A Preliminary Study on the Best pH Value of Water to Increase the Quality of Echinodorus Bleheri

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorWithanage, W.A.S.
dc.contributor.authorBambaranda, B.V.A.S.M.
dc.contributor.authorJayamanne, S.C.
dc.contributor.authorFernando, M.A.G.C.
dc.date.accessioned2022-02-23T09:16:05Z
dc.date.available2022-02-23T09:16:05Z
dc.date.issued2013
dc.description.abstractThe Aquatic plant export industry of Sri Lanka has been developing rapidly. This industry requires a continuous supply of high quality plants. Echinodorus bleheri is one of the highest demanded aquatic plants in export market. Aquatic plants have adapted to life in water with a specific pH, Temperature, Electrical conductivity and may suffer from even a slight change. High quality plants can be supplied with in a short time period by finding the best pH value of water. In the world of plants each plant species is perfectly adapted to a certain pH range of the soil or water. Aquatic plant hobbyists are usually familiar with the different pH requirements of various plants and regulate the pH of water appropriately. Hydroponics is proved to have several advantages over soil gardening. The growth rate on a hydroponic plant is 30-50 percent faster than a soil plant. A nutrient solution for hydroponic systems is an aqueous solution containing mainly inorganic ions from soluble salts of essential elements for higher plants. Eventually, some organic compounds such as iron chelates may be present (Steiner, 1968). Changing the pH of a nutrient solution affects its composition, elemental speciation and bioavailability. An important feature of the nutrient solutions is that they must contain the ions in solution and in chemical forms that can be absorbed by plants, so in hydroponic systems the plant productivity is closely related with to nutrient uptake and the pH regulation (Marschner, 1995). Each nutrient shows differential responses to changes in pH of the nutrient solution. The proper pH values of nutrient solution for the development of crops, lies between 5.5 and 6.5. Plants need the right combination of nutrients to live, grow and reproduce. When plants suffer from malnutrition, they show symptoms of being unhealthy. Too little or too much of any one nutrient can cause problems. The main objective of the present study is to find out the best pH value of water to increase the quality of Echinodorus bleheri. Methodology This experiment was conducted under green house condition with 80% shade at Ruvini Aqua plants Lanka (pvt) Ltd, Koralawella, Moratuwa. Hundred and eighty Echinodorus bleheri plant pots(containing four plants in each pot) were used for the experiment. Experimental design was Complete Randomized Design. Fifteen Styrofoam boxes (46 cm×39.5 cm×19.5 cm) were used to plant them. HANNA (HI98107) portable digital pH meter was used to measure pH and HANNA portable digital EC meter (HI 98303) was used to measure Electrical Conductivity of water. Two months aged 180 Echinodorus bleheri plant pots were randomly selected and uprooted from culture tanks. Plant pots were washed thoroughly after removing sand and other objects. Randomly selected 12 plant pots were assigned in to a tank and measure the wet weight of 12 plant pots. Plant pots were planted in 15 Styrofoam boxes. Bottoms of the Styrofoam boxes were covered by black polythene sheets to prevent the algal growth. Placement of Styrofoam boxes were decided by lottery method. Five different pH solutions were used for the experiment as 6.0, 6.5, 7.0 (control), 7.5 and 8.0. Six grams of Albert solution was dissolved in 7 l of water and filtered the solution using a muslin cloth. pH of the solution was measured. NaOH or HCl was added drop wise until required pH value achieved and maintained the electrical conductivity 1000-1500 µs level. Prepared pH solutions were kept for 1 hour to see the fluctuations. pH solutions were poured in to tanks. After 2 days pH solutions of each tank were removed using manual squeeze water changer pump and filled the solutions again week, plant pots were uprooted from Styrofoam boxes and measured the wet weight of each replicate (12 plant pots). Total lengths of plants were measured using a tape weekly. Number of leaves was counted weekly. Wet weight of each replicate (12 plant pots) was measured before starting the experiment and at the end of the experiment. Data obtained from the experiment were analyzed by Microsoft Word. Treatment significances and significance among individual treatment levels were analyzed using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA).en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://www.erepo.lib.uwu.ac.lk/bitstream/handle/123456789/8429/65-AQT-A%20Preliminary%20Study%20on%20the%20Best%20pH%20Value%20of%20Water%20to%20Increase%20the%20Quality%20of%20.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherUva Wellassa University of Sri Lankaen_US
dc.subjectWater Chemistryen_US
dc.subjectWaste Water Treatmenten_US
dc.subjectWater Managementen_US
dc.subjectWater qualityen_US
dc.subjectAquatic Planten_US
dc.subjectAquacultureen_US
dc.titleA Preliminary Study on the Best pH Value of Water to Increase the Quality of Echinodorus Bleherien_US
dc.title.alternativeResearch Symposium 2013en_US
dc.typeOtheren_US
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
65-AQT-A Preliminary Study on the Best pH Value of Water to Increase the Quality of .pdf
Size:
332.07 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.71 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
Research Symposium-2013