The Effect of Calcium

Concentration on Plant’s Growth

The Effect of Calcium

Concentration on Plant’s Growth

Lindsay AndersenLindsay 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

HypothesisHypothesis:

If the concentration of supplementary calcium increases, then the plant’s growth will increase

Problem:

What does Calcium do to plants?

Basic ConceptsChlorotic: 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

ConclusionMy 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