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