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The Effects of Soil Compaction on Radish Growth. I.E., T.G., D.H., M.M., and Janice Wing Project from STEM Earth Central. Plant Growth Basics. Required conditions Water Nutrients Soil medium Sunlight Temperature Role of pore space in soil. Compaction. Modeling human impact on land
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The Effects of Soil Compaction on Radish Growth I.E., T.G., D.H., M.M., and Janice Wing Project from STEM Earth Central
Plant Growth Basics • Required conditions • Water • Nutrients • Soil medium • Sunlight • Temperature • Role of pore space in soil
Compaction • Modeling human impact on land • Vehicles on land • Hiking trails • Impact on plant growth
Experiment Hypothesis “Highly compacted soil will hinder plant germination and slow early growth.”
Our Experiment • 4 soil types • 3 degrees of soil compaction • Controlled environmental conditions • Water • Sunlight • Soil volume • Number of seeds • Depth and spacing of seeds
Experiment Methods Watering Heavy Compaction “Tap-Down” Compaction
Levels of Compaction Note Standing Water
Measurements • Percent germination • Growth rate (height)
Considerations • Standing water • Original soil moisture • Soil particle size and pore size • Different soil types
Conclusions • Soil compaction reduces percent germination • Heavy compaction reduces growth rate
Future Questions • Is limited growth due to… • Small pore size? • Limited water percolation? • Increased pressure? • Anoxia?
New Skills Learned • Manipulating photographs in Adobe Photoshop Elements • Filter Artistic Paint Daubs • Image Transform Distort • Composited Layers (to hide leaves) • Animated 3 images in PowerPoint Result = Growing Radish • Hyperlink
The Effects of Soil Compaction on Radish Growth Grows on Mouse Click. Third picture appears on delay. I.E., T.G., D.H., M.M., and Janice Wing Project from STEM Earth Central Hyperlink
New Skills Learned • Picture as background • Composited Layers Result = Original background No price tag
Our Experiment Distracting numbers in the background Distracting numbers in the background GONE! • 4 soil types • 3 degrees of soil compaction • Controlled environmental conditions • Water • Sunlight • Soil volume • Number of seeds • Depth and spacing of seeds
New Skills Learned • Use of slide master Result = Easier slide manipulation Greater consistency Custom Radish • Insert movie Result seen later…
The End Let’s Celebrate!