APES Lab Report - Ecology Symbiosis

Question:
What is the effect of nitrogen and fixation on plant growth?
Background:
The major gas in the atmosphere is nitrogen. This element is necessary in protein and nucleic
acid synthesis. Nitrogen enters both plants and animals during respiration, but is not utilized and
is exhaled again. Certain microorganisms can convert this free nitrogen into cell substance
during the process of nitrogen fixation. This is accomplished in nature by the action of certain
bacteria of the Rhizobium genus. They accomplish nitrogen fixation in symbiotic association
with certain leguminous plants such as clover, beans, and peas. This reaction is essential to the
nitrogen cycle.
Procedure:
Materials - 3 pots, 150 ml dilute complete nutrient media, 300 ml dilute nitrogen deficient media,
100 rye seeds, 100 inoculated clover seeds, vermiculite, distilled water, labels.
1. Fill 3 pots 1 from top with vermiculite.
2. Label pots #1-3. Pot 1 will have complete nutrient media, 2 will have nitrogen deficient
media, 3 will have nitrogen deficient media plus inoculated Clover seeds.
3. Pour 150 ml complete nutrient media over the vermiculite in pot 1.
4. Pour 150 ml dilute nitrogen deficient media in pots 2 and 3.
5. Sprinkle ~100 rye seeds over all 3 pots.
6. Sprinkle ~100 inoculated clover seeds over pot 3.
7. Place in window or under grow-lite lamps.
8. Water with distilled water when needed.
9. Record observations in data sheet.
Hypothesis:
The rye in pot 1 will grow the tallest due to the complete nutrient media. Pot 3 will grow second
tallest because the clover will supply them with nitrogen. Pot 2 will grow the least because it has
the least assisted means of nitrogen absorption.

Average Height
Day
No.

13

16

20

26

38

33

36

Pot
#1

1.75

4.1

11

12

13.5

20

20

30

32

Pot
#2

1.9

7.4

10

11.1

12

13

13

15

16

Pot
#3

10

13

14

15

15

25

27

Observations:
The rye grew unevenly around the first 15 days. Afterwards, however, we can see a clear and
consistent difference between the average height of the rye in each pot. Every factor other than
the height remained just the same: the way the blades drooped, thickness, color, etc. Pot #3
appeared thicker, but this was probably due to the clovers that grew with the rye.
Analysis:
The patterns in the data suggested each pot had consistent growth of rye. Provided the data, it
can be deduced that the rye in pot 1 grew the most due to receiving the most nutrients from the
complete media. Pot 3 was the runner-up: having received the nitrogen deficient media, the
plant still could receive nitrogen from the inoculated clovers planted with it. We can assume it
did not receive as much nitrogen as the rye in pot 1. The rye in pot 2 was the lowest due to not
having received any nitrogen in nutrient media nor from inoculated clovers, which could provide
nitrogen through nitrogen fixation.
Conclusion:
The hypothesis, which suggested the rye in pot 1 would grow the tallest due to the complete
nutrient media. Pot 3 would grow second tallest because the clover will supply them with
nitrogen. Pot 2 would grow the least because it has the least assisted means of nitrogen
absorption.