Calculate Plant Transpiration Science Project Idea

The Amount of Water Given Off by Plants Science Project Idea

Plant Transpiration Science Project Experiment

Cover the pot of an actively growing geranium or similar plant with rubber tissue or waxed paper. Weigh the plant and its pot. After the plant has stood in a warm room or outside the window if the day is warm, weigh again. Result. Roughly estimate the area of the leaves and calculate the loss of water per square inch or square foot.

Most persons are surprised when they realize the amount of water that is given off by plants. It has been calculated that an oak tree may give off from its leaves in the five months from June to October about 125 tons of water; and that a grass plot 50 by 150 feet may, under favorable conditions, give off by transpiration a ton of water in a day. A single corn plant was found to give off 31 pounds of water during its growth. It will thus be seen that the miles and miles of vegetation are continually giving back to the air the water which has been deposited on the earth in the form of rain.