Exercise 5

THE EFFECT OF pH ON THE GROWTH OF AN AQUATIC PLANT

I. INTRODUCTION

Water spinach (Ipomea aquatica), locally called “kangkong”, is an herbaceous aquatic or

semi-aquatic perennial plant of the tropics and subtropics. It has a creeping growth habit but may
grow erect in water. There are two major cultivars of water spinach. Ching Quat, also known as
“green stem” water spinach, has narrow leaves and white flowers and is usually grown in moist
soils. Pak Quat, also known as “white stem” water spinach, has arrow-shaped leaves and pink
flowers and is grown in aquatic conditions, similar to rice (worldcrops.org).

Biotic and abiotic factors influence the growth of individuals and populations. The pH of
an aquatic environment is an abiotic factor, which dramatically influences its inhabitants and their
growth. In this experiment, you will determine the pH tolerance of water spinach.

II. OBJECTIVES
1. To investigate the effects of acidic and alkaline media on water spinach, an aquatic plant.
2. To determine:
a. The limits of tolerance of water spinach to different pH levels.
b. The optimum levels by which water spinach exhibits a more favorable growth.

III. MATERIALS

5 glass jars (~500mL) 15 stems of water spinach coffee (2 table spoonful)

½ measuring cup 1L distilled water baking soda (2 tablespoonful)
table spoon vinegar (½ cup) bleach (½ cup)

IV. PROCEDURE
1. Label the jars from No. 1 to 5.

T1 T2 T3 T4 T5

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 2. Prepare your treatments

Jar No. Treatments

1 1 vinegar ½ cup
2 2 dissolve 2-table spoonful of coffee in ½
coffee
cup of distilled water
3 3 distilled water
4 4 dissolve 2-table spoonful of baking soda
baking soda
in ½ cup of distilled water
5 5 bleach ½ cup

3. Fill each jar with the respective culture medium

Treatments Treatments Solution

1 vinegar
2 coffee
3 distilled water
4 baking soda
5 bleach
½ cup of vinegar + ½ cup of distilled water
½ cup coffee + ½ cup distilled water
1 cup of distilled water (about 250 mL)
½ cup baking soda + ½ cup distilled water
½ cup bleach + ½ cup distilled water

T1 T2 T3 T4 T5

4. Prepare your test plants. Select 15 stems of water spinach with at least similar
characteristics (e.g. diameter, appearance, color, maturity, etc.). Remove all leaves and
roots. Cut all the stems to the same length (8 inches).

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 5. In each jar, put 3 stems, representing 3 replicates in each treatment.

6. Put the glass jars near the window.

B. Data Collection

1. Determine the pH (by researching on the internet) of each treatment.

2. In every observation day, document your experiment/set-up.

3. Observe and write the initial conditions of the test plants in each jar (Day 0).

4. Observe the plants in each treatment every other day for a total of 9 days (Day 2-8) and
record your observations:
a. color – indicate the color using the following codes: G-green, Y- yellow, Bn –
brown, Bk – black
b. root formation – count the number of roots that grow in each plant
c. bud formation – count the number of buds that grow in each plant

Note: You can start your experiment on 19 September and ends on 27 September. Starting
time should be until 22 September only, so that you will end it by 30 September
2020.

DUE DATE: 1 October 2020

V. QUESTIONS FOR RESEARCH

1. Discuss how pH affects the soil nutrient availability.

2. What is acid rain? How does it affect aquatic life?

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 LABORATORY WORKSHEET Name ________________________
Date _________________________
Score ________________________

Exercise 5
THE EFFECT OF pH ON THE GROWTH OF AN AQUATIC PLANT

Observation Days: Indicate the specific dates you conducted the experiment.
DAY 0 DAY 2 DAY 4 DAY 6 DAY 8

Research: Identify the pH of the different substances used/tested in the experiment:

vinegar coffee distilled water baking soda bleach

A. Raw Data Sheet:

1. Color
NUMBER OF FRONDS
TREATMENT pH DAY 0 DAY 2 DAY 4 DAY 6 DAY 8
R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3
1
2
3
4
5

2. Root formation
NUMBER OF ROOTS
TREATMENT pH DAY 0 DAY 2 DAY 4 DAY 6 DAY 8
R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3
1
2
3
4
5

3. Bud formation
NUMBER OF BUDS
TREATMENT pH DAY 0 DAY 2 DAY 4 DAY 6 DAY 8
R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3 R1 R2 R3
1
2
3
4
5


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 LABORATORY WORKSHEET Name ________________________

Exercise 5
THE EFFECT OF pH ON THE GROWTH OF AN AQUATIC PLANT

A. Summary
MEAN OBSERVATION
Treat

pH
ment

Day 0 Day 2 Day 4 Day 6 Day 8

Color Root Bud Color Root Bud Color Root Bud Color Root Bud Color Root Bud
1
2
3
4
5

B. Line Graph: Root & Bud Formation

MEAN NUMBER OF ROOTS/BUD (Note: label the Y axis)

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
OBSERVATION DAYS
Legend:
T1 T3 T5 ROOT  eg. 


T2 T4 LEAF  eg. 

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 LABORATORY WORKSHEET Name ________________________

Exercise 5
THE EFFECT OF pH ON THE GROWTH OF AN AQUATIC PLANT

DATA ANALYSIS & DISCUSSION:



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 LABORATORY WORKSHEET Name ________________________

Exercise 5
THE EFFECT OF pH ON THE GROWTH OF AN AQUATIC PLANT

QUESTIONS FOR RESEARCH:

1. Discuss how pH affects the soil nutrient availability.



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 LABORATORY WORKSHEET Name ________________________

Exercise 5
THE EFFECT OF pH ON THE GROWTH OF AN AQUATIC PLANT

QUESTIONS FOR RESEARCH:

2. What is acid rain? How does it affect aquatic life?



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 LABORATORY WORKSHEET Name ________________________

Exercise 5
THE EFFECT OF pH ON THE GROWTH OF AN AQUATIC PLANT

EXPERIMENT DOCUMENTATION


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 LABORATORY WORKSHEET Name ________________________

Exercise 5
THE EFFECT OF pH ON THE GROWTH OF AN AQUATIC PLANT

EXPERIMENT DOCUMENTATION (add additional pages, if necessary)



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