RAGAZA, Samantha Rose M. ENVI10.

02
Date submitted: November 30, 2021

The Growth of Arugula in a Tropical Climate with

the Introduction of Contaminants

I. Introduction (or Pre-lab research)

It is a pre-established fact that our planet is deteriorating and we must address it with utmost urgency. Yet
the common notion amongst people is to pass the blame on someone other than themselves, whether it be big
corporations and their environmentally threatening methods of operation, the government and their lack of
initiative, or even previous generations. In the crossfire of trying to name a singular culprit to the seemingly
inevitable situation we’re now in, we fail to acknowledge the part we play in this problem. Furthermore, we
fail to acknowledge the micro-decisions we can make as individuals and the macro-changes that they can lead
to. As mentioned by Allen (2021), “Approximately 25 percent of global carbon emissions are caused by the
worldwide industrial production of food.” While the obvious solution to this problem is growing your own
food, this is easier said than done. Various issues are brought up regarding the accessibility of some fruits and
vegetables, the weather requirements of each plant, and external factors such as pollution. So is it realistic to
turn to growing your own food as a solution? This paper aims to explore these variables through an in-depth
observation of the growth of Arugula (Eruca vesicaria ssp. sativa) in a tropical climate with the introduction
of different contaminants (used cooking oil, vinegar, and liquid detergent). Given that Arugula usually grows
in areas with colder weather (De Castro, 2018), our group wanted to explore whether it is possible to
successfully grow them in places with warmer climates like Metro Manila. At the beginning of the
experiment, we hypothesized that with proper care, the Arugula seedling can thrive in tropical weather but
will not withstand the effects of introducing contaminants. The goal of the experiment is to prove or disprove
our hypothesis by interpreting our methods, results, and other findings, which will be discussed in the later
parts of the paper.

II. Materials and Method

This experiment was conducted in Parañaque City, Philippines. Before the Arugula seedlings were
transferred to their individual pots, they went under a germination stage for 15 days. During this stage, pre-
owned pots were used and they were covered with plastic (seen in Figure 1) to trap the moisture and ensure
proper growth. After 15 days the seedlings started sprouting true leaves (seen in Figure 2). This indicated that
they were ready to be transplanted into their individual setups. The pots used were made from used plastic
soda bottles (seen in Figure 3). To provide sufficient drainage, holes were punched near the neck of the bottle
and through the bottle cap. To provide uniformity, 600 grams of soil was put in each makeshift pot (seen in
Figure 4).
 Figure 1. Arugula Figure 2. Arugula Figure 3. Makeshift Figure 4. 600-gram
seeds during day 1 of seedlings with true pots. soil allotment per
germination. leaves. pot.

For the first two weeks, each pot was watered with 1 cup of water and it spent 4 hours under direct sunlight in
the morning. This set-up was modified on the third week since the seedlings' growth was starting to slow
down because of over-watering. From 1 cup of water, each pot was now given ½ cups of water. An extra hour
under the sun was also added and this set-up remained for the remainder of the experiment (seen in Figure 5).
Towards the end of the third week, contaminants were introduced. 2 tablespoons of used cooking oil were
added to Plant B, 2 tablespoons of vinegar were added to Plant C, and 2 tablespoons of liquid detergent were
added to Plant D (seen in Figure 6). Plant A and Plant E remained as the control set-ups.

Figure 5. experiment set-up. Figure 6. contaminants added.

III. Results
3.1 Growth in the control set-up
 Figure 7. Plant A at a height of 4.7cm – week 4.

09/28/2021

10/05/2021

10/12/2021

10/19/2021

Table 1. Observations on Plant A from Week 1 to Week 4

Table 1.1. Weekly photo of Plant A

 Figure 8. Plant E at a height of 4cm – week 4.

09/22/2021-
09/28/2021 09/28/2021
2
09/29/2021-
10/05/2021
-10/05/2021
======= 10/05/2021
2
10/06/2021-
10/12/2021 10/12/2021
-10/12/2021
=======
2
10/19/2021
10/13/2021- 10/19/2021
- =======
10/19/2021
2
- ======= Table 2. Observations on Plant E from Week 1 to Week 4

Table 2.1. Weekly photo of Plant E

3.2 Growth in the contaminated set-up

Figure 9. Plant B at a height of 4.1cm – week 4.

Table 3. Observations on Plant B from Week 1 to Week 4

Table 3.1 Weekly photo of Plant B

 Figure 10. Effect of vinegar on Plant C – week 4.

Table 4. Observations on Plant C from Week 1 to Week 4

Table 4.1. Weekly photo of Plant C

 Figure 11. Effect of vinegar on Plant D – week 4

Table 5. Observations on Plant D from Week 1 to Week 4

Table 5.1. Weekly photo of Plant D

IV. Discussion
3.1 Growth in the control set-up
As seen in Figure 7 and Figure 8, Plant A and Plant E are the only two set-ups wherein the Arugula
seedlings survived. By the end of the second week, the growth of the two control set-ups, along with the
contaminated set-ups, slowed down quite evidently as compared to the previous weeks. This was possibly
caused by over-watering. As a solution, the water-allotment of all set-ups was reduced from 1 cup a day to ½
cups a day. The time under direct sunlight of each set-up was also increased by an hour. This in turn stabilized
the growth rate of the seedlings. As seen in Table 1, Plant A did not encounter any stress symptoms in the
span of 4 weeks. Seen in Table 1.1 is a visual representation of Plant A’s growth over the course of 4 weeks
with a final height of 4.7cm and a width of 2cm. On the other hand, in the third week, a leaf from Plant E
started wilting (seen in Table 2.1). As seen in data from Table 2, by the end of the fourth week Plant E was at
a height of 4cm and a width of 1.5cm.

3.2 Growth in the contaminated set-up

As seen in Table 3, Table 4, and Table 5, contaminants were added to Plant B, Plant C, and Plant D on the
third week. The contaminant added to Plant B was used 2 tablespoons of cooking oil. According to Borgan,
Ludwig, and Metz (n.d.), “oils can injure susceptible plant species. Symptoms of plant injury (phytotoxicity)
may be acute or chronic. They can include leaf scorching and browning, defoliation, reduced flowering and
stunted growth.” The aforementioned browning and stunted growth can be observed in Table 3.1. As noted in
Table 3, on the third week the leaves of Plant B started adapting a darker color. On week 4, 2 out of 4 leaves
started wilting and the whole seedling eventually died.

Plant C experienced a much more drastic effect due to the introduced contaminant. As seen in Table 4, 2
tablespoons of vinegar were added to the set-up on week 3. 2 days after adding the contaminant, the plant died
completely. As mentioned by Harper (n.d.) “The acetic acid found in vinegar is the most harmful element to
plants. Vinegar initially dries out the leaves of plants – repeated use on young, actively growing annuals can
cause more damage –.” Table 4.1 is a visual representation of the growth of Plant C in 4 weeks; Here we can
see the effects of vinegar on the growth of Plant C.

Plant D experienced a similar effect towards the introduced contaminant as compared to Plant C. As noted
in Table 5, 2 tablespoons of liquid detergent were added to Plant C. Standard detergents cause a chemical
imbalance in the soil and make it impossible for plants to grow to maturity from it (“Do laundry detergents
affect plant growth?”, 2021). These negative effects are seen in Table 5.1 as it is visible that the added vinegar
caused the seedling to die after only 2 days of introducing the contaminant (seen in Table 5).

The results support our hypothesis as the control set-ups successfully achieved stable growth within the 4
weeks while the contaminated set-ups did not survive after contamination. As predicted, various
environmental factors affected the experiments such as a typhoon. Nevertheless, a controlled environment for
all set-ups was ensured. If similar experiments are to be done, it is recommended to anticipate external factors
that may affect the study and to extend the scope of observation until the saplings are fully grown.
V. SUMMARY (or conclusion)

In conclusion, despite Arugula usually thriving in lower-temperature areas, it is possible to grow Arugula
and maintain a stable growth rate even in a tropical climate. To summarize the key results, introducing used
cooking oil, vinegar, and liquid detergent as contaminants to Arugula saplings have detrimental effects on
their survival. While vinegar and liquid detergent immediately killed the saplings after only 2 days, the effects
of used cooking oil manifested at a slower rate. Nevertheless, the 3 aforementioned contaminants all
eventually led to the death of the arugula saplings. The observations taken in the 4 weeks have proven our
hypothesis that the control set-ups would successfully achieve stable growth while the contaminated set-ups
would not survive after contamination. So while it is possible to grow arugula at home despite the weather
requirements it originally requires, it is still possible for some factors to inhibit a successful harvest. As a
recommendation to related future experiments, it is suggested to anticipate external factors that may influence
the efficacy of the study. It is also recommended to record the growth of the Arugula saplings until it is fully
grown and ready for harvest.

VI. REFERENCES

Bogran, C., Ludwig, S., & Metz, B. (n.d.). Using oils as pesticides. Texas A&M Agrilife Extension.
[Link]

De Castro. (2018). The 6 environmental and health benefits of growing your own food. The Garden
Continuum. [Link]
growing-your-own-food

Harper, L. (n.d.). What is the effect of acidic vinegar water on the growth rate of plants?.
[Link]
plants

Safed. (2021, September 27). Do laundry detergents affect plant growth?.

[Link]

Urban Gardening Mom. (2018, April 7). How to Grow Baby Rocket (Arugula) In Warm Tropical Climates.
[Link]
climates