The greater the amount of water, the faster the growth.

Water and plant growth

Water sustains life, and is therefore important to all living organisms on our planet. These include plants, which will wilt, become dry and die in the absence water.

The actual amount of water needed by a plant to grow will depend on the type of soil used, the size of the pot, the species of the plant and the age of the plant. A soil’s water retention properties will determine the amount of watering required. Soil  that is poor in retaining water will require more frequent watering, whereas soil that has good water retention properties will require less frequent watering. The size of the pot is also important, as it determines the amount of water that can be added to maintain the required soil moisture.

The size and number of leaves, together with the size of a plant’s stem, will give us an estimate on the appropriate amount of water that a plant needs. Young plants tend to require more frequent watering to maintain the moisture near the surface of the soil, as its roots have not grown deep enough and will therefore only be near the surface of soil. On the other hand, an older plant will require less frequent watering .
 

The experimental data and analyzed results support our hypothesis that the greater the amount of water, the faster the growth rate, but only up to a certain point. If too much water is given to the plants, their growth rate fell.

Research shows that too much water in the soil is detrimental to plant growth, as wet soil tends to cover a plant’s root with water and  therefore deprive it of oxygen. This cause the roots to rot will eventually lead to the death of the plant.

What would happen if this science fair project was repeated using other species of plants such as corn and green peas?

The experiment can be repeated by placing the pots under a shade or directly outside under the sun.