The Effect of Calcium Concentration on Plant’s Growth Lindsay Andersen

I conducted this experiment because I wanted to know if nutrients depleting in soil could be solved or fixed by adding the nutrient to the plant I also wanted to see what Calcium would do to a plant

Hypothesis Hypothesis: If the concentration of supplementary calcium increases, then the plant’s growth will increase Problem: What does Calcium do to plants?

Basic Concepts Chlorotic: Nutrient deficiency causing a plant to fail to produce chlorophil Calcium: Glabrous: parts of the plant that have no “hairs” on the surface Tuber: enlarged plant structure used to store nutrients, usually to provide sustenance for the plant during the winter months Chia plant: includes pre-moistened Growing Sponge, a plant you water regularly which grows too fast

Design Diagram TITLE: The effect of concentrated calcium on plant’s growth HYPOTHESIS: If I add concentrated calcium to a plant, then the growth will increase DV: Mass of plant (g) CONSTANTS: Type of seed, type of water, amount of seeds, temperature of water, type of calcium, brand of calcium pills

Design Diagram (continued) -Water -Gloves -Goggles -Chia Kit -Calcium pills -Plant Pots -Camera Procedure: 1.) Plant 10 Chia seeds in individual coffee holders.2.) Add.05L of water to each. Make sure you label it the “Control” Plants.3.) Place another 10 Chia Seeds into separate coffee holders.4.) Add.25 g/L concentrated calcium to the chia seeds in each individual plant pot.5.) Plant 10 Chia seeds into individual coffee holders.6.) Add.5 g/L concentrated calcium to the chia seeds in each individual coffee holder.7.) Plant 10 Chia seeds into individual coffee holders.8.) Add.75 g/L concentrated calcium to the chia seeds in each individual coffee holder.9.) Plant 10 Chia seeds into individual coffee holders.10.) Add 1 g/L concentrated calcium to the chia seeds in each coffee holders.11.) Repeat adding the correct amounts of the concentrated calcium to the corresponding chia seeds daily. 12.) Once the Chia seeds are fully grown, allow to dry, take out of coffee holder and measure the mass in grams.13.) Take photos weekly, showing the growth of the Chia plants.14.) Place pots where sun can reach the plants.

Results

Photodocumentation

Conclusion My hypothesis was refuted. Sources of error: Calcium used Women’s Calcium pills, too strong, women Sources of error: THE CHIA KIT Came with it’s own procedure Fake plant-”greenhouse environment”, sunlight, growing sponge, water all interfered with MY procedure Plant itself was an herb, cilantro, took longer to grow than other herbs

Improvements Measurement of the concentrated calcium How much calcium actually went into the pot (stuck) Too much, too less water All same seeds

Extensions & Applications The Effect of Concentrated Calcium on plant growth in depleted Soil The Effect of Concentrated Calcium on plant growth Any other nutrient needed for plants in depleted soil I can apply this to real life because not all plants are chia plants, like my control- they will not perfectly grow, or have perfect nutrition Other plants show that it’s not easy to apply a variable to plants and assume the nutrition will be restored or help it in some way