Title Name Date

Problem Statement

Hypothesis I predict the seedlings in temperatures above 72° F will grow faster than the seedlings below temperatures of 72° F.

Procedures Label the plastic bags with your name, date, and the treatment it will receive, (there should be two controls and two treatments). Gather two paper towels and cut them in half. Fold the four halves four times and place them in the bag. Using the measuring spoon, place 20ml of water onto the paper towels. Allow the paper towels to soak up the water. 4. Place 10 seeds onto each paper towel and place them in the locations you have chosen to conduct the experiment.  

Procedures Continued 5. The controls will go in one location and the treatments in the other location. Example: two bags will be placed in the freezer and the other two on the kitchen counter. 6. Be sure to check the temperatures periodically to make sure the temperatures are correct. 7. After 4 days, record the measurements and temperatures. 8. On the 7th day measure your seeds and record the data. Make a chart using the average length of the seedlings per bag.

Results Key: ----- beginning of experiment, no measured length Date: (Start) January 16, 2010 January 19, 2010 (End) January 23, 2010 Temperature Average Length in inches Control 1 76° F -------- 77° F 3.4 4.7 Treatment 1 37° F --------- 39° F No growth Control 2 ---------- 2.3 3.55 Treatment 2 The above table shows the average length of the seedlings after 3 days and after 7 days from when the experiment began. The controlled groups were placed in the fruit bin of the refrigerator where the temperature is 32° F. The cold temperature did not allow the seedlings to grow. The treatment groups were placed on the dining room table where the temperature was 76° F. The seedlings (both bags) in this temperature grew an average of 4.125 inches.

Data

Conclusion After completing the experiment, I learned there are certain factors, such as temperature, that can influence seedling growth. When I began the experiment, I predicted the seedlings in temperatures above 72° F would grow quicker. It turns out those seedlings were the only ones that did grow. I expected the seedlings in the fruit bin to grow at least a couple of inches; I was surprised to see they did not grow at all. My hypothesis stated temperatures above 72° F were necessary for seedling growth; therefore, my hypothesis was correct because the seedlings below 72° F did not grow. If I were to do this experiment again, I would not put the treatment in such an extreme temperature as 37° F. I now know this low of a temperature is not a reliable treatment. The next factor I would like to attempt is whether or not placing air inside the bag would have an effect on seedling growth.

Applications

Abstract