Effect of Different Watering Methods on the Growth of Peas

PURPOSE

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of different watering methods on the growth of peas.  

I became interested in this idea while doing my science project last year. Plants grew relatively well while I watered them every five days. I wondered if other watering schedules would be better or worse.

 The information gained from this experiment could help gardeners and farmers figure out the best method of watering their crops.

HYPOTHESIS

My hypothesis was that the peas getting 40 milliliters of water every 8 days would grow the best. 

 I based my hypothesis on a statement by Dr. Dana Faubion, who is a WSU County Extension Educator and science Professor at Washington State University. He said, “Plants roots need water and oxygen and if the roots are in soil that is full of water they cannot  get oxygen.”

  EXPERIMENT DESIGN

The constants in this study were:

• Number of seeds put in each pot
• The temperature they grow in
• The type of seeds used
• How old the seeds are and how they are stored
• The amount of light the plants get
• Pot size and shape
• Type of soil
• The amount of soil
• Planting depth
• Testing procedures
• Overall amount of water each plant received

The manipulated variable was the watering schedule.  

 The responding variable was the mass of the peas after 32 days.  

To measure the responding variable I measured the biomass of the uprooted pea plants with a triple beam balance.

 MATERIALS

QUANTITY	ITEM DESCRIPTION
1	Pea Packets
54	Pots
12	Foil trays
1	Growing tent
1	Florescent light
1	Triple beam balance scale
1	40 milliliter watering cup
1	Bag of soil
4	21 1/2 inch 1/2 inch PVC pipes
10	12 inch 1/2 inch PVC pipes
3	Garbage bags
8	PVC elbows
5	PVC Tee's

PROCEDURES

1. Build growing “tent”

     A. Using 1/2 inch PVC pipe, elbows, and Tees, build an open framework that is 22 inches tall, 24 inches long, and 24 inches wide.   Reinforce this “box” to support a small fluorescent light.

     B. Suspend the fluorescent light from the top of the box, centered from the sides, attached with strong string, which can be adjusted for height.

     C. Drape black plastic over this framework to form a tent, which can be loosely sealed most of the time, yet easily opened for watering the plants.

2. Prepare growing trays

     A. Make five holes in the bottom of 6 foil trays one in each corner and one in the center. 

     B. Put 4 sticks in all foil trays that don’t have the holes. 

     C. Set each tray with holes onto sticks in tray without holes. 

     D. Label the trays with the correct amount of water to be given to that group.

3. Plant seeds

     A. Fill all 54 pots with soil leaving about 1 centimeter at the top empty. 

     B. Plant 3 pea seeds 2 cm deep in all 54 pots

     C. Put 9 pots in each tray.

     D. Water each group with the right amount of water for that group

4. Grow plants using different watering treatment

     A. Put all the pots in the growing tent and turn on the light for 12 hours. 

     B. Turn off the light for the remainder of the day. 

     C. Water plants based on their treatment group.

         i. Water first group every other day with 10 milliliters of water.

         ii. Water second group every a days with 20 milliliters of water.

         iii. Water third group every 8 days with 40 milliliters of water.

     D. Repeat this for the next 32 days.

     E. During this time record observations.

5. Measure growth

    A. After 32 days of watering the plants pull them out roots and all and label them in brown paper bags

     B. Weigh them with a triple beam balance. 

6. Record data.  

  

RESULTS

The original purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of different watering methods on the growth of peas.

The results of the experiment were that the group getting 40 milliliters of water every 8 days clearly grew the least.  Their average biomass was 0.49 grams. Both of the other groups were around 0.87 grams, nearly twice as much.
 

  

CONCLUSION

My hypothesis was that the peas getting 40 milliliter of water every 8 days would grow the best. 

 The results indicate that this hypothesis should be rejected.

 Because of the results of this experiment, I wonder if using different water temperatures would change the results. Also different types of plants like corn or wheat. Would be interesting to use in similar experiments .

 If I were to conduct this project again I would grow my plants in a more controlled environment and have more plants for each group. I would do this during the summer in true sunlight. 

Researched by - Katie K 

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Effect of Different OTC Medications on the Survival Rate of Daphnia

PURPOSE

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of Pseudoephedrine, aspirin, and Benadryl on the heart rate of daphnia.

I became interested in this idea when I learned about zooplankton that live in fresh and salt water. I thought that daphnia were interesting, especially because I could see their heart beating.

The information gained from this experiment could help people understand about how important it is not to dispose of wasteful product into our rivers and streams, because of the way it affects the food chain. If the zooplankton ore harmed, everything above them in the food chain will also be harmed.

HYPOTHESIS

My first hypothesis was that aspirin would increase the heart rate of daphnia. I based my hypothesis on an encyclopedia of medicines that said, “Aspirin can speed up the heart”. 

My second hypothesis was that Pseudoephedrine would increase the heart rate of daphnia. I based my hypothesis on an encyclopedia of medicines that said, “Pseudoephedrine is a drug that speeds the heart up slightly”. 

My third hypothesis was that Benadryl would decrease the heart rate of daphnia.I based my hypothesis on the common known fact that Benadryl can
cause drowsiness. 

EXPERIMENT DESIGN

  The constants in this study were:

• The amount of each medications given to the daphnia.
• The number of seconds that are recorded to find their heart rate.
• The video camera I used to record their heart rate.
• The microscope I used to record their heart rate.
• The amount of time it takes to film.
• The place where I get the daphnia.
• The environment that the daphnia are stored.
• The type of the daphnia used.
• The age of the daphnia.
• The type of caffeine.
• The type of Pseudoephedrine.
• The type of aspirin.
• The type of Benadryl

The manipulated variable was the type of medication given to the daphnia.

The responding variable was the heart rate of the daphnia after each chemical was given to them.   

To measure the responding variable I used a microscope to see the daphnia’s heart beat and a video camera to record the heart beats. I used the slow motion playback to count the heartbeats for 10.0 seconds. 

                                                              MATERIALS

QUANTITY	ITEM DESCRIPTION
1	Microscope
1	Video camera
1	Pseudoephedrine pill
1	Benadryl pill
1	Aspirin Pill
1	Video tape
3	Petri dishes
3	Beakers

PROCEDURES

1. Gather all of the materials.

2. Set up equipment.

A) Put the microscope on a table.

B) Connect the microscope camera to the microscope.

C) Connect the video recorder to the MC.

3. Fill three beakers with 500 ml of room temperature water (20∞C).

4. Label each beaker:

A) Benadryl 

B) Pseudoephedrine

C) Aspirin 

5. Crush each pill into powder using a clean hammer and aluminum foil, and let dissolve in correct beaker.

6. While waiting for the pills to dissolve start control group.

7. Get a Petri dish and fill it half way with water with a large bore dropper into a second dry Petri dish.

8. Put 11-12 daphnia in just in case some die.

9. Separate the first daphnia from the group.

10. Put the first daphnia under the microscope. Write down tape counter start point.

11. Start recording once there is a clear view of the heart.

12. Stop recording after about ten seconds. Write tape counter stop point.

13. Repeat steps 9-12 with exactly 10 of the daphnia in this group.

14. Once the pills have dissolved conduct trials with all of the different chemicals.

A) Start by filling Petri dish half full of chemical solution to be tested.

B) Place 11-12 “new” daphnia into the chemical solution.

C) Repeat steps 9-13.

15. Clean up the mess.

16. Watch the video in slow motion and count all of the heartbeats per daphnia. Use the time code to determine which daphnia is in each test group.

17. Record data.

18. Graph averages.

  RESULTS

The original purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of Pseudoephedrine, aspirin, and Benadryl on the heart rate of daphnia.

The results of the experiment was that the Pseudoephedrine sped the daphnia’s heart up, while the other two drugs slowed it down.

CONCLUSION

My first hypothesis was that aspirin would increase the heart rate of daphnia. This hypothesis has been rejected since the aspirin was 1.2% below the control group.  

My second hypothesis was that Pseudoephedrine would increase the heart rate of daphnia. My hypothesis was accepted since it was 0.8% higher then the control group. 

My third hypothesis was that Benadryl would decrease  the heart rate of daphnia. My hypothesis was accepted since it was 4.6% lower than the control group. 

The results indicate that my first two hypotheses should be accepted, but the third was rejected.

 Because of the results of this experiment, I wonder if the daphnia were subjected to household detergents or cleaners if they would it have a big effect on them? 

If I were to conduct this project again I would use more than ten daphnia.

Researched by -  Whitney K

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Effect Of Mordant On The Color-Fastness of Natural Dye

  

PURPOSE

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of various amounts of mordant on the color-fastness of natural dye. 

I became interested in this idea when I realized while looking at Native American baskets in a museum that they had held their color for hundreds of years.

 I began to wonder how this was possible without the benefit of modern technology.  The information gained from this experiment could benefit people who are still using natural dyes today.

HYPOTHESIS

 My hypothesis was that increasing the amount of mordant would increase the color-fastness of the natural dye. 

  I based my hypothesis on statement in the book Materials Science: Dyes, Paints, and Adhesives By Brian Kemp. It stated that the more mordant used the better the dyestuffs hold fast to the fabric.

EXPERIMENT DESIGN

      The constants in this study were:

•  The kind of dye
•  The kind of mordant
•  The amount of time that the cloth samples were in the dye solution
•  The temperature of the dye mixture (boiling)
•  The type of cloth (cotton).
•  The washer used to wash the cloth samples.
•  The detergent used in the washing process.
•  The colorimeter
• The container in which the dye is boiled and the samples of cloth are dyed
•  The temperature the cloth is air dried after dying

The manipulated variable was the amount of mordant used during the staining process. 

The responding variable was the lightness of the dyed cloth after repeated washing.  

To measure the responding variable I used a Hunter reflectance colorimeter to determine the lightness of the dyed cloth samples.  

  

MATERIALS

              

QUANTITY	ITEM DESCRIPTION
60	Samples of 100% cotton cloth squares
2	Bags of natural dye
1	Colorimeter
1	Box of potassium aluminum sulfate
1	Washer
1	Detergent
2	Pots
1	Timer
1	Measuring cup
1	Clothes pins
14	Clothesline
1	Stove

           

PROCEDURES

1. Prepare 1 3/4 yards of cloth by washing and drying with no fabric softener

2. Cut the cloth into 5x5 pieces (62 needed)

3. Divide the sixty-two pieces of cloth into five groups of ten and five groups of two.

4. Label each piece of cloth in the left hand corner with a permanent marker.  Each group of ten should have a different label. Stating “M” for mordant, then the amount of mordant, a dash and the cloth number in the group.

5. Store each group of cloth in a separate baggies.

6. Prepare the natural dye by opening four cans of beets.

A.) Pour the beets into a pot through a strainer

B.) Use your hands to squeeze the beets to get the remaining dye out

C.) Pour 3 cans of water over the top of the beets so that the dye that you couldn’t get out will drain into the pot.

D.) Strain the dye three times(or more if needed) to make sure that the beet pulp does not get mixed in with the solution.

E.) Bring the dye to a boil and let it boil for 1 minute.

F.) Separate the dye equally into five glass bowls. 

7. Dye the cloth 

A.) Add x amount of mordant (0, 2, 10, 25, or 50) in a pot with  a bowl of the natural dye solution.

B.) Using a timer once solution starts to boil time for 5 minutes

C.) Put one group of ten cloth squares into the solution all at the same time (this group should be marked appropriately for the amount of mordant that is in the solution.)

D.) Set the timer for 20 minutes. Once all the cloth samples have been dropped in the solution start the timer. 

E.) When timer hits zero remove cloth samples from solution using tongs.

8. Cool and dry on a clothesline for 24 hours then remove and store. Placing each group in separate baggies.

9.  Repeat steps 8-9 five times until you have used the amount of mordant in each group (0, 2, 10, 25, 50)

10. Wash the dyed cloth samples separately the first time in their groups of ten and dry in the same manner.

11.  Look at the cloth samples and see if there is a visible difference in the coloration. If there isn’t then wash the cloth samples again and again until there is a visible difference in the coloration.

12. Once again dry and store in baggies
13. Use the hunter colorimeter at Tree Top to measure the darkness of the dye that is remaining in the cloth.

A.) Turn on the computer and colorimeter

B.) Show the colorimeter what white is by placing the white tile over the hole on the top of the colorimeter. Press F3 to make the colorimeter read the tile.

C.) Repeat step 13b. with the black tile.

D.) Take your already dyed and washed cloth samples and place them one at a time over the top of the hole.  Place the black cylinder on top of the cloth over the hole.

E.) Press F3 so the colorimeter will read the cloth sample.

F.) Look at the label on the cloth 

G.) Copy it down into the column on the computer that says ID and press enter to save the data onto the table

H.) Repeat step 13d. through 13g. until all your cloth samples have been read by the colorimeter.

14. Print the data and turn off the colorimeter and the computer.

14. Average your results from the colorimeter for each group of ten and record them on a table.

 

RESULTS

The original purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of various amounts of mordant on the color-fastness of natural dye. 

The results of this experiment were the whiteness (luminance) values given by the colorimeter.  For the control group with 0 grams of mordant, the average whiteness was 78.60.  Using 2 grams of mordant, the whiteness was 76.96.  For the 10 grams of mordant group the whiteness was 77.52  for the 25 grams of mordant group, the whiteness was 77.08.  Finally the 50 grams of mordant group had a reading of 77.24. These results show that the amount of mordant used in the dyeing process does not make a big difference. However some amount of mordant is better than none.

 CONCLUSION

My hypothesis was that increasing the amount of mordant would increase the color-fastness of the natural dye. 

The results indicate that this hypothesis should be rejected. It is true that adding mordant increases colorfastness, but it is not true that multiplying the amount of mordant helps. 

Because of the results of this experiment, I wonder if different types of mordant would make a larger impact on the colorfastness of the fabric rather than different amounts. It is also possible that beet juice was no the ideal dye  so it would be desirable to redo this experiment using a powerful dye.

 If I were to conduct this project I would use a different type of dye, cloth, and or mordant.

Researched by - Audre H.

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