| Explore | One observation/ trend we saw within many of the trees we observed was that many of them suffered from cankers. These are isolated dead areas on the bark, stems, branches, or twigs that can appear as discolored or scabs. We also noticed that most of the trees along the sidewalks have their roots visible because they were planted too close to the street. Since the tree roots cannot continue to grow down due to lack of space, they seem to be growing upward. The tree’s appearance can also be different based on the seasons, such as some trees having no leaves.Another thing we noticed is that a lot of tree branches, or even the trunk itself, seem to bend in all types of directions and we wondered if this is due to the genetics of the tree or because of the environment it grew up in? |
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| Research Question | -How does the ph in the soil affect the health of the tree? In a different location, compare the ph soil and see how other factors of the tree are affected. Compare leaves, check if there are any cankers, any visible fungus/bacteria. |
| Predictions | Possible outcomes of our study could include getting a high pH soil level, a low pH soil level, or a neutral pH soil level. The more alkaline soil has, the more it can affect new leaves and cause plant tissue to die. Weather, temperature, and water flow are factors in soil pH levels so because of California's climate, trees in certain areas might benefit better than those in others. |
| Experimental Design | Procedure: 1. Find two trees that are the same but in different locations. 2. Dig 6 inches deep then collect ⅓ cup of samples from a single place (collect ⅓ cup of samples 3 times) and mix them together to get an “average” sample. (total of about 1 cup of soil) 3. If wet, allow the soil to dry overnight. 4. Remove any sticks, rocks, leaves, or anything that is not soil. 5. Crush clumps of soil 6. Label the samples based on their locations. Extraction: 7. Fill the round extraction tube (0725) to the 30mL line with distilled water. 8. Add two *Floc-Ex Tablets (5504A). Cap the tube and mix until the tablets have disintegrated. 9. Remove the cap. Add one heaping teaspoon of soil. 10. Cap the tube and shake for one minute. 11. Let the tube stand until the soil settles out. The clear solution above the soil will be used for the Nitrate, Phosphorus, and Potassium tests. Nitrogen: 12. Use the pipet (30444) to transfer the clear solution above the soil to a square test tube (0106) until it is filled to the shoulder. 13. Add one *Nitrate WR CTA Tablet (3703A). Immediately slide the tube into the Protective Sleeve (0106-FP). 14. Cap and mix by inverting for 2 minutes to disintegrate the tablet. Bits of the material may remain in the sample. 15. Wait 5 minutes for the color to develop. Remove the tube from Protective Sleeve. Compare the pink color of the solution to the Nitrogen Color Chart (1382). L = 40 lb/ A/6” soil M = 160 lb/ A/6”soil H = 320 lb/ A/6”soil Phosphorus: 16. Use the pipet (30444) to transfer 25 drops of the clear solution above the soil to a square test tube (0106). 17. Fill the tube to the shoulder with distilled water. 18. Add one Phosphorus Tablet (5422A). Cap and mix until the tablet disintegrates. Wait 5 minutes for the color to develop. 19. Compare the blue color of the solution to the Phosphorus Color Chart (1382). L = 8 lb/ A/6” soil M = 20 lb/ A/6” soil H = 64 lb/ A/6” soil Potassium: 20. Use the pipet (30444) to transfer the clear solution above the soil to a square test tube (0106) until it is filled to the shoulder. 21. Add one *Potassium Tablet (5424A). Cap and mix until the tablet disintegrates. 22. Compare the cloudiness of the solution in the test tube to the Potassium Color Chart (1382). Hold the tube over the black boxes in the left column and compare it to the shaded boxes in the right column. L = 40 lb/ A/6” soil M = 80 lb/ A/6” soil H = 160 lb/ A/6”soil Alkaline: 23. On a table, for each tree, put found results/observations. 24.Compare the two samples together. 25. For each tree check the leaves, bark, if there are any cankers, if the roots are sticking out, if there are any visible fungus/bacteria, and compare them to the other tree. |
| Conclusion | Tree 1: Near Benches -Healthy Leaves -Stressed Tree -Exposed Roots -Fungus/Bacteria -Side Growth -Worms in soil - Soil pH=8 - Nitrogen=M - Phosphorus=L - Potassium=L Tree 2: Near Bathroom -Cankers -Leaves might have a bug-eating them or has fungus/bacteria =Pillbugs and worms in the soil -Flowers growing around the tree -Soil pH=5 -Nitrogen=L - Phosphorus=L - Potassium=H |
| Investigation Theme | TREE |
| Grade Level | High School Students (Grades 9,10,11,12) |
| Teacher Name | Crystal Davis |
| School Name | California Academy of Mathematics and Science |
| Session | Spring 2021 |