MARIGOLDS

MOORE 7.22 PLANT SCIENCE

QUESTION

The question of this experiment was Does over fertilizing plants harm them?

ABSTRACT
This projects purpose was to find out whether or not over-fertilizing plants harms
them. The variables that are in the project are sunlight, water, marigolds, food
coloring, and fertilizer. The controlled variables are the sun, water, food coloring, and
type of plant. The independent variable is how much fertilizer is used. The dependent
variable is how healthy the plant is based on color and amount of leaves, and height.
First I grew my plants, and then began fertilizing them, and the when I attempted to
grow them, they died. The second time I grew my plants, I had to start them before
fertilizing, and this didnt happen in time to actually get accurate results.

HYPOTHESIS

If one over-fertilizes plants, then they will not be as healthy because the plants roots
cannot support the weight of the plant.

MATERIALS
1. Sixty (60) marigold seeds
2. Potting soil (one large bag)
3. Fertilizer (one large bottle (liquid fertilizer, I didnt previously know this existed)
4. Water
6. Ruler
7. Window
8. Container for seeds with 60 compartments

PROCEDURE

1. I will first put cup of potting soil in each container for the seeds.
2. Next I will either add no fertilizer, cup, or cup of fertilizer.
3. I will add one seed in each container, and then water with cup of water per
seed.
4. I will measure and record the seedlings every Wednesday when I get home
from school.
5. Record findings in data notebook.

EXPERIMENTAL PICTURES
This was after the first
(failed) experiment,
and there werent any
definite results.

EXPERIMENTAL PICTURES
There might not have been any definite results, but in the control
group, there were more sprouts with actual leaves than in the other
two groups.

Test Group One

(No Fertilizer)

Control Group
(Normal Amount
of Fertilizer)

Test Group Two

(Double The
Amount of

RESULTS

When I attempted to do my the project first time, none of the plants sprouted.
The second time, after I let them germinate (and fertilized them), they sprouted, but
there were no results in time.

CONCLUSION

I believe that none of my plants sprouted the first time because when I planted them,
I gave them too much water. Also I think they didnt sprout because I didnt give them
a chance to germinate before I started fertilizing them, which was too much for the
seeds to try to grow through. So, when I started the experiment the second time I let
the seeds grow for about two and a half weeks before fertilizing them. I just started
fertilizing them about four or five days ago, so there are no definite results.

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