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Can Water Plants Be Used to Determine Water Quality?

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Summary

Areas of Science
Difficulty
 
Time Required
Long (2-4 weeks)
Prerequisites
None
Material Availability
Duckweed can be purchased from plant nurseries, or you can also find it growing naturally in local ponds and marshes. If you find the duckweed in a local water source, make sure you get permission from the land owner or town before taking any.
Cost
Low ($20 - $50)
Safety
No issues
*Note: For this science project you will need to develop your own experimental procedure. Use the information in the summary tab as a starting place. If you would like to discuss your ideas or need help troubleshooting, use the Ask An Expert forum. Our Experts won't do the work for you, but they will make suggestions and offer guidance if you come to them with specific questions.

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Abstract

Some plants grow only in water-logged environments. These plants are usually native to wetlands and are important for the sustainability of aquatic ecosystems. Wetland ecosystems are very fragile and susceptible to the toxic dumping of sewage and fertilizer run-off from neighboring farm land. One very common aquatic plant called duckweed inhabits many wetland marshes. Duckweed grows by asexual reproduction and floats at the surface of the water with tiny roots extending into the water below. Can you find duckweed from a local pond or wetland? You can grow the duckweed at home in bowls of water. Will the duckweed grow well in different types of water? Will it grow better in bottled mineral water than when using tap water? What will happen to duckweed grown in acidic water, or water with fertilizer? Are there other types of water contaminants you can test with duckweed? Consult the Measuring Plant Growth page for tips on how to determine which duckweed is growing the most.
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Global Connections

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) are a blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.

This project explores topics key to Clean Water and Sanitation: Ensure access to water and sanitation for all.
This project explores topics key to Life on Land: Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss.

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General citation information is provided here. Be sure to check the formatting, including capitalization, for the method you are using and update your citation, as needed.

MLA Style

Science Buddies Staff. "Can Water Plants Be Used to Determine Water Quality?" Science Buddies, 15 Feb. 2024, https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/PlantBio_p030/plant-biology/water-quality-plants?from=Blog. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

APA Style

Science Buddies Staff. (2024, February 15). Can Water Plants Be Used to Determine Water Quality? Retrieved from https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/PlantBio_p030/plant-biology/water-quality-plants?from=Blog


Last edit date: 2024-02-15
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