The Effect of Fertilizers on Plant Growth

1. The Effect of Fertilizers on Plant Growth A rather well made presentation by Patrick Reilly

2. Why did I choose this Experiment? This experiment served a practical purpose for my Mom, a gardener I had very good tools for this experiment Who doesn’t love basil?

3. Problem And Hypothesis Which type of fertilizer should my mom use? Compost, or Commercial fertilizer? If plants are grown with compost, then they will grow taller than plants grown with commercial fertilizer

4. Basic vocab and Concepts Fertilizer: A special type of soil enriched in nutrients. Can be natural or artificial Nitrogen: A main need for plants, nitrogen deposits make enriched soils. Compost: A way of recycling natural vegetable fruit, and plant waste. Simply put say banana peel in compost pile, and the decomposition adds nitrogen to the pile making it a good fertilizer Basil: Scientific Name is OcimumBascilicum. It is a plant commonly found in Mediterranean. Has many different types like lemon basil. Grows very fast. Ideal for this experiment.

5. Final Design Diagram: TITLE: The Effect of fertilizers on plant growth HYPOTHESIS: If plants are Grown with compost, then they will grow taller than plants grown with commercial fertilizer. IV: Fertilizer type LEVELS Compost Commercial Fertilizer ( 50% Soil 50% Miracle-Gro) Unfertilized soil TRIALS thirty basil plants thirty basil plants thirty basil plants DV: Plant growth ( height, in cm) CONSTANTS: Amount and intensity of light, amount and temperature of water, temperature and humidity of air, and amount of soil/fertilizer.

6. Procedure: 1) Fill ALL rows in 3x10 planters with compost in one planter, the commercial fertilizer and soil mixture and in another, and plain soil in yet another different planter. 2) Plant one seed per cubicle 60 mm deep. 3) Turn on 120 volt 40 watt sunlamps (will be hanging over plants about 1/3 Meter above 4) Before germination, spray a fine mist over seeds to keep evenly daily. When germinated, give 15-20mL water to each plant every other day. Once basil has grown 2.5cm, Water from the bottom of the planter once every three days or until all water is gone 5) Once germinated (5-10 days after planting), measure height in cm once every other week on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 3:30PM. 6)Record results

7. Results

9. ANOVA test proves Null Hypothesis right =(

10. I WASN’T RIGHT =( In the end, my null hypothesis was proved right instead of my hypothesis. This is because my results were not significant enough to prove a difference between compost and fertilizer. I did end up proving what should have been my hypothesis in the first place: If plants are grown with fertilizer, then they will grow taller than plants without fertilizer. My ANOVA tests completely supported that hypothesis.

11. What Went Wrong: Errors and likewise stuff • Sunburn on Plants? • Sunlight lamps do not simulate real sunlight; sunlight isn’t 24/7 • Mold in CF • Other plants growing in compost and control • Mistakes in measuring, watering, temperature, humidity, etc.(AKA Human error)

12. Extensions The Effect of Fertilizers on Plant Weight The Effect of Fertilizers on Root Depth In Plants The Effect of Fertilizers on Plant Water Absorption

13. Thank You for Your Time! I have a funny hat