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Analysis of the Gross

Composition ofDracaena sp.

Ballesteros, L.

Gamboa, D.Manalaysay, J.

Matundan, C.

Viray, G.

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A plants chemical compositionincludes inorganic (absorbed) and

organic (synthesized) compoundswhich are essential for its growthand development.

Dracaena sp. herbaceous plant mostly composed of water

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Thus, drying and combustion areimportant.

Drying- the removal of water from

the tissues of the plant to:>hinder enzymatic reactions

>to alleviate the plant material

samples

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Ashing- organic matter destruction

to produce a completelydecomposed organic matter.

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Plant Organ Fresh Weight (FW) Dry Weight (DW) Ash Weight (AW)Roots 9.00 g 2.03 g 0.20 g

Stem 22.5 g 21.1 g 0.40 g

Leaves 36.0 g 8.50 g 0.70 g

Plant Organ % Water % Dry matter % Ash % Organic matter

Roots 77.4% 22.6% 2.22% 20.3%Stem 6.22% 93.8% 1.78% 92.0%

Leaves 76.4% 23.6% 1.94% 21.7%

Table1. Data on fresh weight, dry weight and ash weight of the

plant organs.

Table 2. Calculated values on %water, %dry matter, %ash and %organicmatter.

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The root system has the greatest

decrease of weight followed by theleaf and the stem (Table 1).

So what????

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The inorganic matter themineral nutrients absorbed by theroots in the soil and are utilized innumerous biological functions (Taizand Zeiger, 2006).

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In addition, it has been observedthat the stem has the lowest %inorganic matter. WHY????

Leaves perform various biologicalreactions need for a relatively

high concentration of inorganiccompounds.

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Thats why, leaves have higher %inorganic matter compared to thatof the stem which was observed inthe experiment.

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Stem has the highest % organic

matter.

Because..

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Balentine et.al. (2012). Herbaceous Plants and How They Grow. TheSouthern Highlands Reserve. Accessed September 05,2012.http://www.southernhighlandsreserve.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Herbaceous-Plants-and-How-They-Grow.pdf

Jenkins, et. al. (1998).Combustion properties of biomass.Elsevier.AccessedSeptember 05,2012.http://www.et.byu.edu/~tom/classes/733/ReadingMaterial/Jenkins-Baxter.pdf

McClements DJ.Analysis of Ash and Minerals.Accessed date: September

4, 2012.

Plank, O. C. (1992).Plant Analysis Reference Procedures for the SouthernRegion of the United States.Southern Cooperative Series Bulletin.TheUniversity of GeorgiaCrop& Soil Science Dept.Athens, GA.http://www.ncagr.gov/agronomi/pdffiles/sera368.pdf

Taiz, L. and Zeiger, E. (2006).Plant Physiology. 4th ed. Sunderland, MA:Sinauer Associates. pp. 2, 37-38, 56

Wampler WA, Carlson TF, and Jones WR.Carbon Black.Marcel Derker, Inc.2003.