Alvaro Covarrubias

Seed Germination Process

11----16

Introduction
Organic and inorganic fertilizers affect the rate at which seeds germinate.
Plant growth depends a lot on soil and the way soil is. Soils physical
properties like the shape of soil particles, the size, and the porosity of soil
itself determine what soil is good for. The way soil distributes nutrients and
important stuff to plants is very important (V. A. Haby, et al). Organic
fertilizers distribute nutrients at a natural pace, which is slower than
inorganic fertilizers. Inorganic fertilizers are fast at releasing nutrients but
the bad thing about this is that they have less natural nutrients than organic
fertilizers. Which fertilizer a farmer will use depends on what they want to
happen to their plant. They have to ask themselves if they want crops to
grow faster or crops to grow naturally.
Without nutrients supplied by soil and its chemical and physical properties,
plants would not be able to grow. In order for the nutrients to be
administered to plants and nitrogen to be converter in to a form where
animals can consume it, organisms need to be able to have a sustainable
environment. This being said, micro and macroorganisms need a warm,
moist environment with food, like fruit or compost, to support bacteria and
small insects and animals. The organisms will treat the soil and move
nutrients in order for the plants to be able to consume it and grow efficiently
(Mrs. Mein, 2016).

Alvaro Covarrubias

Seed Germination Process

11----16

Compost helps soil in a big way. Compost fertilizes, holds water for the
plants, and improves the way the plant grows in general (Composting Animal
Manures, 2006). Microorganisms breakdown the organic matter in compost
so that they can nourish the soil that it is in. Mites can eat compost for their
food. Also, there are different types of microorganisms in compost. For
example, there are primary consumers, secondary consumers, and tertiary
consumers that are all found in it (Planet Natural Research Center).
Experimental Design
Problem Question
How do different types of fertilizers affect the rates of seed germination in red beans?
Hypothesis
If we put kidney bean seeds in plain topsoil, topsoil + organic fertilizer, and topsoil + inorganic
fertilizer, the seeds in topsoil + inorganic fertilizer will germinate at the fastest rate because
research shows that inorganic fertilizer releases nutrients fastest in a shorter amount of time than
organic fertilizer, and the plain topsoil will not have anything to speed up the process.
Independent Variable
Types of fertilizer: topsoil, topsoil + organic fertilizer, topsoil + inorganic fertilizer
Dependent Variable
Rate of seed germination
Control Group

Alvaro Covarrubias

Seed Germination Process

11----16

Topsoil alone
Experimental Groups

Top soil with organic fertilizer

Top soil with inorganic fertilizer

Materials & Methods

Get 6 Coke bottles and cut off the tops of them. Keep them handy because they will be taped
back on after making the EcoBottle. Get 600 mL of plain topsoil and set 300 mL of it aside. This
will be the control group. Then, get 150 mL of plain topsoil and mix it with 150 mL of organic
fertilizer. Mix them together. Next, mix gallon of water with teaspoon off inorganic
fertilizer. Take 75 mL of that solution and add it to the remaining 150 mL of plain topsoil. Place
the soil mixtures into the tops of the Coke bottles with the cap on. Place 300 mL of water into
each bottom of the bottles. String a pipe cleaner through the bottom to the top so water can
connect to the soil. Tape the tops inverted into the bottom of the water bottles and tape a bottom
on the EcoBottle to create a closed system.
Data

Alvaro Covarrubias

Seed Germination Process

11----16

Conclusion
In conclusion, our hypothesis was wrong. We thought the topsoil + inorganic fertilizer would
germinate the fastest, but it actually germinated the slowest. It only had 1 sprout and 2 leaves and
1 drooping leave compared to the fastest germinating plant in the topsoil + organic fertilizer that
had 5 sprouts and 16 leaves. This is because we added too much inorganic fertilizer and the
plant was over-nourished. We also had to modify the experiment as we went because we
realized the inorganic fertilizer had to be in a solution with water, and the original amount we
thought we should put (150 mL) was too much. However, we still ended up over-nourishing the
plant and stunting its growth. The results of the experiment were accurate because the plants that
had too much inorganic fertilizer stunted in germination and growth, and the plants given a
healthy amount of organic fertilizer thrived the most these are the results should have happened
and they did. Even though our experiment was accurate, the precision was off because we only
did one experiment; we did not do a repeat.
References

Alvaro Covarrubias

Seed Germination Process

11----16

Augustin, C. & Rahman, S. Composting animal manures: a guide to the process and
management of animal manure compost. Retrieved from
https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/manure/documents/nm1478.pdf.
Haby, V.A., Baker, M.L., & Feagley, S. Vegetable resources. Retrieved from http://aggiehorticulture.tamu.edu/vegetable/guides/texas-vegetable-growershandbook/chapter-iii-soils-fertilizers/.
Planet Natural Research Center. (n.d.). All the compost creatures: levels 1, 2 and 3. (n.d.).
Retrieved from https://www.planetnatural.com/composting-101/science/biology/.
Savonen, C. (2008). Heres the scoop on chemical and organic fertilizers. Retrieved from
http://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/node/955.