Will nitrates, calcium, and potassium improve health of plants grown in soil contaminated with copper sulfate?

Andrew PhamBiology II period 4

Background Research

• Copper sulfate is commonly used as an herbicide for killing plant roots Copper sulfate is commonly used as an herbicide for killing plant roots that are too close to pipe lines and for killing off algae in aquatic tanks; that are too close to pipe lines and for killing off algae in aquatic tanks; thus, copper sulfate is toxic to plant life.thus, copper sulfate is toxic to plant life.

• Potassium is detailed to be a major factor in the longevity and Potassium is detailed to be a major factor in the longevity and persistence of a plant. Potassium also stimulates plant growth, increases persistence of a plant. Potassium also stimulates plant growth, increases protein production, improves resistance to disease, and many other protein production, improves resistance to disease, and many other beneficial things.beneficial things.

• Phytoremediation is the “use of plants to absorb pollutants from air, Phytoremediation is the “use of plants to absorb pollutants from air, water, and soil” (Adler, 1996)water, and soil” (Adler, 1996)

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/copper-sulfate-uses.htmlhttp://www.eldoradochemical.com/fertiliz1.htmhttp://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1200/is_n3_v150/ai_18518620/?tag=content;col1

Introduction and BackgroundPlants require many nutrients to grow healthy and

properly. Among all the nutrients that plants crave for, nitrates, calcium, and potassium are among the most important. Copper sulfate is commonly used as an herbicide for killing plant roots that are too close to pipe lines and for killing off algae in aquatic tanks; thus, copper sulfate is toxic to plant life. The purpose of this experiment is to determine if nitrates, calcium, or potassium will improve the health of plants grown in soil contaminated with copper sulfate. I predict that if potassium is added to the soil, then the plants will have a better chance of surviving in the toxic soil because potassium is shown to have significant beneficial properties to plants. This experiment is important because the information gained may help to determine the kinds of nutrients plants may need if they are grown in toxic soils.

Experimental Design Experimental Design DiagramDiagram

Hypothesis: The experimenter hypothesized, if potassium is added to the soil, then the plants will have a better chance of surviving in the toxic soil.

Independent Variable: The different treatments of nutrients applied to the soil contaminated with copper sulfate.

Levels of IV Control Nitrates Calcium Potassium

Trials 5 cups with 5 kidney beans in each

5 cups with 5 kidney beans in each

5 cups with 5 kidney beans in each

5 cups with 5 kidney beans in each

Dependent Variable:The number of kidney beans with cracked seed coating

Controlled Variables (constants): Cups, Amount of water, Amount of beans in each cup, Sunlight, Soil contaminated with copper sulfate, and Time

Materials and Equipment

Procedures:• 1. Boil 800 mL of water• 2. Saturate the water with copper sulfate• 3. Dump bag of potting mix into a large tub and mix in the

copper sulfate solution• 4. Prepare the nutrients for addition to the soil by crushing

calcium pills• 5. fill each cup half way with the potting soil and copper

sulfate mixture• 6. To 5 cups add a half tablespoon of Miracle-Gro plant

food, mix, then label the cups as nitrogen• 7. To 5 cups add a half tablespoon of crushed calcium pills

and label cups as calcium• 8. To 5 cups add a half tablespoon of Muriate of Potash

and label cups as potassium• 9. Plant 5 red kidney beans in each cup.• 10. Water all cups every four days for about a month.• 11. Record any growth observed with each watering. • 12. If no growth is observed by the end of the experiment,

cup by cup remove the soil• 13. Find the seeds to examine if anything has changed with

the seed and record data.

red kidney beans calcium pillsculpric sulfate (copper sulfate) Miracle-Gro plant food large spoon water Miracle-Gro potting mixMuriate of Potash clear cups portable stove graduated cylinder beakerslarge tubmeasuring spoons

Data Table Will nitrates, calcium, and potassium improve health of plants grown in soil

contaminated with copper sulfate?

DV: The number of kidney beans with cracked seed coating

IV: Nutrients

Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Trial 5 Mean/Ave

Control 0 0 0 0 0 0

Nitrates 0 0 0 0 0 0

Calcium 3 3 2 0 1 2 (rounded to nearest whole seed)

Potassium 0 0 0 0 0 0

Data Analysis

Data Analysis: Based on the data collected, the treatment most effective at helping the red kidney beans break its seed coat was the Calcium. The others seemed to do nothing.

Materials used in experimentMaterials used in experimentPictures taken by Student

The 4 different treatment groupsThe 4 different treatment groups

Pictures taken by student

In all of the trials only a single kidney bean succeeded in producing a In all of the trials only a single kidney bean succeeded in producing a sprout. This sprout was observed in a cup treated with calcium.sprout. This sprout was observed in a cup treated with calcium.

Pictures taken by student

The beans were unchanged in The beans were unchanged in every trial/treatment excluding every trial/treatment excluding the ones treated with Calcium. the ones treated with Calcium. On a few beans a grey/blue On a few beans a grey/blue covering was observed.covering was observed.

Pictures taken by student

ConclusionConclusionThe purpose of this investigation is to determine if nitrates, calcium, The purpose of this investigation is to determine if nitrates, calcium,

or potassium will improve the health of plants grown in soil contaminated or potassium will improve the health of plants grown in soil contaminated with copper sulfate. The results were that none of the beans, but one, grew. with copper sulfate. The results were that none of the beans, but one, grew. A few only broke through its seed coating and stopped there. The mean was A few only broke through its seed coating and stopped there. The mean was taken for the amount of beans with a cracked seed coating. The mean for the taken for the amount of beans with a cracked seed coating. The mean for the control group was zero. The mean for the group treated with potassium was control group was zero. The mean for the group treated with potassium was zero. The mean for the group treated with nitrogen was zero. The mean for zero. The mean for the group treated with nitrogen was zero. The mean for the group treated with calcium was 2. The instrumental error on the the group treated with calcium was 2. The instrumental error on the measuring spoons used to measure out ½ tablespoons (15 mL) was ± .5 mL. measuring spoons used to measure out ½ tablespoons (15 mL) was ± .5 mL.

The data did not support the experimenter’s hypothesis which was if The data did not support the experimenter’s hypothesis which was if potassium is added to the soil, then the plants will have a better chance of potassium is added to the soil, then the plants will have a better chance of surviving in the toxic soil. The outcome may have been what it was because surviving in the toxic soil. The outcome may have been what it was because calcium is utilized by the plant for continuous cell division and formation, calcium is utilized by the plant for continuous cell division and formation, which is something essential in plant growth. The limits of this experiment which is something essential in plant growth. The limits of this experiment was that only three different nutrients were tested and all at the same was that only three different nutrients were tested and all at the same levels. A systematic error may have occurred if the copper sulfate was not levels. A systematic error may have occurred if the copper sulfate was not evenly mixed throughout the soil used. Further experimentation can be done evenly mixed throughout the soil used. Further experimentation can be done to see if different levels of calcium will have a better affect on the growth of to see if different levels of calcium will have a better affect on the growth of red kidney beans in toxic soil. You could improve this collection of data and red kidney beans in toxic soil. You could improve this collection of data and be more confident in its results if more trials were done with less amounts of be more confident in its results if more trials were done with less amounts of copper sulfate. This study can be deepened by using different types of copper sulfate. This study can be deepened by using different types of plants on real environments with polluted soil. Further research can be done plants on real environments with polluted soil. Further research can be done on the uses of different types of plants in cleaning its environment.on the uses of different types of plants in cleaning its environment.

Works CitedWorks Cited

1.Adler, Tina. "Botanical Cleanup Crews: Using Plants to Tackle Polluted Water

1.Adler, Tina. "Botanical Cleanup Crews: Using Plants to Tackle Polluted Water

and Soil – and Soil – Phytoremediation | Science News | Find Articles at BNET."

Phytoremediation | Science News | Find Articles at BNET." The CBS The CBS

Interactive Business NetworkInteractive Business Network. BNET, 20 July 1996. Web. 12 Oct. 2010.

. BNET, 20 July 1996. Web. 12 Oct. 2010. <http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1200/is_n3_v150/ai_18518620/?

<http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1200/is_n3_v150/ai_18518620/?

tag=content;col1tag=content;col1>.>.

2.Galbreath-O'Leary, Braden. "A Call to Ban Copper Sulfate (an Algaecide) For

2.Galbreath-O'Leary, Braden. "A Call to Ban Copper Sulfate (an Algaecide) For

Use in America's Waters." Use in America's Waters." Ezine ArticlesEzine Articles. Ezine Articles, 19 May 2009. Web.

. Ezine Articles, 19 May 2009. Web.

13 Oct. 2010. 13 Oct. 2010. <http://ezinearticles.com/?A-Call-to-Ban-Copper-Sulfate-(an-Algaecide)-For-

<http://ezinearticles.com/?A-Call-to-Ban-Copper-Sulfate-(an-Algaecide)-For-

Use-in-Use-in-Americas-Waters&id=2367590>.Americas-Waters&id=2367590>.

3.Rehm, George, and Michael Schmitt. "Potassium for Crop Production."

3.Rehm, George, and Michael Schmitt. "Potassium for Crop Production."

University of Minnesota University of Minnesota ExtensionExtension. University of Minnesota, 1997. Web. 13 Oct. 2010.

. University of Minnesota, 1997. Web. 13 Oct. 2010. <http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/cropsystems/dc6794.html>.

<http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/cropsystems/dc6794.html>.