The Effect of Fabric Softener on the Plant Height and Flower Production in Brassica Rapa.
Abstract:
The effects of different amounts of Downey Fabric Softener were tested on two area of plant growth, flower production and plant height, to determine whether or not Fabric Softener is environmentally friendly. Each week for five weeks, the plants measurements would be recorded and the designated amounts were added. Fabric Softener was observed to be toxic to the plants by inhibited height and flower production. Fabric softener biodegrades into salt in the soil, depriving the plant of adequate water and thus proving the toxicity of fabric softener to plant growth.
Introduction:
The effects of different amounts of Downey fabric softener were tested on Brassica Rapa to determine whether or not this certain fabric softener is environmentally friendly. If Brassica Rapa is not environmentally friendly then alternatives to Downey can be explored. Brassica Rapa was used because high survival rate and rapid growth in waste areas and also in both acidic and basic areas (Young 2012). Downey Fabric softener is a household chemical that is full of nitrogen, constantly exposed to the environment, and also claims to be biodegradable (Austin et al. 1998) . Nitrogen is a limiting nutrient in plants and therefore the aid of nitrogen should effect growth (Freeman et al. 2013). The hypothesis that was being tested states that fabric softener will have a positive effect on the plant growth of Brassica Rapa. Therefore, the ideal result would have been to see no inhibition of growth because that would have meant that fabric softener had no visual effect on plant growth and virtually safe.
Methods:
First three groups of Brassica Rapa plants were constructed in a greenhouse and watered. 0.3ml of Fabric Softener was added to one experimental Brassica Rapa group while 0.1ml of Fabric