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An Investigation Into the Rate of Photosynthesis and Carbon Dioxide Sequestration, as an

Inference of Temperature Variation, of Common Plants

Charli L. Broadhurst

St Josephs College

Earth and Environmental Science

Mrs Nugent

21/06/2023
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Introduction

Boston University Geographer, Wolfgang Buermann states “Plant growth can have a

considerable effect on the climate” (NASA Observatory & Przyborski, 2002). The phenomenon

of photosynthesis is the process in which a plant takes carbon dioxide (CO₂) and water (H₂O)

from both the atmosphere and the soil, using its cell wall to oxidise the carbon dioxide, releasing

oxygen and producing glucose for energy, allowing plants, trees, grasses and any

photosynthesising organisms to reduce the ratio of carbon dioxide to oxygen within the

atmosphere (National Geographic Society, 2022). Plants specifically absorb approximately 30%

of global anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions per year (Cho, 2022), therefore, in an

industrialised and globalised world that sees extreme effects due to enormous emissions of

carbon dioxide, at 36.8 billion tonnes in 2022 (International Energy Agency, 2023), natural ways

of offsetting carbon dioxide are significant for the wellbeing of all living organisms. As one of

the most abundant greenhouse gases, second to water vapour (US EPA, 2016), carbon dioxide

plays a primary role in rising global temperatures and the exponentially advancing greenhouse

effect, due to its ability to trap infrared radiation. This causes seemingly ‘never-ending’ effects

such as rising sea levels, habitat destruction, melting land and sea ice, extreme weather events

and patterns etc.

Thus, flora has been seen to be one of the most effective ways to offset carbon emissions. Whilst

large forests are the most significant ‘carbon sinks’ (Bastin et al., 2019), grasses and plants have

also been proven to effectively offset ample carbon emissions. Plant roots can synthesize over

200 types of carbon compounds (Kumar et al., 2006), and the rate of photosynthesis and growth

correlates to the rate of carbon dioxide absorption.

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Hence, this study aims to record the differing rates of carbon sequestration from common plants,

to more accurately determine how effective plants are in offsetting both global and local carbon

emissions. Foremost, Bamboo (specifically Dracaena sanderiana) has been seen to be one of the

most effective plants in absorbing carbon dioxide, absorbing 5 times more carbon than the

average pine tree (Schroder, 2023), due to its rapid growth. Additionally, a common household

plant, and abundant in South African jungles, Calathea, has been found to sequester 14.4% of

surrounding carbon dioxide, whilst Epipremnum (also known as ‘devil’s ivy’), is native to French

Polynesia and is similarly popular as a household plant, has proven to be the most efficient

household plant for carbon sequestration (Plitsiri & Taemthong, 2022) at 2.9 ppm per 80-minute

span (Taemthong, 2021).

To measure the different ratios of carbon sequestration of these plants, they will be potted into

1000mL glass containers containing a thermometer. Measuring the temperatures of each jar

correlates to the levels of carbon dioxide, as theoretically, higher levels of carbon dioxide would

trap higher levels of electromagnetic radiation or heat energy. Through this experiment, the most

effective of the three plants, in terms of lowering surrounding temperatures, will be determined,

contributing to research into the ability of common and abundant plants to offset global carbon

emissions on a larger, macro, scale.

Aim

To investigate and record the different rates at which common plants sequester carbon dioxide as

indicated by temperature.
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Hypothesis

Bamboo will exhibit the greatest impact on temperature reduction, followed by Calathea, and

finally, Epipremnum, demonstrating the least effect on temperature decrease among the three

plant varieties.

Material List

● Three 1000ml/1L glass jars with sealable lids

● 900 grams of potting soil

● 3 Epipremnum plants

● 3 Bamboo plants

● 3 Calathea plants

● 9 Thermometers

● 2 sheets of 30 x 15 cm styrofoam

● Exacto-knife or scissors

● Tape

Risk Assessment

Risk Prevention

Skin exposure to bacteria and contamination Use gloves when handling plants and potting
of potting soil soil

Glass breaking from high temperatures Keep the experiment out of direct sunlight
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Method

1. Place 4 cm of potting soil in each of the 9, 1000mL jars.

2. Create a small hole in the soil of each jar.

3. Place a plant in each jar, adding 2 cm of potting soil on top to stabilise the plant.

4. Mark each jar according to the plant type.

5. Trace the lid of each jar onto the styrofoam sheet

6. Cut each circle out

7. Secure styrofoam to the top of each jar, completely sealing the jar using tape.

8. Puncture each styrofoam ‘lid’ with the tip of the thermometer, leaving thermometers

suspended in the jar.

9. Leave all 9 jars in a cool dry place, out of direct sunlight (as per care recommendations

for each plant).

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Figure 1; Experiment Demonstration

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Results & Analysis

Results Table

Temperature
(°C)

Plant Type Starting Day 1 Day 2 Day 3

Temperature

Calathea 1 24.5 23 21.5 21

Calathea 2 24.5 25 24.5 23.5

Calathea 3 24.5 22 22 21

Calathea average 24.5 23.333˙ 22.666˙ 21.833˙

Bamboo 1 24.5 22 21 21

Bamboo 2 24.5 21 19 19

Bamboo 3 24.5 23 22 22

Bamboo average 24.5 22 20.666˙ 20.666˙

Epipremnum 1 24.5 24 22 22

Epipremnum 2 24.5 23 23 22

Epipremnum 3 24.5 25 22 22

Epipremnum 24.5 24 22.333˙ 22

average
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Discussion

This experiment demonstrated that bamboo had the highest rate of photosynthesis and carbon

sequestration, as inferred by a drop in temperature, at an overall average decrease over the

three-day period of 3.833˙°C, and an average decrease of 1.277 per day. However, Calathea and

Epipremnum had extremely similar results, with Calathea having only a 0.166˙°C overall

temperature drop difference (at 2.666˙°C) from Epipremnum (at 2.5°C). Consequently,

Epipremnum and Calathea had almost identical daily average temperature decreases at only

0.0548°C apart, with Epipremnum at 0.8332°C and Calathea at 0.888°C. Hence, it can be

deduced that Bamboo more efficiently sequesters carbon and in turn, lowers surrounding

temperatures, compared to Calathea and Epripremnum, which make immediate, observable

changes to the surrounding temperature, however, not at the rate of Bamboo.

Therefore, this information, as applied to climate change, highlights the role and impact of

carbon sequestration by plants, and how this affects temperature, and in turn, global warming.

Bamboo’s performance, (as inferred through temperature variation) as the most effective plant

for carbon sequestration in the experiment, aligns with external studies into natural ways for

carbon sequestration as highlighted by Zhaoliang Song, Hongyan Liu, Beilei Li, Xiaomin Yang,

in a 2013 study The production of phytolith-occluded carbon in China's forests: implications to

biogeochemical carbon sequestration (Song et al., 2013), that highlights the superior ability of

carbon sequestration of Bamboo rich forests in China, and hence, highlighting the validity of the

experiment. However, this study applied to the use of carbon-dioxide probes in order to

accurately test carbon sequestration, in which their finding that Bamboo forests sequestered
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carbon at 80 times that of other forest types, substantiates the results of this experiment, in which

the bamboo lowered temperatures by 48.47% more than the average of Calathea and

Epipremnum.

Likewise, the rate of carbon sequestration, as indicated by temperature, of Epipremnum and

Calthea was also effective, as shown through its ability to make an observable difference to

temperature, exhibiting validity as performance mirrored previous studies (as referenced on page

3).

Additionally, reliability may have been limited as the controlled 6cm of soil for each plant was

measured in length, however, weighing the soil would have been more accurate. With three trials

ensuring a level of reliability, it could have been heightened through an extension of the length of

the experiment, to show a longer-term effect that these plants have on their surrounding

atmosphere. Nonetheless, this experiment is able to be replicated, exhibiting a level of reliability.

This is seen through the standardised materials and tools, including jars of the same size and

shape, consistent amount of potting soil and the same type of plants, ensuring that the experiment

can be replicated with minimal variation. Furthermore, keeping the jars in a cool dry place and

out of direct sunlight, as per care recommendations for each plant, adds further reliability to the

methodology, as it provides a controlled environment, minimising the external influences that

may have an effect on the results. Accuracy could have also been heightened through the use of

an oxygen probe or carbon dioxide probe to ensure that these temperature changes were due to

differing levels of carbon sequestration and photosynthesis, however, this issue was mitigated, to

an extent, through the controlled variables, such as all plants being in the same area, all

containers have the same volume and glass thickness, and all plants starting with an identical

temperature. Nonetheless, the use of temperature alone does not produce reliable data, in terms
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of carbon sequestration, by itself. Hence, the data provided through this experiment is employed

reliably and accurately when used in tandem with other information, such as that provided by

The production of phytolith-occluded carbon in China's forests: implications to biogeochemical

carbon sequestration (Song et al., 2013). Ultimately, the hypothesis could, in future, be modified

to ensure measurements of the rates of carbon sequestration and photosynthesis themselves

through the use of a carbon or oxygen probe.

Conclusion

This experiment concludes that Bamboo has the highest levels of carbon sequestration, as

indicated by temperature changes, with an overall average decrease in temperature of 3.833˙°C.

Calathea had the second highest levels at an overall average temperature decrease in temperature

of 2.666˙°C and Epipremnum had extremely similar, but the lowest, average temperature

decrease of 2.5°C. Therefore, the hypothesis was proven to be correct. The aim of this

experiment was also achieved as the rate at which plants sequester carbon, and its effect on

temperature was recorded, however, it could be more accurately achieved through the use of an

oxygen or carbon dioxide probe.

References

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Crowther, T. W. (2019). The global tree restoration potential. Science, 365(6448), 76–79.

https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aax0848
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Cho, R. (2022, January 27). How Climate Change Will Affect Plants. State of the Planet.

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Schroder, S. (2023). Bamboo is a Highly Effective Carbon Sink. Guadua Bamboo.

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