− (sulfate), and H2PO4− (phosphate). Numerous ‘recipes’ for hydroponic solutions are available in the current market. Many contain different combinations of chemicals to reach similar total final compositions. However, in this study between Aquarius™ Oxygen Waters and Tap Water, only natural water occurring in their natural states were used. There were no added hydroponic recipes other than Oxygen in both Aquarius™ Water types.
Procedures
In this study, six samples of each water type containing plant clippings from Glechoma hederacean will be examined and will be grown under subdued sodium lighting and low temperature. Three water types containing 500mL of water will be used as hydroponic growth mediums and are listed as follows: Tap Water, Aquarius™ Oxygen Water-Red, and Aquarius™ Oxygen Water-Blue with a total of 18 samples all together (See Table 1). Over time, recordings will be kept in a log book observing overall growth in height, leaf plasticity/hydration, leaf formation, and root formation in all the samples. The water for each sample will also be changed on a weekly basis. Pictures of the plant clippings will be maintained and recorded to show visual indications of growth similarities and differences.
Results & Data Collection
Table 1 shows the relative differences between each plant sample and the type of water used to grow the clippings using the hydroponic growth method as mentioned above. In general, both Aquarius™ Water types demonstrated larger plant height, more root formation, and an overall greater plasticity as compared to Tap Water.
Table 1
| Date | Water Type | Sample Indicator | Overall Clipping Height | Root Formation | Overall Leaf Plasticity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12/21/2006 | Aquarius™ Red | AR-1 | 16.00" | Many; Longest=6.25" | Excellent |
| AR-2 | 12.00" | Many; Longest=4.50" | Excellent | ||
| AR-3 | 11.50" | Many; Longest=2.00" | Excellent | ||
| AR-4 | 17.00" | Many; Longest=4.50" | Excellent | ||
| *AR-5 | 13.00" | Many; Longest=3.00" | Excellent | ||
| AR-6 | 11.00" | Many; Longest=4.00" | Excellent | ||
| Sample Size = 6. Average height = 12.50". Average root length = 4.04". | |||||
| 12/21/2006 | Aquarius™ Blue | AB-1 | 12.00" | Many; Longest=6.00" | Excellent |
| AB-2 | 11.50" | Many; Longest=2.50" | Excellent | ||
| AB-3 | 11.00" | Many; Longest=3.25" | Excellent | ||
| AB-4 | 10.00" | Many; Longest=5.25" | Good | ||
| *AB-5 | 10.00" | Many; Longest=4.50" | Excellent | ||
| AB-6 | 7.50" | Many; Longest=3.50" | Good | ||
| Sample Size = 6. Average height = 10.33". Average root length = 4.16". | |||||
| 12/21/2006 | Tap | T-1 | 9.00" | 2 Tiny Roots; Longest=0.30" | Good |
| T-2 | 7.00" | None | Good | ||
| T-3 | 8.50" | 3 Tiny Roots; Longest=0.20" | Good | ||
| T-4 | 12.00" | None | Poor | ||
| *T-5 | 6.00" | None | Poor | ||
| T-6 | 7.00" | 3 Tiny Roots; Longest=0.20" | Good | ||
| Sample Size = 6. Average height = 8.25". Average root length = 0.12". | |||||
| *Red Font-Samples Presented With Visual Pictures (See Picture 1 & 2). | |||||
Furthermore, Pictures 1 & 2 illustrate a visual indicator and supports the growth differences between all three water types. A further comparison can be made by studying the data in Table 1 for all six samples of each water type.
Picture 1
*All Three Water Types Exhibiting Differences in Height, Root Formation, Leaf Plasticity & Size.
Picture 2
*Visual Close-up of Root Formation in Each Water Sample.
Discussion
Root growth is a function of the apical meristem located near the tip of the root. The meristem cells more or less continuously divide, producing more meristem, root cap cells (these sacrificed to protect the meristem), and undifferentiated root cells. The latter will become the primary tissues of the root, first undergoing elongation, a process that pushes the root tip forward in the growing medium. Gradually these cells differentiate and mature into specialized cells of the root tissues.1
Roots will generally grow in any direction where the correct environment of air, mineral nutrients and water exists to meet the plant's needs. Roots will not grow in dry soil. Over time, given the right conditions, roots can crack foundations, snap water lines, and lift sidewalks. At germination, roots grow downward due to gravitropism, the growth mechanism of plants that also causes the shoot to grow upward. In some plants, such as ivy, the "root" actually clings to walls and structures. From analyzing Table 1 as well as Picture 1, a clear difference can be observed between all three water types’ ability to allow growth formation of Glechoma hederacean plant clippings in all directions. The main difference between Aquarius™ Oxygen Water and Tap Water was the formation of roots in both Aquarius™ Oxygen Water types, clearly seen from Picture 2. Aquarius Oxygen™ Water-Red however, exhibited larger leaf formation than both Aquarius™ Oxygen Water-Blue and Tap Water. Furthermore Aquarius™ Oxygenated Water-Red, exhibited more stem height (+2” Average) as compared to Aquarius™ Oxygenated Water-Blue and (+4.25” Average) compared to Tap Water. Although Aquarius™ Oxygenated Water-Red showed better leaf plasticity and hydration as compared to the other water types, Aquarius™ Oxygenated Water-Blue showed an overall greater length in root formation as compared to the other water types. Having observed this simple plant study, one may conclude that Tap Water in everyday use may not be the best water for cooking, watering plants, or even further, for human consumption. Chemicals such as Cl-(chlorine), Fl-(fluoride), as well as agricultural pollutants may be responsible for the poor quality root formation in all the tap water samples as shown in Table 1. Having seen the clear formation of healthy roots and overall plant health in both Aquarius™ Water types, one may conclude that these water types exhibit optimal nutrient factors and oxygen delivery to the surrounding plant cells, which in turn allows for healthy proliferation of cellular tissue.
- 1For More Information, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Root