S

pr
i
ngt
i
mei
nAus
t
r
al
i
a2014Ne
wDe
t
ai
l
e
dS
t
udy
Gr
owt
hBe
net
3540%
S
upe
r
I
mpl
ode
rWat
e
rf
orAgr
i
c
ul
t
ur
e

Downl
oadt
hede
t
ai
l
e
d17pages
t
udyc
ol
orpdf
:

www.
f
r
ac
t
ale
l
d.
c
om/
i
mpl
ode
r
magne
t
i
c
r
e
s
e
ar
c
h/
Aus
t
r
al
i
aI
mpl
ode
r
Re
s
ul
t
35pe
r
c
e
nt

S
upe
r
I
mpl
ode
rWat
e
r
2S
upe
r
I
mpl
ode
r
sWat
e
r

S
upe
r
I
mpl
ode
rWat
e
r

S
upe
r
I
mpl
ode
rWat
e
r

S
upe
r
I
mpl
ode
rWat
e
r

2S
upe
r
I
mpl
ode
r
sWat
e
r

2S
upe
r
I
mpl
ode
r
sWat
e
r

2S
upe
r
I
mpl
ode
r
sWat
e
r

A comparison of water treatment methods

on plant growth





Gerry Collins & Sal Collins
Toronto
New South Wales
Australia

email : harbord711@hotmail.com




Aim :


to compare the effects of four different water treatment methods on plant yield in terms of
germination success rate and mass upon harvesting.



Materials and Methods :


Collection and storage of water samples derived by four water treatment methods

Four different water treatment methods of municipal mains water were selected for comparison in
Toronto, New South Wales, Australia. Municipal mains water is supplied by Hunter Water Corporation,
36 Honeysuckle Drive, Newcastle, New South Wales 2300 Australia.

The municipal mains water pressure for the duration of the experiment varied between 70 pounds per
square inch (psi) and 110 psi.

On the property, municipal mains water is first passed through a pressure limiting valve (Photograph 1)
which reduces the mains water pressure to 350 kilopascals (approximately 51 psi) and subsequently
through two 5-micron filters placed in series (Photograph 2).

For this study, water samples collected directly after the second 5-micron filter (without further
treatment) were termed "Town Water" (Photograph 3). Containers which received Town Water are
labelled "" in photographs.

Further water treatment of Town Water by three different methods produced three more types of
water samples for comparison (Table 1).

The Super Imploder is from www.TheImploder.com . One Super Imploder was connected in series
directly after the second 5-micron filter. Water samples collected after the Super Imploder were
termed "Super Imploded Water" (Photograph 4). Containers which received Super Imploded Water are
labelled "" in photographs.

Two Super Imploders were connected in series directly after the second 5-micron filter. Water samples
collected after the two Super Imploders were termed "Twice Super Imploded Water" (Photographs 5).
Containers which received Twice Super Imploded Water are labelled "" in photographs.

The Grander domestic mains water in-line water revitaliser is manufactured by Innutec GmbH,
Jochberg in Tyrol, Austria. The Grander domestic mains water in-line water revitaliser was connected
in series directly after the second 5-micron filter. Water samples collected after the Grander domestic
mains water in-line water revitaliser were termed "Grander Water" (Photograph 6). Containers which
received Grander Water are labelled "" in photographs.





Water treatment method

Description of treated water

Super Imploder


two Super Imploders set in series


Grander domestic mains water
in-line water revitaliser

Super Imploded Water


Twice Super Imploded Water


Grander Water

Label of treated water
(as seen in photographs)

Table 1. Further water treatment of Town Water by three different methods


The study commenced on 21 July 2014 (Day 1) and completed on 26 October 2014 (Day 98).

On Day 1, a 20 litre water sample of each of the four water treatment methods was collected in a
respectively labelled 20 litre plastic storage water bottle (Photographs 3, 4, 5 and 6). The four 20 litre
plastic storage water bottles were stored 3 metres apart from each other for the duration of the
experiment.

Once collected all water samples used in this experiment were kept free of direct contact with any
metal.

All white hose and all light blue hose seen in the photographs are drinking quality water hose.

Photograph1. Municipal mains water
pressure limiting valve

Photograph 2. Top oblique view of two 5-
micron filters in series before Super Imploder

Photograph 3. Collection of Town Water

Photograph 4. Collection of Super Imploded
Water

Photograph 5. Collection of Twice
Super Imploded Water

Photograph 6. Collection of Grander Water




Selection of seed type

Pak choi seeds were selected for this study (Table 2).



Pak choi seeds


Botanical name
Brassica rapa var. chinensis




Brand
Mr. Fothergill's




Producer
Mr. Fothergill's Seeds Pty Ltd.,


15B Walker Street,


South Windsor, New South Wales 2756


Australia




Sow Before Date
August 2015



Table 2. Pak choi seeds were chosen for this study



Pak choi is also sometimes known as pak choy, buk choi, buk choy, bok choi, bok choy, Chinese
cabbage, spoon cabbage, Chinese chard, Chinese mustard, celery mustard and field mustard.


Preparation of the growing medium in pots

Eight like plastic pot and saucer sets were used in this study.

Each pot was filled with a 2 cm surface layer of seed raising mix on top of a premium potting mix. The
two layers in each pot were then lightly condensed. The products chosen were Yates Seed Raising Mix
and Yates Premium Potting Mix (Yates Australia, 1 Gow Street, Padstow, New South Wales 2211,
Australia).




Labelling of pots

Two pots received only Town Water for the duration of the experiment and were labelled " 1" and
" 2".

Two pots received only Super Imploded Water for the duration of the experiment and were labelled
" 1" and " 2".

Two pots received only Twice Super Imploded Water for the duration of the experiment and were
labelled " 1" and " 2".

Two pots received only Grander Water for the duration of the experiment and were labelled " 1"
and " 2".


Sowing of seeds

On Day 1, two Pak choi seeds were sown into each pot's layer of seed raising mix. The eight pots
(Photograph 7) were kept in a greenhouse with minimal exposure to insects and without exposure to
rain for the duration of the experiment.

Photograph 7. Eight pots on Day 1




Delivery of water samples to the pots

Four jugs were individually labelled, one for each of the four water treatment methods (Photograph 8).

The dedicated jugs were used to transfer water periodically from the four 20 litre plastic storage water
bottles to the pots and saucers.

Photograph 8. Four jugs individually

labelled, one for each of the four water

treatment methods




Watering schedule

On Day 1 each pot was saturated with its designated water type until water overflowed its saucer.

The soil in each pot was kept moist throughout the duration of the experiment by over-filling the
saucers of all eight pots just prior to any saucer becoming completely dry.




Photographs


Photographs were taken on Day 21 (Photographs 9, 10 and 11).

Photograph 9. Eight pots on Day 21

Photograph 10. Close up view of pots
Photograph 11. Close up view of pots

1, 2, 1 and 2 on day 21
1, 2, 1 and 2 on day 21




Two seedlings have emerged in each of pots 2, 1, 2, 1, 2 and 1.







Photographs were taken on Day 35 (Photographs 12, 13 and 14).

Photograph 12. Eight pots on Day 35

Photograph 13. Close up view of pots
1, 2, 1 and 2 on day 35

Photograph 14. Close up view of pots
1, 2, 1 and 2 on day 35







Photographs were taken on Day 49 (Photographs 15, 16 and 17).

Photograph 15. Eight pots on Day 49

Photograph 16. Close up view of pots
1, 2, 1 and 2 on Day 49

Photograph 17. Close up view of pots
1, 2, 1 and 2 on Day 49







Photographs were taken on Day 63 (Photographs 18, 19 and 20).

Photograph 18. Eight pots on Day 63

Photograph 19. Close up view of pots
1, 2, 1 and 2 on Day 63

Photograph 20. Close up view of pots
1, 2, 1 and 2 on Day 63







Photographs were taken on Day 98 (Photographs 21, 22 and 23).

Photograph 21. Eight pots on Day 98

Photograph 22. Close up view of pots
Photograph 23. Close up view of pots
1, 2, 1 and 2 on Day 98
1, 2, 1 and 2 on Day 98




By Day 98 two plants had appeared in each of pots 2, 1, 2, 1, 2 and 1 and one
plant had appeared in each of pots 1 and 2.




Results :

1. Of the 16 seeds sown on Day 1 of this study, 14 seeds had germinated by Day 98.


The seed germination rates associated with the use of Town Water, Super Imploded Water, Twice
Super Imploded Water and Grander Water were respectively, 75%, 100%, 100% and 75%. Seed
germination rates for each of the four different water treatment methods are shown in Table 3.









Description of
Number of
Number of
Percentage of

treated water
seeds which
seeds which
seeds which

were sown on
germinated by
germinated by

Day 1
Day 98
Day 98



Town Water
4
3
75



Super Imploded Water
4
4
100




Twice Super Imploded
4
4
100

Water




Grander Water
4
3
75






Table 3. Seed germination rates at Day 98 for the different water

treatment methods




2. On Day 98, each of the 14 mature plants was harvested and its above-ground mass immediately
recorded.


The mass of each plant immediately after harvesting is given in Table 4 and does not include its
root mass.







Label of pot Number of Mass of first plant
Mass of second
plants
(grams)
plant (grams)

99

not applicable

118

112

148

147

151

149

158

154

154

152

126

122

126

not applicable

Table 4. Above-ground masses of plants harvested on Day 98




3. Average mass of plants for each of the four different water treatment methods is given in Table 5.


The average masses of plants grown using Town Water, Super Imploded Water, Twice Super
Imploded Water and Grander Water were respectively 109.7 grams, 148.8 grams, 154.5 grams and
124.7 grams.


The percentage increases in the average masses of plants grown using Super Imploded Water,
Twice Super Imploded Water and Grander Water compared to the average mass of plants grown
using Town Water are expressed as Additional plant yield in Table 5.








Description of
Total number Total mass of Average mass of Additional plant
treated water
of plants
plants (grams)
plants (grams)
yield (%)

Town Water

329

109.7

not applicable

Super Imploded
Water

595

148.8

35.6

Twice Super
Imploded Water

618

154.5

40.8

Grander Water

374

124.7

13.7

Table 5. Average mass of plants and additional plant yield on Day 98 for the different
water treatment methods




Conclusions :


In this study, higher seed germination rates were associated with the use of both Super Imploded
Water and Twice Super Imploded Water than with Town Water and Grander Water.

Further, average plant mass at harvesting was highest for plants grown using Twice Super Imploded
Water, followed by plants grown using Super Imploded Water, followed by plants grown using Grander
Water, followed by plants grown using Town Water.