Ocean Water and Forest Fires

Overview

Objectives/Goals My project was to determine whether ocean water would have an effect on California native plants. If the plants died after being watered with ocean water, would they grow back if watered with fresh water. Methods/Materials Materials included: seven sets of two each California native plants, 14 plastic pots, potting soil, ocean water and fresh water. I first planted the fourteen plants and labeled one of each variety "Test" and one "Control." Next, I watered the Test plants with ocean water and the Control plants with fresh water. Then I started observing and monitoring the changes. The next time the plants needed watering, all fourteen plants were watered with fresh water. Results Five of the seven Test plants died, while none of the Control plants died. Of the five Test plants that died only one has re-growth since being watered with fresh water over the last three months. Conclusions/Discussion My conclusion is that ocean water kills several California native plants and most of them do not grow back. Therefore, during a forest fire we should try as hard as possible to use fresh water to put the fire out instead of ocean water.

Competition history

• CSEF 2008 Pharmacology/ Toxicology · Entry J1504

Resources

• CSEF project summary ↗

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