Nagpur: Environmentalist Shripad Vaidya has entered in this year’s Limca Book of Records for his eco-innovation ‘Rooter Pot’. His environment friendly work is mentioned in Nature chapter of Limca Book on page 243. The specialty of this innovation is that of its simplicity, inexpensive and replicable qualities. It also suggests the use of empty plastic bottles which are becoming a nuisance now a day. Hence this innovation is useful to the society at large.
Generally in homes the plants are grown in pots / kundi. Many people have a hobby to grow plants but it does not become possible for them to regularly give water to these plants. Many plants die due to unavailability of regular water supply. Many times complete family has to go out of station for a few days and the fear always remain whether the plants will survive or not? Every time we put a lot of water to our home plants and this water flow away or evaporates in this way lot of water gets wasted every day. If we calculate number of plant pots/kundi in every home and number of homes and multiply the water wasted in every kundi /pot then we can imagine the total loss of water per day in liters. This innovation can also become useful to plants which we grow directly on the ground. This method can become useful in summer season when water supply is limited.
Hence Shripad Vaidya found out the simple solution to improve this situation. This simple procedure is as follows though small changes according to requirements can be made in it. Now take an empty plastic bottle (empty water bottle etc.) approximately equal to the height of the plant pot / kundi. Make small holes on the upper side of the bottle in such a way that when we fill the bottle with water then more than half of water bottle should remain filled with water. If we again fill more water then this additional water will come out of the bottle from these small holes which are made on the sides of the bottle. Keep this bottle standing in the plant pot / kundi and then plant the tree in the pot adjacent to bottle. Fill all the remaining space by soil in such a way that only mouth of the bottle should remain on the surface and we should be able to cover the mouth by closing the lid / cap of the bottle.
During watering the plant, every time water should be poured in the bottle (water should not be poured directly in pot) and excess water will flow out through the holes and percolate through the soil. In this way roots will identify the source of water and will grow around the water bottle. Some roots may enter in the bottle through small holes and will consume water as per their requirements hence water wastage can be avoided. The lid/cap of the bottle should be closed after pouring water in the bottle so as to stop evaporation of water. In case of irregular water supply to the plants the stored water in the bottom side of the bottle will continue the micro supply of water to the roots of the plant hence plant will not die. If the tree is planted in the ground then remaining roots of the plant are free to search another water source i.e. ground water table etc. In this way this Rooter Pot method is useful not only to save tree but also to save water. In the attached picture we can see the cracks developed in the soil of the pot due to lack of water but the plant is ever green and healthy because of the use of Rooter Pot method.
This Rooter Pot method is also useful for primary school children to learn basic science regarding plant growth by doing practical.
Shripad Vaidya is the pioneer record setter in the field of Environmental Human Development. He has multiple national and world records under his belt. International Publishing House has already taken his note as, “The Eco-champion”.
