The Synergistic Effects of Fertilizer and Pesticide on Algae Dominic Augello Central Catholic HS Grade 9 First Year in PJAS

Pesticides Include any chemical, antibacterial, or biological agent used to kill or repel unwanted insects Potentially harmful to non-target species Long-term effects unclear Bonide

Past Studies with Pesticides Studies found that 25 million agricultural workers are affected by pesticide poisoning yearly. Studies found that about 98% of insecticides and about 95% of herbicides reach a non-target species.

Fertilizer Nutrients that aid plant growth Primary nutrients: Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium Potential to harm non-target species Miracle-Gro

Past Studies with Fertilizers Studies found that fertilizers account for about 40% of corn yields, 40% of wheat yields, and 57% of grain yields across America. Studies found that using fertilizer regularly on plants affect the rhizobia of a plant.

Chlamydomonas Species of algae Usually circular in shape with few flagella Can live in saltwater, freshwater, damp soil, and snowy environments Used as a model for many studies on molecular biology.

Rationale To determine the synergistic effects of fertilizer and pesticide on the growth of Chlamydomonas.

Hypotheses Null Hypothesis: The fertilizer and pesticide will not have a synergistic effect on Chlamy. growth. Alternate Hypothesis: The fertilizer and pesticide will have a synergistic effect on Chlamy. growth

Materials Chlamydomonas Miracle-Gro Fertilizer Bonide Pesticide Soil Water Spring Water Distilled Water Spectrophotometer Micropipettes Test tubes Tube rack Vortex Lamp Wax Paper

Procedure 1. Soil water was placed in a 50ml conical tube. 2. Filled 45 tubes with 2ml of Chlamydomonas and 1ml of soil water. 3. The tubes were then filled with the following concentrations. Each concentration had 5 replicates.

Solution Table 0 0% Pesticide L.01 % Pesticide H 1% Pesticide 0 0x Fertilizer 2 ml Spring Water 0 ml Pesticide 0 ml Fertilizer ml SW.005 ml Pesticide 0 ml Fertilizer 1.5 ml SW.5 ml Pesticide 0 ml Fertilizer L.01x Fertilizer ml SW 0 ml Pesticide.005 ml Fertilizer 1.99 ml SW.005 ml Pesticide.005 ml Fertilizer ml SW.5 ml Pesticide.005 ml Fertilizer H 1x Fertilizer 1.5 ml SW 0 ml Pesticide.5 ml Fertilizer ml SW.005 ml Pesticide.5 ml Fertilizer 1 ml SW.5 ml Pesticide.5 ml Fertilizer

Procedure (continued) 4. Tubes were inverted and the absorbances, at 430 nanometers, were recorded with a Carolina spectrophotometer. 5. Placed tubes 21 cm below a fluorescent light at 20 degrees Celsius. 6. Recorded absorbance of each tube every other day for 14 days.

Effects of Fertilizer on Chlamy. Day 6 P-value = E-05 Day 14 P-value = E-07

Effects of Pesticide on Chlamy. Day 6 P-value = E-05 Day 14 P-value =

Effects of Fertilizer and Pesticide on Chlamy. Day 6 P-value = E-10 Day 14 P-value = E-07

Pesticide Dunnett's Test ConcentrationsT-critT-valueSignificance Day 60.01% Not Significant 1% Significant Day 14.01% Not Significant 1% Significant

Fertilizer Dunnett's Test ConcentrationsT-critT-valueSignificance Day 6.01x Not Significant 1x Significant Day 14.01x Not Significant 1x Significant

Conclusion The alternate hypothesis was accepted for the synergistic effects of fertilizer and pesticide on algae. The null hypothesis was accepted for fertilizer and pesticide at low concentrations, but the null hypothesis was rejected for fertilizer and pesticide at high concentrations. Both fertilizer and pesticide appeared to have an effect on the algae when used in high concentrations.

Limitations and Extensions Limitations: Only one model was used Few concentrations were tested Algal health may have varied Extensions: Use more models in future experiments Use more concentrations of the variables Use multiple brands of fertilizers and pesticides Have more replicates

References atmosphere/ atmosphere/

Two-Factor ANOVA Day 6 Anova: Two-Factor With Replication SUMMARY Total 0x Count Sum Average Variance E x Count Sum Average Variance2.23E x Count Sum Average Variance E Total Count15 Sum Average Variance ANOVA Source of Variation SSdfMSFP-valueF crit Sample E Columns E Interacti on E Within Total

Two-Factor ANOVA Day 14 Anova: Two-Factor With Replication SUMMARY Total 0x Count55515 Sum Average Variance2.93E E x Count55515 Sum Average Variance x Count55515 Sum Average Variance E Total Count15 Sum Average Variance ANOVA Source of VariationSSdfMSFP-valueF crit Sample E Columns E Interaction E Within Total

Single Factor ANOVA Anova: Single FactorPesticideDay 6 SUMMARY GroupsCountSumAverageVariance Column Column Column E-05 ANOVA Source of VariationSSdfMSFP-valueF crit Between Groups E Within Groups E- 05 Total Anova: Single FactorFertilizerDay 6 SUMMARY GroupsCountSumAverageVariance Column Column E-05 Column ANOVA Source of VariationSSdfMSFP-valueF crit Between Groups E Within Groups Total

Single Factor ANOVA Anova: Single FactorPesticideDay 14 SUMMARY GroupsCountSumAverageVariance Column Column Column ANOVA Source of VariationSSdfMSFP-valueF crit Between Groups Within Groups Total Anova: Single FactorFertilizerDay 14 SUMMARY GroupsCountSumAverageVariance Column E-05 Column Column ANOVA Source of VariationSSdfMSFP-valueF crit Between Groups E Within Groups E-05 Total

Day 6 Results Average Absorbance P-value = 8.84E-10 Concentrations of Fertilizer Concentrations of Pesticide

Day 14 Results Average Absorbance P-value = 9E-07 Concentrations of Fertilizer Concentrations of Pesticide