Our team predicted that the seeds planted in the potting mix would flourish the most. This assumption was based on the fact that potting mix is refined and presented to the market as light and fluffy soil perfect for the tiny root growth of tomatoes, green onions, and radish. On the other hand, sandy soil warms up faster in the sun, and drains much water in a short amount of time, and topsoil is very densely packed together, which makes it hard for the plant to sprout easily.

Therefore, we are expecting the seeds planted in the potting mix sample to germinate earlier.

How soil types affect the germination and growth rate of garden plants. A case study of tomato, radish, and onion.

Introduction Plants need soil to provide nutrients, water, vegetables and fruits. Different soil types, like sandy soil, topsoil, and potting mix, have different things about how they hold nutrients and water. Soils are one of the biggest things that affect how plants germinate and how fast they grow. Under these factors gardeners choose the best soil types for the growth of plants.

The problem of this research How soil types affect the germination and growth rate of garden plants.

Independent variable (what you change in the experiment)

• Sandy soil
• Top soil
• Potting mix Dependent variable(what we measure)
• Growth rate
• Number of leaves
• Germination
• Controlled variable
• Same amount of seed per cup
• Same pot size
• The same amount of water
• Same location *

The following steps were followed during the project

1. Sourced nine small market-sized plastic pots 2. We picked three types of soils\, namely\, sandy soil\, topsoil\, and potty mix. 3. Planted the seed in the soil on the same day\, within a recorded time 4. We added a measured quantity of water to the samples 5. We put the samples in position to receive sunlight 6. Observation continues by recording significant changes in each sample 7. All variables were carefully monitored

During the observation of the experiment, germination and growth of the tomato, radish, and green onion were observed throughout this project. The seeds planted in the potting mix grew first and showed nice germination. Radish seeds were planted first among all the seed types, then the green onion seeds, and lastly the tomato seeds took longer to sprout. The plant of continue to grow over the weeks, and those in the sandy soil showed healthier and greener plants. It was radish, then green onion, then tomato. Overall, the sandy soil was the nicest condition for both growth and germination.

Sandy soil wins for its speed because its granular texture keeps seeds perfectly moist and offers the least physical nutrients for new sprouts. Ends we can conclude that sandy soil is the best for growing garden plants

Soil fertility affects plant germination and growth. Understanding how different types of soil affect how plants grow helps gardeners and the agricultural world choose the healthiest soil for the growth of plants, examples radish, green onion, and tomato. Since sandy soil showed the best germination was expected to be the best, gardeners should cherish this soil for nutrients grinny texture and drainage.

Firstly, we weren't sure that we put the same amount of water; secondly, sometimes it will be that we are one minute off from watering it, which could influence the growth of the plant. secondly the sunlight may have been exposed to some but not other plants. We didn't really check the seed dormancy, so it could have been one of the problems. We could even have measured wrong.

We used all this followings 1. Kids Gardening 2. Calgary's child magazine 3. Twinkl 4. Earth easy 5. YouTube 6. Dictionary 7. Textbooks 8. Encyclopedia Britannica 9

We would like to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to our beloved parents for their unwavering love and guidance. I would also like to extend my appreciation to our teachers in Hawkwood School and our mentor, Dr. Bayo Bello, and also Mr. Groves and Mrs. Swinton.We also appreciate our teacher, Mrs.Harm, helping us print  My gratitude further goes to our siblings, Hauwa, Sumayyah, Sa'ad, Faaz, and Umm Kultum, for their support and assistance throughout this journey. Thank you all for believing in us.  Rukayyah and Iman.

Thank you, CYSF, for giving us these opportunities.