a rather well made presentation by patrick reilly
TRANSCRIPT
A rather well made presentation by Patrick Reilly
The Effect of Fertilizers on Plant Growth
Why did I choose this Experiment?
• This experiment served a practical purpose for myMom, a gardener• I had very good tools for this experiment• Who doesn’t love basil?
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
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 Ocimum Bascilicum. It is a plant commonly found in Mediterranean. Has many different types like lemon basil. Grows very fast. Ideal for this experiment.
Final Design Diagram:
TITLE: The Effect of fertilizers on plant growthHYPOTHESIS: If plants are Grown with compost, then they will grow taller than plants grown with commercial fertilizer.IV: Fertilizer typeLEVELS Compost Commercial Fertilizer ( 50% Soil 50% Miracle-Gro)
Unfertilized soilTRIALS 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.
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 above4) 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
ResultsCommercialFertilizer
Final Results
Taken onJanuary 1
2011 Each cell represents
One Plant The average
Plant was
6.533 cm tall
9.5 cm 6 cm 8 cm 2.5 cm 7 cm 5 cm 10 cm 3 cm DEAD 11 cm
8 cm 7.5 cm DEAD 4 cm 9.5 cm 2 cm 7 cm 6.5 cm 5 cm 7.5 cm
8 cm 7 cm 7 cm 4 cm DEAD 10 cm 10 cm 11 cm 9 cm 11 cm
Compost Final Results
Taken onJanuary 1
2011 Each cell represents
One Plant The average
Plant was
5.55 cm tall
9 cm 6 cm 5.5 cm 7 cm 5 cm 8 cm 7 cm 7 cm DEAD 7 CM
7 cm 6 cm 8 cm 6 cm 5 cm 7 cm DEAD 8 cm 6 cm DEAD
DEAD 8 cm 7 cm 8 cm DEAD 9 cm 4 cm DEAD 7 cm 9 cm
Control Final Results
Taken onJanuary 1
2011 Each cell represents
One Plant The average
Plant was
1.3667 cm tall
DEAD 2 cm 2 cm 1.5cm DEAD DEAD 2.5cm 2cm DEAD 2 cm
2 cm DEAD 3cm DEAD 1cm 1cm DEAD 3cm DEAD 1cm
2.5cm 2cm DEAD 3.5cm 2cm DEAD 1.5cm 2cm 3.5cm 1cm
Commecial Fert.
Compost Control0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
charts
Height
ANOVA test proves Null Hypothesis right =(
Anova: Commercial v. Compost
SUMMARY
Groups Count Sum Average Variance
commercial 30 196 6.533333 11.17126
compost 30 166.5 5.55 9.350862
ANOVA
Source of Variation SS df MS F P-value F crit
Between Groups 14.50417 1 14.50417 1.413515 0.239319 4.006873
Within Groups 595.1417 58 10.26106
Total 609.6458 59
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.
Anova: Single Factor
SUMMARYGroups Count Sum Average Variance
compost 30 166.5 5.55 9.350862
dirt 30 41 1.366667 1.36092
ANOVASource of Variation SS df MS F P-value F crit
Between Groups 262.5042 1 262.5042 49.01223 2.92E-09 4.006873
Within Groups 310.6417 58 5.355891
Total 573.1458 59
Anova: Single Factor
SUMMARY
Groups Count Sum Average Variance
dirt 30 411.36666
7 1.36092
commercial 30 1966.53333
311.1712
6
ANOVA
Source of Variation SS df MS F P-value F crit
Between Groups
400.4167 1
400.4167
63.90214 6.27E-11
4.006873
Within Groups
363.4333 58
6.266092
Total 763.85 59
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)
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
Thank You for Your Time!I have a funny hat