A medium-sized plant produces approximately 5 milliliters of oxygen per hour.
Plant Oxygen Production Rate
Based on information from Keller (2017), plants generate oxygen as a byproduct of photosynthesis, a process driven by light. The rate of oxygen production varies depending on factors like the plant's size, type, health, and environmental conditions (light, temperature, CO2 levels).
For a medium-sized plant, a typical production rate is:
- Hourly Output: Approximately 5 milliliters of oxygen (Keller, 2017).
Extending this rate over a full day would suggest a potential output, though it's important to consider that production significantly decreases or stops at night.
- Daily Estimate (with caveat): Roughly 120 milliliters per day, although this figure doesn't account for the reduced production during nighttime hours as photosynthesis requires light.
While the oxygen produced by a single medium-sized plant is a small volume, the collective contribution of plants across forests, grasslands, and even urban green spaces is crucial for maintaining atmospheric oxygen levels.
