Refuse, Reuse

1
Refuse, Reuse GrowThe Effect of Wash Water on
Plant Growth

• Abbey Smith
• 1st period
• Taylor
• 7th Grade
• Environmental Science, Plant Sciences, Chemistry

2
Background Research

• What if farmers could recycle their refuse water
  to productively and safely irrigate their crops?
  According to Tyler, 23 of the world have
  insufficient amounts of water for crops (Tyler
  43).
• This project investigates the effects of
  concentration of refuse recycled wash water on
  plant health and growth of corn.

3
Background Research Continued

• The independent variable is the concentration of
  refuse wash water (0, 20, 40, 60, 80
  100).
• On average 45-55 gallons of water are used in a
  single load of laundry (GM 102). This water will
  be manually drained and collected and used for
  plant irrigation.

4
Background Research Continued

• The dependent variable is plant growth measured
  in cm and subjective overall health will be
  recorded.

5
Research Question

• How does the concentration of refuse wash water
  affect the plant height (cm)?

6
Hypothesis

• As the concentration of refuse wash water
  increases, the plant height will also increase
  because according to Tyler, refuse wash water
  contains high amounts of important minerals such
  as phosphorous and nitrogen that are essential in
  plant growth (Tyler 301).

7
Variables

• The independent variable for the experiment was
  the concentration of refuse wash water
• The five levels of the independent variable were
• 0 (control)
• 20
• 40
• 60
• 80
• 100
• The dependent variable for the experiment was
  plant height of the corn and was measured in
  centimeters.

8
Variables

• Constants for the experiment were
• Plant type
• Soil type
• Weather
• Detergent brand
• Watering technique (drip system)
• Watering amount (400 mL per day)
• Washer machine
• Draining collecting method

9
Variables

• The control for the experiment was 0 refuse wash
  water. These plants were watered using normal
  water from the city water lines. This was used to
  compare the effects of the refuse water on the
  plants.

10
Materials

• 100 corn seedlings (zea mays species)
• 6 wooden planters (1.5x1.5x3m)
• 40 g soil per plant
• Greenhouse drip irrigation (see methods)
• GM washing machine
• 10 Stay Clean Detergent (2 liter each)
• 40 liters City Water
• Collecting pump (see methods)
• 10 white linen towels (.5x.5m)
• Large trash bin (50 L)

11
Methods

• Greenhouse 3-4 m x 5 m
• Irrigation Drip
• Planters
• Arrange 20 plants per planter, 3 cm apart.
• Label planter 1 0, 2 20 , 3 40, 4 -60,
  5 80, 6 100
• Each seedling is 3 cm deep in the soil.
• Irrigation tubing is laid in between corn rows.

12
Methods

• Collecting Method
• Run a normal wash cycle with the white linens
  using the Stay Clean detergent.
• After the rinse cycle, stop the washer and pump
  the water out of the washer by connecting the
  water pump to the washer machines drain.
• Collect water in large trash bin.
• Repeat steps 1-3 when more water is needed.

13
Procedures

1. Input 8 L of city plant water (400 mL per plant)
   into the planter irrigation drip for planter 1 at
   8am.
2. Repeat every day and record plant height.
3. Make 8 L of a 20 refuse solution using the
   refuse water and city water. Input into planter 2
   at 8am daily.
4. Repeat step 3 for each concentration level and
   planter box.
5. Water plants daily and record plant height daily.

14
Data Table
The Effect of refuse wash water on plant height (cm) The Effect of refuse wash water on plant height (cm) The Effect of refuse wash water on plant height (cm) The Effect of refuse wash water on plant height (cm) The Effect of refuse wash water on plant height (cm) The Effect of refuse wash water on plant height (cm) The Effect of refuse wash water on plant height (cm)
Refuse Wash Water Concentration Plant height (cm) Plant height (cm) Plant height (cm) Plant height (cm) Plant height (cm) Plant height (cm)
Refuse Wash Water Concentration Averages After Each Week Averages After Each Week Averages After Each Week Averages After Each Week Averages After Each Week Average after week 5
Refuse Wash Water Concentration 1 2 3 4 5 Average after week 5
0 3 4 5 6 7 7
20 3 6 8 10 12 12
40 3 6 9 12 15 15
60 3 6 8 10 12 12
80 3 6 7 8 9 9
100 3 6 7 7 7 7
15
Graph
16
Graph (Level 2 of IV)
17
Graph
0 20 40 60 80
100
18
Washing Machine
0 20 40
60 80 100
19
(No Transcript)
20
Discussion of Results

• The data showed that as the refuse water
  initially increased, plant growth increased.
  However as refuse concentration reached 60
  plant height began to decrease. This could be
  related to extreme concentrations of minerals.
• Actual averages after 5 weeks were 7cm for 0, 12
  cm for 20, 15 cm for 40, 12 cm for 60, 9cm for
  80, and 7cm for 100.

21
Discussion of Results

• Although the experiment was controlled, there
  were still some possible sources of error.
• The errors identified are
• Planter 1 had aphids during week 2 possibly
  killing off viable plants
• Week 1 was very overcast which could have stunted
  initial growth
• Irrigation drip for planter 3 was broken during
  week 1.
• For the future, (state what may be changed to
  reduce or remove these errors)

22
Discussion of Results

• For the future, the following may be changed to
  reduce errors
• Eradicate any insects before planting plants.
• Grow plants for a longer period of time thus
  averaging out poor weather days.
• Check irrigation system daily and have a backup
  drip system in case one breaks.

23
Conclusion

• Analysis of the results revealed that after 5
  weeks the plants were 7cm for 0, 12 cm for 20,
  15 cm for 40, 12 cm for 60, 9cm for 80, and
  7cm for 100.
• The hypothesis was (supported and refuted).
• This happened because as the concentration of
  refuse water increased, so did the plant height
  until concentration levels reached 40. Then
  plant levels decreased.
• This could be attributed to a balanced level of
  essential minerals and nutrients at the 40
  refuse water concentration.

24
Application

• The results from this experiment show that refuse
  water is indeed a viable plant irrigation system
  and actually improved plant growth by 200.
• Not only can plant growth increase but waste
  water may be recycle and clean water can be saved
  for other purposes.

25
Future Research

• Future studies could focus on the effect of 40
  refuse wash water on long term plant life.
• This could be tested by repeating the same
  experiment, except
• This would be useful to determine

26
Future Research

• Another problem that could be investigated is
  (future research question the effect of IV on
  DV).
• This could be answered by (briefly explain)
• The implications of this research would be of
  interest to _____ (remove underlines and complete
  with your responses).

27
References

• Tyler, Tim. Reusing Waste Water. 2010.
  Washington College. Print. 13 Dec 2009.

28
Abstract

• The purpose of this project was to discover how
  the refuse wash water concentration affected the
  height of corn plants. The hypothesis was if the
  concentration of refuse wash water increases,
  then the plant height will increase. This will
  happen because essential minerals such as
  phosphorous and nitrogen will be in greater
  concentrations thus helping the plants carry out
  important chemical reactions.

29
Abstract continued

• The effect of (IV) on (DV) was determined by
  (Summarize your experiment). The results
  collected during this investigation were (Give
  average data for each level of the IV). The
  results showed that the hypothesis was (supported
  or refuted). (Next sentence only if refuted) This
  happened because (Scientific reason why based on
  research).