Comparing the Growth Rates of Ipomoea aquatica Using Washed Rice Water From Different Rice Varieties

Abstract

Numerous agricultural sectors rely on chemical fertiliser to accelerate crop development, as demand continues to expand each year. Synthetic fertilisers may leak into groundwater, increasing its toxicity and resulting in water contamination. Alternatives such as washed rice water may be utilised to mitigate the environmental impact of chemicals. This research aims to assess the effects of washed rice water on the growth rate of Ipomoea aquatica. Three types of rice water were used in this study: washed white rice water, washed brown rice water, and washed sticky rice water. Two of the rice water served as the control and each was treated with distilled water and NPK fertiliser. Significant values were determined using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and post-hoc tests for multiple comparisons. Resultantly, washed white rice water demonstrated the most significant effect in increasing the growth of the plant height, length of root, number of leaves, circumference of the stem and suitability of soil pH. Alternative methods such as washed white rice water could be employed to reduce the cost of agricultural operations to protect the environment from further degradation.