The growth rate and chlorophyll content of water hyacinth under different type of water sources

Abstract

Agathis Lake is one of the six lakes around Universitas Indonesia, Depok. This lake is a water body whose water quality has been damaged due to pollution from domestic and industrial waste around Beji area, Depok. Water hyacinth ( Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms.) is a plant that has the ability to absorb contaminants in aquatic environment. This study was designed to determine the growth rate and chlorophyll content of water hyacinth under different type of water sources as growing media. These two physiological parameters are used to determine whether the contaminants contained in the Lake Agathis interfere the growth of water hyacinth. The research was conducted at the greenhouse of Departement of Biology, FMIPA, Universitas Indonesia for six days, after 1-week acclimatization by culturing water hyacinth in 30 L capacity plastic tanks. Sixteen plants of water hyacinth, each of approximately 28-31 g wet weight, were placed into four plastic tanks. Two tanks filled with 10 L tap water, and another two filled with 10 L lake water (Agathis Lake).The results showed that the Relative Growth Rate (RGR) of water hyacinth in the tap water was higher than the lake water. The chlorophyll content of water hyacinth cultured in the lake water was higher than the plant cultured in tap water.