Year 7 Sunflower Experiment report 2017 By Arun Pillai

Year 7 sunflower experiment

report 2017

By Arun Pillai
Care class: 7S

1|Page Year 7 Sunflower Experiment report 2017

Year 7 Sunflower Experiment report 2017 By Arun Pillai

Abstract
Plants needs many things to grow well. The most important is the fertilizer, containing nitrogen,
phosphorus and potassium which are used by the plant to grow roots, seeds, fruits, flowers and
make chlorophyll ("What Are Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium? (Feed Me)," n.d.). The
experiment was conducted using two pots, both filled with dirt. One pot contained fertilizer (chicken
poop and blood and bones) and the other pot was without any fertilizer. The pots were watered
when needed and the plant progress was recorded every day. The result showed that the pot
containing fertilizer showed the best result, where the plant grew better than the plant in the pot
without fertilizer (see results). It was concluded that plants with fertilizer will grow better than plant
without fertilizer.

Contents
1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 3
2 Practical write-up ............................................................................................................................ 3
2.1 Aim .......................................................................................................................................... 3
2.2 Hypothesis............................................................................................................................... 3
2.3 Variables.................................................................................................................................. 4
2.4 Risk Assessment ...................................................................................................................... 4
3 Equipment ....................................................................................................................................... 4
4 Method ........................................................................................................................................... 5
5 Results ............................................................................................................................................. 5
5.1 Table........................................................................................................................................ 5
5.2 Average ................................................................................................................................... 5
5.3 Line Graph ............................................................................................................................... 6
6 Analysis/Discussion ......................................................................................................................... 6
7 Evaluation ....................................................................................................................................... 6
8 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................... 6
9 Bibliography .................................................................................................................................... 7

Figure 1-Image of the sunflower 1 without fertilizer.............................................................................. 3

Figure 2 - Image of sunflower 2 with fertilizer........................................................................................ 3
Figure 3 The setting of the sunflower pots on day 1 ........................................................................... 4
Figure 4 other equipment used during the process. ........................................................................... 4
Table 1 The height of both plants recorded for 18 days ...................................................................... 5
Figure 5 Line graph of the height of both plants in a line graph.......................................................... 6

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Year 7 Sunflower Experiment report 2017 By Arun Pillai

1 Introduction
The question investigated was, do fertilizers effect the growth rate of the sunflower plant? Fertilizers
help plants grow faster and bigger. Plants absorb these nutrient through their roots. Fertilizers
provide plants with nitrogen, phosphorus
and potassium that help the plant grow
("BBC - GCSE Bitesize: Fertilisers," n.d.).
Nitrogen is used for the plant to grow and
helps the plants produce chlorophyll.
Phosphorous is used by the plant to grow
new roots, make seeds, fruits and flowers. It
also helps fight against diseases. Potassium
is used by the plant to make the plant
strong and keeps the plant growing fast
("What Are Nitrogen, Phosphorous and
Figure 1 - Image of the sunflower 1 without Potassium? (Feed Me)," n.d.).
fertilizer
The hypothesis was to test, if fertilizer was
added to the pot, will there be increase in the growth rate, because the plant will absorb the
nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium from
the fertilizer to grow faster and healthier.
The possible outcomes of this experiment
include the plant, the plant could be killed
by the weather, the plant could drown and
the plant could not receive enough water
and die.

Fertilizers are important because they

maintain soil fertility so farmers can
continue to grow crops. Fertilizers are
important because they help plants grow
faster. And with the world population
increasing, more food will be needed so Figure 2 - Image of sunflower 2 with fertilizer
when farmers use fertilizers, farmers can sell more food
grow their plants faster.

2 Practical write-up
2.1 Aim
To determine, does fertilizers increase the growth rate of a sunflower plant.

2.2 Hypothesis
When fertilizers are added to a sunflower plant, the the plant will grow faster because the plant will
receive more nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

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Year 7 Sunflower Experiment report 2017 By Arun Pillai

2.3 Variables
The IV was the fertilizer. The DV is the height of the plant. And the controlled variable included the
type of soil, type of seed, the amount of water and the type of pots.

2.4 Risk Assessment

Hazard Prevention Management
The phosphorus in the Use gloves and gas mask Remember to use gloves and a
fertilizer is very dangerous. gas mask.
The perlite & vermiculite that Use a gas mask Remember to wear a gas mask
is in the fertilizer. Is dangerous
to lungs

3 Equipment

Figure 3 The setting of the sunflower pots on day 1

Figure 4 other equipment used during the process.

Source: http://www.stockunlimited.com/vector-illustration/trowel_1709591.html

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Year 7 Sunflower Experiment report 2017 By Arun Pillai

4 Method

1) The equipment needed was collected (pots, fertilizer, seeds, gloves, gas mask, shovel and
soil).
2) The 2 pots were filled with soil with 150 grams of soil.
3) The seeds was planted in the two pots.
4) The 50 grams of fertilizer was placed on pot 1.
5) The plants was watered.
6) The plant was observed and watered every day for the rest of the needed amount of
recording days.

5 Results
5.1 Table
Table 1 The height of both plants recorded for 18 days

Pot 1 With fertilizer Pot 2 Without fertilizer

Day (24 hours) Height (cm) Day (24 hours) Height (cm)
1 0 1 0
2 0 2 0
3 0.2 3 0
4 0.5 4 0.1
5 0.7 5 0.3
6 0.9 6 0.6
7 1 7 0.7
8 1.4 8 1
9 1.5 9 1.2
10 1.9 10 1.5
11 2.3 11 1.8
12 2.5 12 2.1
13 2.8 13 2.6
14 3.1 14 2.7
15 3.2 15 3
16 3.4 16 3.2
17 5 17 3.4
18 6 18 4

5.2 Average

The average growth of the plant with fertilizer was 2.02

The average growth of the plant without fertilizer was 1.56

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Year 7 Sunflower Experiment report 2017 By Arun Pillai

5.3 Line Graph

Sunflower Experiment Data

7
6
5
Height (cm)

4
3
2
1
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
Days (24 hours)

With fertilizer Without fertilizer

Figure 5 Line graph of the height of both plants in a line graph

6 Analysis/Discussion
The experiment result shows that the plant with the fertiliser grown more than the plant without the
fertiliser, as shown on the figure 2, on day 18th the plant with fertiliser grown up to 6 cm in height
whereas the plant without fertiliser only grown up to 4 cm. This is because fertiliser has number of
important neutrons like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in it which make the plants growth
faster. Results in the table shows that plan with fertiliser has an average growth of 0.2 to 0.5 cm per
day.

7 Evaluation
The errors that occurred in the experiment conducted include: the amount of the water the plants
received each day were faulted because of the weather. Another error that occurred was that the
plants did not receive the same amount of sunlight each day also due to the weather. The variable
that were not controlled to the best of the abilities were the, amount of sunlight each plant received
and the amount of water each plant received. The accuracy could have been improved by recording
the height of the plant at the same time every day. It could also be improved by letting both plants
receive the same amount of water and sunlight every day. An idea for another experiment could be
does weather effect the growth of a sunflower seed.

8 Conclusion
In conclusion the hypothesis that was discussed was supported. The fertilizer was found to improve
the growth rate of the sunflower seed used.

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Year 7 Sunflower Experiment report 2017 By Arun Pillai

9 Bibliography
What Are Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium? (Feed Me). (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://extension.illinois.edu/firstgarden/basics/feedme_03.cfm
BBC - GCSE Bitesize: Fertilisers. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/add_gateway_pre_2011/chemical/fertil
isersrev1.shtml
The Dirt on Dirt - Potting Soil | Proven Winners. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.provenwinners.com/learn/dirt-dirt-potting-soil
Environmental benifits of using fertilizers. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.agroservicesinternational.com/Environment/Benefits.html
Natural Hazards in Fertilizers | Home Guides | SF Gate. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://homeguides.sfgate.com/natural-hazards-fertilizers-29309.html
Science Fair Projects - Effect of fertilizer on plant growth. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.all-
science-fair-projects.com/project1276_50_1.html
What do Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium in Fertilizers do for Plants? (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.bhg.com/gardening/yard/garden-care/what-do-nitrogen-phosphorus-and-
potassium-do/
Why Fertilizer Is Dangerous (Infographic). (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.livescience.com/28889-
why-fertilizer-is-dangerous.html

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