Lab #1: Growth of Radish Plants With and Without Fertilizer

Purpose:

HYPOTHESIS:

The purpose of this lab experiment is to see and document the effects of two different types of fertilizer on radish seeds and how the presence, or lack thereof, fertilizer can affect the growth of the planted seeds.

DATA:

If the seed receives Jobe’s Organic Fertilizer, then it will grow faster than the seeds that received fish fertilizer or no fertilizer at all.

Jobe

Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 8 | FINAL DAY

Seed #1: 3cm | 5 cm | 5cm | 6 cm

Seed #2: n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a

Seed #3" n/a | n/a | .5 cm | 3 cm

Noname:

Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 8 |FINAL DAY

Seed #1: 4cm | 6 cm | 7cm | 9 cm

Seed #2: 5cm | 7cm | 8cm | 9.5 cm

Seed #3" 6cm | 7cm | 9cm | 9.5 cm

Neptune

Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 8 | FINAL DAY

Seed #1: n/a | n/a| 1.5cm | 7 cm

Seed #2: n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 cm

Seed #3" 8cm| 9.5cm | 10cm| 11.5 cm

Procedure:

ANALYSIS:

• First, the group labeled each seedling tray with the type of fertilizer that would be used in the trays.
• The first seedling tray was labeled “Noname”, due to its place as a control group.
• The second seedling tray was labeled “Jobe”, since Jobe’s Organic Fertilizer was to be used in it.
• The third and final seedling tray was labeled “Neptune” because Neptune’s Fish Oil Fertilizer was present.
• The group then filled each seedling tray (all seedling trays contained three separate sections) with 50 mL of store bought soil.
• In the second seedling tray, “Jobe”, an additional 0.25 mL of Jobe’s Organic Fertilizer was mixed with the store bought soil. All soil in all trays was then patted down.

All plants but one (seed #2 in Jobe seedling tray) grew throughout the two week time period in which the experiment was conducted. For plant number one (“Noname”) the average growth per plant was calculated as 9.3 cm. The average growth per plant for the second plant (“Jobe”) was 3 cm. The average growth per plant for the third plant (“Neptune”) was 6.5 cm. However, the calculated average for the second plant may be considered problematic since there was no growth documented at all for one of the seedlings. Because of this, this seed may be considered an outlier. The constant conditions of the experiment were the amount of water received by each seed in each tray compartment, the amount of fertilizer received by each plant (if fertilizer was required), the amount of sunlight received by each plant, the amount of soil used, the seeds used, and the type of containers used. The control group in this experiment was the seedling tray that received no fertilizer. The independent variable is the type of fertilizer used (when applicable). The dependent variable was the height of the plants.

Procedure continuation

• After this, one (1) tablespoon of water was added to each tray and their respective compartments and then a small pouch was dug. 0.25 mL of Neptune’s Fish Oil Fertilizer was added to the third seedling tray, “Neptune”.
• One seed per compartment (a total of three seeds per seedling tray) was then planted.
• Soil was then patted over each small pouch. One (1) tablespoon of water was then added to each seed tray compartment everyday for the next two weeks.
• Each day, the plants were measured for growth and whatever growth was seen was noted.
• At the two week mark, a ruler was taken and each plant was measured to determine and document which seedling grew the tallest.

What did we

learn?

In this experiment, the adverse effects of fertilizer were seen in the plants relative low growth rates. It is often assumed that fertilizer will always be beneficial to the growth of plants, but this experiment proves that this is not always the case. Different types of fertilizer reap different results, understandably so. Experimental design is absolutely vital to the study of AP Environmental Science. This is because experiments are the backbone of scientific discovery and knowledge. Without sound experimental design, the chances of inaccurate data being documented increases. Accurate data is extremely important to Environmental Science and its study.

Conclusion:

ERRORS

The effects of the fertilizer on the lab can be interpreted as negative. While the hypothesis theorized that the fertilizer would aid the plants in their growth, the actual data collected proved this wrong. The lack of fertilizer proved to be more beneficial to the overall health and growth of the plants.

As in all experiments, there were some errors. While conducting the experiment, the plants were not watered everyday. Upon further research, it was discovered that the plants were leaning towards the light. This is so they could absorb sunlight better and carry out photosynthesis. The plants also were shown to bend, something that could have affected their overall height. A white mold also began to form on top of the soil. When research was done, it was discovered that when organic fertilizers are used in plants it is very common for a white mold to grow on the top of the soil. The mold is actually a good reaction with the organic fertilizer and soil and when mixed in with the soil can improve the overall growth of the plant.

Overview:

• Lack of Watering
• Human Error
• Environmental Factors
• Measurements
• Accuracy

This experiment could have been improved in terms of accuracy. More recorded measurements would have shown a clearer growth process of the plants. Had the plants been watered more frequently, they also may have grown taller and given more fruitful results. The conversions could also have been improved and made to be more accurate. A misstep in the conversion process could have resulted in the lack of growth. Overall, the data collected in the experiment disproved the hypothesis. The plants the did not contain any sort of fertilizer proved to have the highest average growth per plant, thus proving the hypothesis incorrect.

Lab #1: Growth of Radish Plants With and Without Fertilizer

Jorvy Tejada

Kauribel Javier

Caty Segar