Nicholas Gilmore

10/24/18

P.4

Joe Rioux

10/25/18

P.4
Research Evidence: plant growth in magnesium

Abstract: ​This project involves adding magnesium to 20 types of water that's the same as the
rest; tap water. with added magnesium and the three glasses of water without added
magnesium. This is to test if plants will grow faster in extra magnesium-rich waters. We will do
this by adding a certain amount of magnesium to the waters and growing mung beans in those
waters. We will be testing one altered water with magnesium.

Background:azz
Water is important for photosynthesis because the Calvin cycle needs the oxygen found in
water for molecule manipulation cite​​ . The nutrients plants use are the following: ​oxygen
potassium sulfur calcium and Molybdenum magnesium. The nutrients found in water are
calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and phosphorus. Magnesium is the powerhouse for
photosynthesis. magnesium helps move the Calvin cycle more efficiently. Sodium is for plants to
grow to their “potential” faster, it's also important for plant reproduction. Potassium is important
for plant growth and maturity. Phosphorus is also used for the growth and “maturity” of the plant.

The paragraph on mung beans: Where does the initial nutrition come from? Are there any other
nutrients that are important for photosynthesis? What do you think will happen to the plant that
has the nutrients to photosynthesize? Greener leaves? You are just providing what it needs to
photosynthesize and how will that impact plant growth?

Significance and broader impacts:​ The purpose of this proposal is to show how to better grow
plants using differing amounts of magnesium. As of now, water hardness comes from
magnesium build ups inside of sinks which makes water “hard.” The water is only hard when it's
over the expected {Insert a number here} ppm. Now we predict that the same build up might
come from soil to plants; if there are too many minerals inside of water, the plants will not grow
as well in certain waters. There might be a way of increasing plant production by using certain
types of water with higher or lower magnesium levels than tap water. We believe there is cannot
be? too much magnesium for the plants because the plants absorb magnesium at their own
pace.

Question​: How does magnesium impact plant growth?

Null Hypothesis:​ There will be no significance in different magnesium levels.
Alternative Hypothesis 1:​ The mung beans will grow faster in water with a lower concentration
of magnesium.
Alternative Hypothesis 2: ​The mung beans will grow faster in water with a higher
concentration of magnesium

Methods:
To test the growth rate of plants we will add 2 tablets magnesium to three different types of
waters, to compare we will also grow the x amount of plants in water with no magnesium added.

Planting conditions:
Sample Size​:​ 40 individual mung bean plants, 20 in each group.

Planters:​ I'll use plastic cups with wet paper towels on the inside, The nutrients come from the
bean seed and the water until the bean absorbs them.

Placement​: ​ In the commons, away from natural lighting.

Watering schedule:​ We will check in on the plants every school day between 11:00 and 12:00
hours.

Amount of water:​ Just enough to keep the paper towel wet using water from already determined
solutions.

Lighting times:​ No natural light 24/7, fluorescent lights 7:40 am to 4:00 pm. Mon- Friday

Temperature​:​ 67 degrees Fahrenheit, or room temperature

​Soil:​ No soil, only plastic cups, and wet paper towels.

Materials:​ ​Magnesium, tap water, mung beans. These materials are relatively inexpensive. 20
plastic cups.

Item Where can you obtain this? Cost

magnesium amazon $15.75

cups amazon $29.95 for 200 cups

Mung beans Natures oasis $5-$8?

Data collection:
Plant height in comparison to plant with no added magnesium
Day sprouts recorded every day scheduled] at 11:00

Analysis Table

Overview

TW, A mag

TW A mag

TW A mag

TW A mag

TW A mag

TW A mag

TW A mag

TW A mag

TW A mag
 TW A mag

TW BASE
MAG

TW BASE
MAG

TW BASE
MAG

TW BASE
MAG

TW BASE
MAG

TW BASE
MAG

TW BASE
MAG

TW BASE
MAG

TW BASE
MAG

TW BASE
MAG

Recording Table
Sources

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www.businessdictionary.com/definition/parts-per-million-PPM.html

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and Comparison | Diffen​, www.diffen.com/difference/Hard_Water_vs_Soft_Water
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District,​ www.ntmwd.com/water-hardness/.

5.) ​Als, Big. ​YouTube​, YouTube, 24 Oct. 2014,

www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=311&v=EFc9cSlInoM.

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8.)​ Menon, and Agrawal. “Water Hardness Determination Using Mg(II) Ion Selective
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nopr.niscair.res.in/handle/123456789/30823.

9.) ​Playle, Richard C., et al. “Copper Accumulation on Gills of Fathead Minnows:
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Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry,​ Wiley-Blackwell, 20 Oct. 2009,
setac.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/etc.5620110312.

10.) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plant_nutrition
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