The Effect of Greywater on the Growth of Lepidium sativum and Soil Quality
School Name
Heathwood Hall
Grade Level
10th Grade
Presentation Topic
Environmental Science
Presentation Type
Non-Mentored
Written Paper Award
4th Place
Abstract
This experiment studied the effect of greywater on the growth of Lepidium sativum, garden cress, and soil quality. 54 pots were filled with 3 ½ inches of soil and 25 garden cress seeds were sprinkled in each pot. The pH of the soil was taken using a pH meter before watering started. 27 pots with seeds were watered with greywater and 27 pots with seeds were watered with tap-water every other day for 16 days. The average height of growth was measured for each water type with a ruler every other day. Final pH measurements and hydrophobicity tests were conducted 5 days after watering finished. To determine hydrophobicity, .3 inches of soil had individual drops of water released onto the surface. If water was not immediately absorbed, it is hydrophobic. The hydrophobicity test was run for each pot. It was hypothesized that the growth of greywater and tap-water samples would have no significant difference, soil exposed to greywater would have a higher pH than soil exposed to tap-water, and greywater soil would be hydrophobic. The results supported part of the hypothesis because there was no significant difference between growth of plants watered with greywater and plants watered with tap-water, the soil exposed to greywater had a higher final pH than the soil exposed to tap-water, but neither soil group was hydrophobic which is contrary to what was hypothesized.
Recommended Citation
Powers, Kathleen, "The Effect of Greywater on the Growth of Lepidium sativum and Soil Quality" (2017). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 132.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2017/all/132
Location
Wall 206
Start Date
3-25-2017 10:00 AM
Presentation Format
Oral and Written
Group Project
No
The Effect of Greywater on the Growth of Lepidium sativum and Soil Quality
Wall 206
This experiment studied the effect of greywater on the growth of Lepidium sativum, garden cress, and soil quality. 54 pots were filled with 3 ½ inches of soil and 25 garden cress seeds were sprinkled in each pot. The pH of the soil was taken using a pH meter before watering started. 27 pots with seeds were watered with greywater and 27 pots with seeds were watered with tap-water every other day for 16 days. The average height of growth was measured for each water type with a ruler every other day. Final pH measurements and hydrophobicity tests were conducted 5 days after watering finished. To determine hydrophobicity, .3 inches of soil had individual drops of water released onto the surface. If water was not immediately absorbed, it is hydrophobic. The hydrophobicity test was run for each pot. It was hypothesized that the growth of greywater and tap-water samples would have no significant difference, soil exposed to greywater would have a higher pH than soil exposed to tap-water, and greywater soil would be hydrophobic. The results supported part of the hypothesis because there was no significant difference between growth of plants watered with greywater and plants watered with tap-water, the soil exposed to greywater had a higher final pH than the soil exposed to tap-water, but neither soil group was hydrophobic which is contrary to what was hypothesized.
