How do other liquids impact plant growth and development

We will be testing four different liquids in order to test which one is most efficient for growing the same plant.
Sama Elmorsy Tajvor Ali
Grade 7

Presentation

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Hypothesis

I hypothesize that if I water each of the plants with their liquids every day then the one with water will end up growing the fastest or healthiest because water is, in general, an important source of nutrients for plants, it is necessary for photosynthesis, and they can use it to cool down, they also use water to transport minerals and nutrients from the soil.

Research

Water is the ideal liquid for plants because it transports minerals and nutrients from the soil to the plant, the reason we can't/don't use other liquids often is because they might be too toxic or acidic causing the plant to absorb nutrients poorly. Water is also used for photosynthesis and the reason we can't use other liquids is that the molecules of that liquid are different from the ones that make up water. The shape of the molecules may be different which means they can block photosynthesis from happening, and because the seed depends on photosynthesis for the necessary energy it needs, the seed might not grow. Water has polar molecules (one side of the molecule is slightly positive while the other side is slightly negative)  and plants need this for cell division, differentiation, etc

Vinger is an acidic liquid that can cause the plant to absorb nutrients poorly, it can inhibit plant growth and germination.

Dishsoap has chemicals in it that are commonly used for cleaning, meaning it may have chemicals that can harm or prevent the seeds form growing, however, we still used this as one of the liquids to see if deluding it can make a difference.

 

Variables

The variables are how fast the plants may end up growing, the liquids we used to water them, and how saturated they are (the vinger was more saturated because the main project was between the 3 other liquids the vinger was to see what happens when there is no saturation).

Procedure

First we get 4 pots and we fill them up 3 quarters with soil and put in the daisy, then we water them with the same amount of liquid each

 

Observations

Feb 24(day 1): I put the soil in the pots I added 9 tablespoons of the liquid in each pot. The sugar mixture had 1 teaspoon of sugar mixed in, same with the dishsoap.

Water: The soil with water in it was damp and dark brown, it also smelt like how most soils would.

Vinager: When I first put vinegar in one of the plants it gave off a slight odor of vinegar and appeared to look the same as the one with water.

Sugar mixture: The sugar mixture had no smell and when put in the soil, looked and smelt the same as the water.

Dishsoap mixture: When I  mixed the dishsoap mixture a little foam started to form. After mixing it for approximately 10 seconds I poured it in and saw that the foam bubbles rested onto of the soil for a bit before seaping in. The soil had a very subtle smell of dishsoap and looked the same as the one with water.

 

Feb 25(day 2)

Water: The soil with water in it is still a little damp and has a dark brown colour, and no odor.

Vinegar: The soil is dark brown, damp, gives of a slight odor of vinegar, and has a very little bit of white stuff on it.

Sugar mixture: The soil is damp, has no odor and looks the same as the one with water

Dishsoap mixture: The soil looks the same as the one with water in it, however it has a very faint smell of dishsoap coming from it.

 

Feb 26(day 3):

Water: Same observations as Feb 25

Vinegar: I believe white stuff is mold and it has increased, and the plant smells the same as what it did on Feb 25

Sugar mixture: Same observations as Feb 25

Dishsoap mixture: Same observations as Feb 25

 

Feb 27(day 4)

Water: Same observations as Feb 25

Vinegar: The top part of soil still looka and smells the same as yesterday and the overall observations are the same as Feb 25

Sugar mixture: Same observations as Feb 25

Dishsoap mixture: Same observations as Feb 25

 

Feb 28(day 5)

Water: Same observations as Feb 25

Vinegar: The smell remains but is more subtle now, the mold on the top of the soil agian seems to have grown bit not greatly. The soil is dark brown.

Sugar mixture: Same observations as Feb 25

Dishsoap mixture: The soil feels a little more dry buy is still dark brown, and the smell of dishsoap is still the same as Feb 25

 

Feb 29(day 6)

Water:the soil on the top seems to be a bit more dry, it's a mixture of light brown and dark brown, there is still no plant.

Vinger: The mold has grown and certain spots, it seem to appear a little yellowish, the smell has gotten fainter, but the colour colour of the soil is still dark brown.

Sugar mixture: The soil on the top part of the pot seems to feel and look a bit more dry, and since it's more dry than before the colour has gotten lighter, so now ita a light brown mixted with some dark brown. When I took a closer look I saw that there was some fuzzy looking stuff in the soilx I believe it is also mold. There is still no seedling and there is no odor.

Dishsoap mixture: The soil on this one has also gotten lighter meaning its also drier. The smell of dishsoap is still faint but there is. There is still no seedling.

 

March 1(day7)

Water: Same observations as Feb 29

Vinegar: The mold has become more yellow but overall the observations are the same as Feb 29

Sugar mixture: Same observations as Feb 29

Dishsoap mixture: Same observations as Feb 29

 

Week 2

March 2(day 8): I watered them after the observations 

Water: Same observations as Feb 29

Vinegar: There is new mold forming and the old is more noticable yellowish colored. Overall the rest of the observations are the same as Feb 29

Sugar mixture: The fuzzy stuff looks more white than before and I believe it grew. Overall the same observations as Feb 29.

Dishsoap mixture: Same observations as Feb 29.

 

March 3

Water: The soil is moist and dark brown there is no odor and it looks the same as it did in the beginning. 

Vinegar: The odor of vinegar has gotten a bit stronger, I think this is because I water it with some the day before. The mold doesn't seem to have increased and the soil is still dark brown.

Sugar mixture: There doesn't appear to be more fizzy stuff/mold and there is still no smell or odor coming from it.

Dishsoap mixture: There is no great difference in this one, the odor is still lingering but hasn't gotten stronger or weaker and the soil looks dark brown and moist.

 

March 4

Water: There appears to be a seedling forming under a thin layer of soil but its head isn't peaking out yet. And overall the soil doesn't have any odors and it is moost and dark brown.

Vinegar: Same observations as March 3.

Sugar mixture: Sane observations as March 3.

Dishsoap mixture: Dispite the fact I watered it not long before the soil on the top looks a little dry and light brown but majority of it is still dark brown and moist.

 

March 5

Water: The head of the seedling is poking out now but its not long enough to measure but I can see that there are 2 leaves on it. The soil is the same as March 4.

Vineger: The mold is still gradually increasing but dispite me having water it with vinegar not long before, the odor is almost gone. I can tell that the spil is still moist because it is still dark brown.

Sugar mixture: The top of the soil looks to be a little dry but most of it is still moist and dark. The soil has no scent and the mold or fuzzy stuff doesn't appear to have been growing.

Dishsoap mixture: Same observations as March 4.

 

March 6

Water: Same observations as March 5.

Vinegar: Same observations as March 5.

Sugar mixture: The fuzzy stuff is still not very visible and overall the oare 5hw same as March 5.

Dishsoap mixture: The soil looks more dry then it did before and the smell of dishsoap is still faintly there but not very strong.

 

March 7

Water: I can see below the soil  that a new seedling is forming and peeking through but it has not come to the surface yet. The first seedling is getting a little taller and is 1 cm tall, perhaphs it is a little taller but because it is below a few clumps of soil I'm going to wait until it pushes the small clumps of soil away by it self. The stem is very thin and the colour of it is similar to the leaves which are a bright green color.

Vinegar: The mold has increased and there is some new mold forming as well so now almost all the surface of the top part of the soil is covered in mold, although I can still see through it because the new mold is not very large and clumped together. The odor of vineger is completely gone and the soil still has a drak brown colour to it which leads me to think it is moist.

Sugar mixture: I see no increase in mold and I can only see it if I go very close to the soil, there is no scent and the soul still looks a little dry near the top but overall majority of it is moist.

Dishsoap mixture: There are still no drastic changes in the soil it still looks a little dry near the top. One difference I have noticed is that it no longer has any smell of dishsoap.

 

March 8 

Water: I can see another new seedling majority of it is under a little soil but its head is growing out diagonally. The seedling found before this one has grown a little taller and is roughly 0.5 cm while the oldest one is about 1.8 cm tall because the small clumps that  where around it has shifted to the side a little. The soil dark brown but is a little hard on the surface.

Vinegar: Same observations as March 7.

Sugar mixture:  there is still no scent  the soil is still dark brown but is also a little hard. The mold is still not that noticable.

Dishsoap mixture: The soil is dry but isnt stiff or hard and the smell is still not there overall mostly the same observations as March 7.

 

March 9: watered them with their liquids after this.

Water: the oldest seedling is standing completely tall while before it was a little slanted because of the weight the clumps of soil put on it, it is about 2.4 cm tall and has 2 leaves on it. The one that came after tha one is still  0.5 cm tall and has 2 leaves in it. The one that is the newest is 1 cm tall and has 1 leaf onto of that leaf there is something on it I believe it I'd the seed coat or related to the original seed. All the seddlingling are a  dull to bright green colour. I also think the newest one is taller then the one that came before it  because of the angle it is growing at. The soil itself is pretty hard and dry but it is still a drak brown.

Vinegar: the mold has almost covered the whole top surface of the sol but there are still gaps in it so I can tell that the soil is dark brown but it is also a little stiff and dry.

Sugar mixture: There is still no increase in mold and it is barely noticeable the soil itself is also stiff and hard like the one watered with water. There is no scent coming from it and it is also dry.

Dishsoap mixture:  The soil is also dry but the surface is not very hard ot stiff. There is not smell coming from it and it looks dark brown with little patches of light brown soil as well.

 

March 10

Water: The oldest seedling is about 2.5 cm tall  the one that came after it is still 0.5 cm tall. And the newest one is still about 1 cm tall. The leaves have also grown. The soil is odor less and is dark brown,  moist, and soft.

Vinegar: There us a smell of vinegar coming form the soil  the mold has not increased. The soil is softer than before buy still a little stiff.

Sugar mixture: There is no increase in mold and it is still barely noticable, there is no odor coming form the soil, the soil itself is soft and dark brown.

Dishsoap mixture: There is no seedling  the soil is softer but it is not moist, there is no smell coming for the soil.

 

March 11

Water: The oldest seedling is now about 2.7 cm tall, the one that came after that is about 0.7 cm tall. The newest one is 1.2 cm tall. The soil:il is dark brown, moist and soft.

Vinegar: The mold  has grown and it still has a slight tint of yellow to it. It also smells like vinegar. The soil is dark brown, moist, and smells like vinegar.

 

 

Analysis

The seeds grew the best in the water, however, in the dish soap mixture one of the seeds still sprouted into a seedling, I believe this is because the mixture still had water in it meaning the seeds still had some possibility of growing. The one watered with the sugar mixture nor the one watered with the vinegar grew.

 

Conclusion

We had the most growth with the plant watered with water as it's liquid 

Application

Sources Of Error

Citations

https://serc.carleton.edu/integrate/teaching_materials/food_supply/student_materials/1090

 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7140907/#:~:text=Photosynthesis%20is%20the%20fundamental%20process,germination%20and%20early%20seedling%20establishment.

https://extension.wvu.edu/lawn-gardening-pests/news/2021/03/01/how-plants-use-water#:~:text=It%20is%20required%20for%20a,to%20create%20their%20own%20food.\

 

https://manoa.hawaii.edu/exploringourfluidearth/chemical/properties-water/comparison-water-other-liquids#:~:text=Because%20water%20molecules%20are%20polar,oils%20and%20fats%2C%20are%20nonpolar.

https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Introductory_Chemistry/Introductory_Chemistry_(CK-12)/09%3A_Covalent_Bonding/9.17%3A_Polar_Molecules#:~:text=A%20polar%20molecule%20is%20a,other%20end%20is%20slightly%20negative.

 

https://www.nature.com/subjects/plant-polarity#:~:text=Plant%20polarity%20refers%20to%20the,division%2C%20cell%20morphogenesis%20and%20differentiation.

Acknowledgement

Tajvor Ali and Sama Elmorsy 

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