8 what effects does acidic water have on plants? - uvu.edu · pdf filewe made acidic water...

The purpose of this project was to determine the

effects of acid rain) on the growth of plants in

our environment. We made Acidic water with a

pH of 5 using dilute hydrochloric acid. Distilled water

with a neutral pH (7) was used as a control. We tested

on a groundcover plant divided into 4 samples. 2 re-

ceived acidic water and 2 received distilled water 1 cup

each day for 30 days. We observed if there was any

damage.

Acid rain is caused by pollution in the atmosphere and

some things that cause the pollution or possibly cause it

such as; power plants, fossil fuel, and coal. Which are all

human faults? This here results in our question or hy-

pothesis, how negative is the effect on the plants that

We gathered four shrubs of the English Dwarf Boxwood

(Suffruiticosa; Buxus Sempervirens) Shrubs. We labeled each

one separately. We conducted a manipulated experiment

where two were distilled water pH of and the other two

were acidic water. We watered them two times a week,

Mondays and Thursdays. Each plant would be watered with

the same amount, which was 500ml. We took pictures each

time the plants were watered, and recorded our data of the

condition the plants were each time.

Over time we observed that the plants that were treat-

ed with acidic water were the healthiest. They were full,

they looked very alive, more waxy, the leaves were

greener, the soil seemed more retained in moisture.

The plants treated with distilled water were skinnier,

the leaves were less waxy, they felt very dry, many

leaves had died off and fallen off of the plant also.

What effects does acidic water have on plants?

Marybel Vasquez, Mariana Guerrero, Raziel Rodas

Procedures & Methods Results

Summary & Conclusions

References

Our hypothesis was proven wrong, We should have

looked into the literature on the English Dwarf Boxwood

Shrub before we chose it as our test plant. It was con-

cluded that not all plants are affected negatively on acidic

water. This particular plant thrives on an acidic environ-

ment. In some cases , like this one, it could be beneficial.

The experiment we tried out was successful in the end,

weather it was proven wrong or not, we got more of an

understanding to plants and levels of acidity.

http://www.lifeionizers.com/water-facts/acidic-water.html

http://www.oregonlive.com/home-garden/index.ssf/

flowers/5-plants-that-love-acid-soil-1.html

http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/430/430-027/430-027.html

http://www.scribd.com/doc/11054201/Trees-and-Shrubs-

for-Acid-Soils

Introduction

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Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4

Plant A 1

Plant A 2

Plant D 1

Plant D 2Plant Progress:

http://www.lifeionizers.com/wa-ter-facts/acidic-wa-ter.html

http://www.lifeionizers.com/wa-ter-facts/acidic-wa-ter.html

http://www.lifeionizers.com/wa-ter-facts/acidic-wa-ter.html

http://www.lifeionizers.com/wa-ter-facts/acidic-wa-ter.html

We took pictures of the plants every time we watered them.

You can see how much of a difference it really makes by

the type of water we use. We have the first day a middle

day and the last day we watered them. (order left to right)