Planting Science - Projects: CCHS Team 3
You are here: Home / Groups / CCHS Parfitt Spring 2017 / Projects / CCHS Team 3

CCHS Team 3

Project by group cchsparfittspring2017

Explore
Research Question How does salt concentration affect fern germination and growth?
Predictions We think that higher salt concentration will cause there to be less germination and growth for the ferns. This is because the salt will dehydrate the ferns and deprive them of nutrients.
Experimental Design We added 0%, .01%, .05%, and .5% concentrations of salt to the augur in each petri dish. This was replenished every Wednesday. We observed the ferns every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Once they got big enough, we identified 5 ferns in each dish with a sharpie in order to measure growth. We used the arrow in the microscope on scanning power to measure growth.
Conclusion In conclusion, as salt concentration increased, germination increased as well. This is a direct relationship and is the opposite of what we thought. In the .01% concentration, % germinated went from 30% to 52% to 100% on 3/6, 3/8, and 3/13, respectively; in the .05% it went from 26% to 60% to 100%; in the .5% it went from 27% to 74% to 100%; and in the control it went from 13% to 48% to 100%. This may be due to the fact that plants under stress (salt) can be spurred to grow a bit faster. Also, the salt concentrations we added may not have been enough to have a significant negative effect on the ferns. In later experiments, growth could be measured as well (we didn't have time) to add to the germination data, and higher salt concentrations could be tested.
Investigation Theme CFERN
Grade Level High School Students (Grades 9,10,11,12)
School Name Cheyenne Central High School
Session Spring 2017

Team

LogoWithTags.png

f_logo_RGB-Black_72.png 2021_Twitter_logo_-_black.png icons8-mail-30.png

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

GET INVOLVED AS A TEACHER  *   GET INVOLVED AS A SCIENTIST MENTOR

SUPPORT US!   *   TERMS OF USE

NSF_Logo.jpg This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant #2010556 and #1502892. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

Copyright © 2022 PlantingScience -- Powered by HUBzero®, a Purdue project