Controlled Comparisons between Fresh Water and Tap Water on the Growth of

Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum) Plant

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An Experimental research presented to the faculty of LSHS of Cavite State

University Naic

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In partial fulfillment of the requirement in Science Research 1 SY 2022-2023

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Submitted by:

Iñigo Rafael M. Cailao

Grade 8 Pawikan

Submitted to:

Ms. Rona B. Quiton

Date:

April 27, 2023

Abstract

This research project focuses on demonstrating how the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)

plant responds to both fresh water and tap water. The primary goal of this essay is to

highlight how effective water is for plants and to highlight more of their characteristics.

There are 2 kinds of water where the tomato samples will be taken: Fresh Water and Tap

Water. The tomato (Solanum lycoperisicum) plant used 2 ounces of water and equal

amount of soil, and the farm-grown soil was used, which is high in protein. The

preparation of plants requires a long time and a lot of seed to prepare the plants. In order

to plant a seed and ensure a wonderful sprout with no delay in days, you must first dry

the seed on tissue paper and water it every day and put it on a sunny area. To test the

plants try not watering the plant for one or two days to see if it is robust and healthy; if it

retains its original shape and shows no signs of diseased leaves, it is healthy. And in order

to gather information about the plants, you must regularly visit the area to observe any

changes in the plants and record them in your notes if there’s a changes.

CHAPTER 1

Background of study

The purpose of this experimental research is to study the Controlled Comparisons

between Fresh Water and Tap Water on the Growth of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)
Plant. This research will unlock the knowledge regarding the effectiveness of types of

water we are going to use in watering a plant.

Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) were introduced to North America from

Europe. Thomas Jefferson is known to have raised them at Monticello in 1781. The

tomato was used for food in Louisiana as early as 1812, but not in the northeastern states

until about 1835. It did not attain widespread popularity in the United States until the

early 20th century. The plant is now grown commercially throughout the world. Tomato

(Solanum lycopersicum L.) belongs to the Solanaceae family and is the second most

important fruit or vegetable crop next to potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). It is cultivated

for fresh fruit and processed products. Tomatoes contain many health-promoting

compounds including vitamins, carotenoids, and phenolic compounds. In addition to its

economic and nutritional importance, tomatoes have become the model for the study of

fleshy fruit development. Tomato is a climacteric fruit and dramatic metabolic changes

occur during its fruit development.

Tap water (also known as faucet water, running water, or municipal water)

is water supplied through a tap, a water dispenser valve. In many countries, tap water

usually has the quality of drinking water. Tap water is commonly used

for drinking, cooking, washing, and toilet flushing. Indoor tap water is distributed

through indoor plumbing, which has existed since antiquity but was available to very few

people until the second half of the 19th century when it began to spread in popularity in

what are now developed countries. Tap water became common in many regions during

the 20th century, and is now lacking mainly among people in poverty, especially

in developing countries.
 Freshwater is vital for life, supporting ecosystems and human civilizations. We

use freshwater in many aspects of daily life including food production, power generation,

manufacturing, and sanitation. However, it is becoming increasingly threatened.

Although the Earth’s surface is two-thirds water, less than three percent is fresh.

Pollution in the world’s rivers, streams, and lakes renders water undrinkable and harms

local wildlife. Overuse, triggered in part by population growth, causes water shortages

and dries up lakes, rivers, or streams before they reach the sea or downstream neighbors,

sometimes causing conflict.

As an introduction to this experimental research, I would state the objectives of

this study, statement of the problem, significance of the study and scope and limitations.

Objectives

This experimental research aims to:

1. To determine which is more effective to use in watering a Tomato (Solanum

lycopersicum) plant.
 2. To classify the effectiveness of each type of water in watering a tomato (Solanum

lycopersicum) plant.

3. To investigate the concrete reason that affects the growth of the plant using Tap

Water and Fresh Water.

Statement of the Problem

According to the study tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plant is an important

vegetable crop because it is a rich source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber, and a dietary

source of antioxidants. It is also regarded as the most sensitive vegetable species to

excessive soil moisture (Iden, 1956). That is why so many studies were developed to

speed up the growth of this plant, however, these studies still undergoing deeper examine

to prove its accuracy.

As what mentioned earlier tomato is the most sensitive vegetable and one of the

factors that will really affects the growth of it is the type of water, we are going to water

on it. However, to fully understand the effects of the type of water in its growth, we have

focused on the two types of water, the tap water and the fresh water. So as not to be

biased in each type, we treated them fairly and equally. This strategy can also potentially

identify points of change or conflict in the growth of the plant.

This research aims to better understand the difference between Fresh Water and

Tap Water on the Growth of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) Plant. Quantitative

methods such as experiment, observation and analyzation will be conducted in comparing

the two types of water in growing a tomato plant.

Significance of the study

This study is significant because it will help people specifically to those whose

growing a plant just considered as a hobby. It will help them to think wisely on what to

choose between Tap water and the fresh water when it comes to growing a tomato

(Solanum lycopersicum) plant.

This study will reveal the importance of deciding which type of water to use in

growing up a tomato plant. From these references, we would be able to see how it really

affects the growth of the plant. This insight would contribute to the limited knowledge of

a simple person who just want to plant tomato even in a pot of soil.

Scope and limitation

 The scope of this study is limited to only controlled comparison between fresh

water and tap water on the growth of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plant. The effect of

other type of water who do not mention earlier would not be covered in this study.

This limitation is due to the fact that this study just want to focus from the title

itself which is comparison between fresh water and tap water on the growth of tomato

aside from that it would be too great a scope to cover all the types of water when it comes

to comparing the type of water to use in growing a tomato plant.

Apart from that, the study also refrains from studying other types of water.

Although there is a substantial amount of data that could be analyzed from other

reference, it is supposed to be too wide to be covered in the course of this study.

Hypothesis

1. Null Hypothesis. Fresh water are more better on the growth of Tomato ( Solanum

lycopersicum) plant than Tap water.

2. Alternative Hypothesis. Tap water are more better on the growth of Tomato

(Solanum lycopersicum) plant than Fresh water.

Definition of Terms
Antioxidants - a substance that protects cells from the damage caused by free
radicals (unstable molecules made by the process of oxidation during normal
metabolism).

Cultivated - cultivated; cultivating. : to prepare land for the raising of crops. : to loosen

or break up the soil around (growing plants) : to raise or assist the growth of by tilling or

by labor and care

Climacteric - The climacteric is a stage of fruit ripening associated with ethylene

production and cell respiration rise. Apples, melons, apricots, tomatoes (among others)

are climacteric fruit. Citrus, grapes, strawberries are non-climacteric (they ripen without

ethylene and respiration bursts).

Conflict - conflict is the clash of opposing forces with a character's own pursuit of a goal.
The character must overcome these opposing forces to achieve the goal.

Renders - technically it means "cause to become." An illness might render you unable to

walk, or a shocking sight might render you speechless. Another basic meaning of the verb

render is to give, present, or perform something: you could render assistance to someone

in need, for example.

Substantial - adjective. Of ample or considerable amount, quantity, size, etc.: a

substantial sum of money. Of a corporeal or material nature; tangible; real. of solid
character or quality; firm, stout, or strong: a substantial physique. Basic or essential;
fundamental: two stories in substantial agreement.

CHAPTER 2

Review of Related Literature and Studies

 A Tomato Plant (Solanum Lycopersicum) was planted in two different containers

for it to have separate treatment especially in water (Fresh and Tap) and also it is due to

its tremendous differences. In this study they will be compared against one another to

cross analyze their differences when it comes to its growth depending on the type of

water it receives.

Fresh water

Fresh water or freshwater is any naturally occurring liquid or frozen water

containing low concentrations of dissolved salts and other total dissolved solids.

Although the term specifically excludes seawater and brackish water, it does include non-

salty mineral-rich waters such as chalybeate springs. Fresh water may encompass frozen

and meltwater in ice sheets, ice caps, glaciers, snowfields and icebergs, natural

precipitations such as rainfall, snowfall, hail/sleet and graupel, and surface runoffs that

form inland bodies of water such as wetlands, ponds, lakes, rivers, streams, as well as

groundwater contained in aquifers, subterranean rivers and lakes. Fresh water is the water

resource that is of the most and immediate use to humans.

Tap Water

Tap water (also known as faucet water, running water, or municipal water) is

water supplied through a tap, a water dispenser valve. In many countries, tap water

usually has the quality of drinking water. Tap water is commonly used for drinking,

cooking, washing, and toilet flushing. Indoor tap water is distributed through indoor

plumbing, which has existed since antiquity but was available to very few people until
the second half of the 19th century when it began to spread in popularity in what are now

developed countries. Tap water became common in many regions during the 20th

century, and is now lacking mainly among people in poverty, especially in developing

countries.

Tomato (Solanum Lycopersicum) Plant

The tomato (/təmeɪtoʊ/ or /təmɑːtoʊ/) is the edible berry of the plant Solanum

lycopersicum, commonly known as the tomato plant. The species originated in western

South America, Mexico, and Central America. The Nahuatl word tomatl gave rise to the

Spanish word tomate, from which the English word tomato derived. Its domestication

and use as a cultivated food may have originated with the indigenous peoples of Mexico.

The Aztecs used tomatoes in their cooking at the time of the Spanish conquest of the

Aztec Empire, and after the Spanish encountered the tomato for the first time after their

contact with the Aztecs, they brought the plant to Europe, in a widespread transfer of

plants known as the Columbian exchange. From there, the tomato was introduced to other

parts of the European-colonized world during the 16th century.

Tomatoes are a significant source of umami flavor. They are consumed in diverse

ways: raw or cooked, and in many dishes, sauces, salads, and drinks. While tomatoes are

fruits—botanically classified as berries—they are commonly used culinarily as a

vegetable ingredient or side dish.

 Numerous varieties of the tomato plant are widely grown in temperate climates

across the world, with greenhouses allowing for the production of tomatoes throughout

all seasons of the year. Tomato plants typically grow to 1–3 meters (3–10 ft) in height.

They are vines that have a weak stem that sprawls and typically needs support.

Indeterminate tomato plants are perennials in their native habitat, but are cultivated as

annuals. (Determinate, or bush, plants are annuals that stop growing at a certain height

and produce a crop all at once.) The size of the tomato varies according to the cultivar,

with a range of 1–10 cm (1⁄2–4 in) in width.

Reviewing the literature leads back to the question: how are the type of water can

affect the growth of Tomato Plant (Solanum Lycopersicum)? Analyzing both Fresh

Water and Tap Water are essential to furthering the conversation that communication

researchers are creating to understand this unique value of each type.

CHAPTER 3

Methodology

1. Materials and Equipment

A. Planting Procedures

 1500ml Bottle

 Tomato Seed
  1500ml of Tap Water

 100ml cup

 Soil

 1500ml of Fresh water

B. Transplanting Procedures

 Shovel

 Scissor

 Garden Shovel

2. Treatment/General Procedures

Planting Procedures

2.1 Collection of seeds. The tomato ( Solanum lycoperisicum) plant were gathered as
good products from the market.

2.2 Preparation of seeds. The collected seed and to get rid of any bacteria, the gathered
seed was rinsed with tap water and dried for two days on tissue paper.

2.3 Construction of samples. The seed were placed in a 1500 ml recycled coke bottle,
which had been cleaned and sawed in half. And each bottle needs a complete amount of
soil to plant a seed.

2.4 Planting Process. The seed were watered with 2oz of water each for 4 weeks and the
seed were kept in a high place to take a enough sunlight and air.

Transplanting Procedures

2.5 Preparation of transplanting. After 4 weeks of watering and giving it enough sunlight
the seeds are now growing bigger. The seeds were transplanted in a big pot and larger
space
2.6 Transplanting procedure. When the plant is ready to transplant the seed were put in a
large area and enough space to see the comparison growth between the Tap water and
Fresh water.

CHAPTER 4

References:

https://www.britannica.com/plant/tomato

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tap_water

https://www.nationalgeographic.org/education/freshwater/

https://www.google.com/search?q=renders+meaning&rlz=1C1VDKB_enPH104

https://www.google.com/search?q=cultivated&rlz=1C1VDKB_enP

https://www.google.com/search?q=climacteric+meaning&rlz=1C1VDKB_enPH1

https://www.google.com/search?q=antioxidants+meaning&rlz
https://www.google.com/search?q=substantial+meaning&rlz=1C

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresh_water

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tap_water

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomato