| Explore | We know that plants use the process of photosynthesis to convert sunlight in to energy. In addition, we know that seeds need the basics of water, soil, and enough space to germinate. So far in our research we have learned about the parts and functions of a seed. We also learned that nutrient rich soil with nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium are favorable for plant growth. |
|---|---|
| Research Question | Our group wants to investigate the affects of saline water on seed germination. We are interested in the process of evaporation of water and the salt that is left behind. We know that there are certain conditions that need to be met in order for a seed to germinate. This include nutrients such as magnesium, calcium, and sulfur but does not necessarily include sodium. |
| Predictions | We predict that if the concentration of sodium chloride is increased, then the percentage of seed germination will decrease. The independent variable is the amount of NaCl solution being added and the dependent variable is the percentage of the seed germinating. Salinity generally reduces shoot growth more than root growth and can reduce the flowering and increase sterility. |
| Experimental Design | Our plan is to have all six petri-dishes with three seeds; peas, corn, and nasturtium. We chose these three for the difference in seed type. The pea and nasturtium seeds are both dicots which are known for having a higher salt tolerance and the corn seed is a monocot. Our control dish will have pure H2O administered and will be our basis of comparison. The five remaining petri-dishes will be part of our experimental group. Each dish will have a different concentration of salt that’ll be calculated beforehand. Based on our previous experiment, we lowered the NaCl percent solutions to 1%, 3%, 5%, 7%, 9%. We’ll moisten the seeds every other day by pipetting the concentration 2-3 times onto the paper towels. |
| Investigation Theme | WOS |
| Grade Level | High School Students (Grades 9,10,11,12) |
| School Name | California Academy of Mathematics and Science |
| Session | Fall 2020 |