HYPOTHESIS RESEARCH

GREY/WHITE MANGROVES

Roots: peg-like roots (pneumatophores) that stick out of the ground

Leaves: oval, pointed with a pale and slightly hairy underside

Desalination: grey mangroves desalinate by having salt glands that excrete salt mostly on the underside of the leaf; to reduce rate of evaporation.

Black Mangroves

Roots: peg-like roots (pneumatophores) that stick out of the ground

Leaves: silvery green with a blunt tip

Desalination: black mangrove leaves form salt crystals on the surface.

hypothesis research | MANGROVE DESALINATION

Indonesia has the largest different types of mangrove species in the world and they are categorized as red, black and grey/white mangrove. Although all mangroves are able to desalinate water, these different types have different methods of excreting the excess salts.

Red Mangroves

Roots: above ground prop roots

Leaves: large and broad with a blunt tip

Desalination: red mangroves desalinate water by directing salt towards ‘sacrificial’ leaves which turn yellow

*The most common species in Indonesia is the red mangrove

hypothesis research | PRE-TESTING ON USING FRESH HUSKS FOR GROWTH

After doing plenty of research on the benefits of coconut husks as a nutrient source, I wanted to do some preliminary testings to decide whether I would like to move forward with this idea as well together with desalination. In the two weeks, the seed in tub with fresh husk added seemed to have grown slightly faster than the one without. Thus, I decided to add this as a secondary hypothesis for the project.