Analysis of the Gross Composition of Dracaena sp.

Ballesteros, L. Gamboa, D. Manalaysay, J. Matundan, C. Viray, G.

A plants chemical composition includes inorganic (absorbed) and organic (synthesized) compounds which are essential for its growth and development. Dracaena sp. herbaceous plant mostly composed of water

Thus, drying and combustion are important.

Drying- the removal of water from the tissues of the plant to: >hinder enzymatic reactions >to alleviate the plant material samples

Ashing- organic matter destruction to produce a completely decomposed organic matter.

Table1. Data on fresh weight, dry weight and ash weight of the plant organs.
Plant Organ Roots Fresh Weight (FW) 9.00 g Dry Weight (DW) 2.03 g Ash Weight (AW) 0.20 g

Stem

22.5 g

21.1 g

0.40 g

Leaves

36.0 g

8.50 g

0.70 g

Table 2. Calculated values on %water, %dry matter, %ash and %organic matter.
Plant Organ % Water % Dry matter % Ash % Organic matter

Roots
Stem Leaves

77.4%
6.22% 76.4%

22.6%
93.8% 23.6%

2.22%
1.78% 1.94%

20.3%
92.0% 21.7%

 The root system has the greatest decrease of weight followed by the leaf and the stem (Table 1). So what????

 The inorganic matter the mineral nutrients absorbed by the roots in the soil and are utilized in numerous biological functions (Taiz and Zeiger, 2006).

 In addition, it has been observed that the stem has the lowest % inorganic matter. WHY????
Leaves perform various biological reactions need for a relatively high concentration of inorganic compounds.

 Thats why, leaves have higher % inorganic matter compared to that of the stem which was observed in the experiment.

 Stem has the highest % organic matter. Because..

Balentine et.al. (2012). Herbaceous Plants and How They Grow. The Southern Highlands Reserve. Accessed September 05, 2012.http://www.southernhighlandsreserve.org/wpcontent/uploads/2012/08/Herbaceous-Plants-and-How-They-Grow.pdf Jenkins, et. al. (1998).Combustion properties of biomass.Elsevier.Accessed September 05, 2012.http://www.et.byu.edu/~tom/classes/733/ReadingMaterial/JenkinsBaxter.pdf McClements DJ. Analysis of Ash and Minerals. Accessed date: September 4, 2012. <http://people.umass.edu/~mcclemen/581Ash&Minerals.htl> Plank, O. C. (1992).Plant Analysis Reference Procedures for the Southern Region of the United States.Southern Cooperative Series Bulletin.The University of GeorgiaCrop& Soil Science Dept.Athens, GA. http://www.ncagr.gov/agronomi/pdffiles/sera368.pdf

Taiz, L. and Zeiger, E. (2006).Plant Physiology. 4th ed. Sunderland, MA: Sinauer Associates. pp. 2, 37-38, 56
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