1. Effects of Acid Rain and Fertilizer on Bean Plant Growth
By: Jacob Gorham
Pittsburgh Central Catholic High School
9th Grade

2. Runoff Water that flows over a land surface, creating a watershed.
Water absorption into soil is called infiltration.
Runoff can contain fertilizers, bacteria, acid rain, and pesticides.

3. Acid Rain Molecular Formula: H2SO4
Contains high amounts of nitric (0.2 ppm) and sulfuric ( ppm) acids
Created by emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.
Emissions come from both natural and man made factors
Wet vs. dry deposition

4. Nitrogen Fertilizer Urea: CH4N2O
Provides for accelerated growth of plants.
Too much can cause fertilizer burn.
Eutrophication

5. Blue Lake 274 Vulgaris Beans
Grows fairly quickly; a good model species
Requires intense sun exposure
Can grow up to 0.6m tall.

6. Purpose
To determine if nitrogenous Urea fertilizer and H2SO4 acid rain have significant individual and synergistic effects on vulgaris' biomass.

7. Hypothesis
Alternative- The acid rain and fertilizer will have significant individual and synergistic effects on vulgaris bean plant growth.
*Null- The acid rain and fertilizer will not have significant individual and synergistic effects on vulgaris bean plant growth.

8. Materials
1. Vulgaris Bean seeds 2. H2SO4 solutions 3. Urea Nitrogen Fertilizer: CH4N2O 4. Pipettes 5. Water 6. Pots 7. Soil 8. Gloves 9. Containers to mix solutions 10. Goggles 11. Grow bulbs

9. Procedure 0, 0 0, L 0, H L, 0 L, L L, H H, 0 H, L H, H
72 sections of the seed starters were prepared with three seeds being planted.
The plants were divided into 9 groups of 8 replicates, each watered with 5 mL of water treated with the following concentrations of variables:
Fertilizer Acid Rain
Plants were watered with the concentrations listed above, besides the fertilizer being stopped after 2 days. 5 mL of acid rain for L & H, but had different molarities.(1 x 10-4, etc.)
Plants were watered with 5 mL of each of the above concentrations daily for three weeks.
0, 0
0, L
0, H
L, 0
L, L
L, H
H, 0
H, L
H, H

10. Procedure Cont.
5. After germination, grow bulbs shone on the plants in a dark room for 12 hours per day.
After 3 weeks, the plants were removed from the soil, cleaned, and allowed to dry for one day.
Each plant's biomass was recorded in grams with a precision scale.

11. Total P-value=
Above P-value=
Below P-value=

12. P-value= N/A

13. P-value= N/A

14. ANalysis Of VAriance (ANOVA)
Single factor- the comparison of means between groups
Two factor- a comparison to test interaction (synergy) of two independent variables between groups.
If the P-value is > 0.05, ACCEPT the null hypothesis.
If the P-value is < 0.05, REJECT the null hypothesis.

15. Interpretation of Results
Null hypothesis for acid rain: ACCEPTED, suggesting that the acid rain did not have a significant effect on the biomass.
Null hypothesis for fertilizer: UNINTERPRETABLE, due to any plant with fertilizer causing no growth to plants, and the effects of the acid rain were unable to be seen.
Null hypothesis for synergistic effects: UNINTERPRETABLE, again due to the fertilizer having a severe toxic effect.
The fertilizer did not perform properly, killing the plants.

16. Limitations Extensions
Malfunction of nitrogen fertilizer
Only 2 concentrations of acid rain
Only two amounts of fertilizer
Inability to see specificity of synergy due to fertilizer killing the plants.
Extensions
Use of different fertilizer/ application/ dosage
Use more concentrations of acid rain
More experimental groups/variables

17. Works Cited
"3. How to Measure: Measuring Vegetation Characteristics per Area." Bot 440/540: How to      
Measure per Area. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Dec
<
10, Lesson. Fact Sheet: How to Use Vinegar to Imitate Acid Rain (n.d.): n. pag. Web.
"Blue Lake Bush Beans: Easy-to-Grow, Big Flavor & No Strings!" Bonnie Plants. N.p., 20 Apr.
2016. Web. 22 Jan <
“Effects of Acid Rain." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, n.d. Web. 12 Dec
<
"What Is Acid Rain?" EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, n.d. Web. 12 Dec
<

18. Raw Data Control High H2SO4 Low H2SO4 0.56725 g 0.518875 g 0.54175 g
High CH4N2O
Low CH4N2O

19. Raw Data Extended
0.437
0.427
0.537
0.457
0.387
0.137
0.237
0.287
0.157
0.248
0.027
0.514
0.713
0.257
0.109
0.267
0.132
0.354
0.175
0.605
0.597
0.212

20. ANOVA (Acid Rain Total Mass)

21. ANOVA (Acid Rain Above Ground)

22. ANOVA (Acid Rain Below Ground)