Problem: Will Ph levels of growing material, if

changed, from low to high (acidic-basic),

have a positive or negative affect on the

germination of green bean seeds?

(Ph values: 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 14)

These were the beans

used in the experiment

I chose this project because the aspect of

changing pH levels in a plant’s growing material

really intrigued me

A second reason why I chose this topic was that I

like to help my parents garden and by finding the

optimum pH range for planting seeds I would be

able to help them a lot

By conducting this experiment I hoped to be able

to achieve information about what pH levels green

bean seeds would germinate well in and which

ones they do not

To make the best hypothesis, relationships

between pH and plants had to be done

Research about optimum ranges of pH for

planting trees and plants (6-7.5)

Research about how the pH of soil (planting

material) affects the germination of seeds

Info found about how to change pH of soil

(growing material) (using lime or baking

soda)

After looking through many articles

about pH and germination, the following

hypothesis was created

If green bean seeds are grown in a near

neutral pH level (6-7.5), then they will

germinate the best (length, measured in

centimeters).

Seeds germinating over

a period of time

Materials used to conduct this experiment were› Bean Sprout Seeds

› Water

› Ammonia

› Vinegar

› Small Pots

› Cotton balls

› pH strips

› Ruler

› Sunlight

› Baking Soda

› Lime Juice

› Tray

Ask Mrs. Zega to see if she has enough ph strips I could borrow, or I could buy them from online (Amazon)

Fill every small pot with 1 mashed cotton ball

Buy extra cotton balls (in case I run out)

Pour the ammonia/baking soda or lemon juice into the pots that need to start out more acidic, or more base

Make sure the calculation for the ph value in each pot is correct

Pour water into the pots with cotton balls which need a ph value of 7

Double check each pot with 1 ph strip to see if the ph levels are correct

If they are incorrect, retry in a separate dish until you find the correct ph value

Keep the ammonia or vinegar/lemon juice near (in case you need to add more in the pot)

Place 5 bean sprout seeds in every pot

Rotate the pots every 2 days to make sure the sunlight distribution will be equal

Check the height of all 5 sprouts in every pot every 4 days

Measure all of the lengths of germination for every seed (cm)

Make sure you keep the same piece of paper in a safe place(to mark down all heights organizationally)

Continue step 14 many times until all pots have been averaged and marked on paper

At length checking 2, repeat step numbers 13 and 14 again and mark it down on paper

Length checking 3, repeat step numbers 13 and 14 again and mark it down on paper (Use the same paper, or type it on the computer on a Microsoft Document)

Take all data and form a chart (if not yet formed from collecting data)

Double check the last length measurements and finish the chart containing the data

Picture before experiment was conducted (pots with

mashed cotton balls, no beans yet)

Picture of pH 7 green beans at 3 days

Picture of all pots and all pH at day 4

Picture during the experiment (7

days after planting green bean

seeds)

Data of germination kept on

Loose Leaf :D

Picture of pH 6, 7, 8, and 2 (at day 4)

Picture of pH 14 at day 12

pH values Day 4 Day 8 Day 12

2 0 0 0

3 0 0 0

6 2.2 3.5 6.1

7 1.6 3.5 6.1

8 0 0 0

14 0 0 0

Average of Germination length (cm) for all trials which green beans

grew under different pH values

Day/Trials Length(cm)4 (1) 04 (2) 04 (3) 08 (1) 08 (2) 08 (3) 0

12 (1) 012 (2) 012 (3) 0

pH 2 Average Germination length of beans that Grew

in all Trials

Day/Trials Length(cm)4 (1) 04 (2) 04 (3) 08 (1) 08 (2) 08 (3) 0

12 (1) 012 (2) 012 (3) 0

pH 3 Average Germination length of beans that

Grew in all Trials

Day/Trials Length(cm)4 (1) 1.54 (2) 3.04 (3) 2.28 (1) 3.88 (2) 4.08 (3) 2.7

12 (1) 5.812 (2) 6.912 (3) 5.6

pH 6 Average Germination length of beans that

Grew in all Trials

Day/Trials Length(cm)4 (1) 2.04 (2) 1.84 (3) 1.08 (1) 4.08 (2) 3.68 (3) 3.0

12 (1) 6.012 (2) 7.112 (3) 5.3

pH 7 Germination length of beans that Grew

in all trials

Day/Trials Length(cm)4 (1) 04 (2) 04 (3) 08 (1) 08 (2) 08 (3) 0

12 (1) 012 (2) 012 (3) 0

pH 8 Average Germination length of beans

that Grew in all Trials

Day/Trials Length(cm)4 (1) 04 (2) 04 (3) 08 (1) 08 (2) 08 (3) 0

12 (1) 012 (2) 012 (3) 0

pH 14 Average Germination length of beans

that Grew in all Trials

The hypothesis was proved correct

After conducting the experiment, the results showed that pH

levels near 6-7 were the best/only levels where green beans

seeds could germinate.

Overall, the most significant trend after analyzing the data

was the averages for all trials for pH six and seven because

the results were nearly the same and the pattern was obvious

It was found that the pH of six grew almost identically to the

pH seven

To improve this experiment, more controls, such as the same

minerals in all the pots, could have been added.(minerals in

tap water are different than minerals in Lime Juice)

. Many farmers need to do similar experiments or

research to find out what the optimum range of pH

is for their crops

This experiments conclusion will most likely benefit

farmers and people engaged in agricultural

experimentations.

After conducting this experiment, many new

questions about this topic will arise.

› what amount of sunlight is best for plants

› what temperatures will most suit seed germination.

› What pH of fertilizer should be use to get the best results