Aims: This study investigates water absorption capabilities in two plant species—Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) with a branched tap root system and Butterfly Pea (Clitoria ternatea) with a fibrous root system—to assess how root architecture influences water uptake.

Study Design: An experiment was set up with controlled conditions, as mentioned in the methodology, n = 3.

Duration of the Study: 72 Hours.

Methodology: Three plants of each species were placed in identical pots and submerged in jars containing 2.5 liters of water each, with water levels reaching half the height of the pots.

Understanding the efficiency of water uptake in different root systems is crucial for optimizing irrigation practices, especially in water-limited environments. The main hypothesis proposed was that the tap root system of Hibiscus would absorb water more efficiently than the fibrous root system of Butterfly Pea.

Results: After 72 hours, the water level in the Hibiscus jars was noticeably lower than that in the Butterfly Pea jars, indicating greater water uptake by the Hibiscus plants. These results were consistent across all three tests.

Conclusion: Under the given conditions, the branched tap root system of Hibiscus is more effective in water absorption than the fibrous root system of Butterfly Pea.