Comparing Phosphorus Soil Levels Bessemer Park and Russell Square Is Chicago Sustainable? By Ruby D.

Introduction ! Phosphorus (P) is a key nutrient in plants development and is needed for photosynthesis. P is also needed to form all oils, sugars, and starches in plants( this is how we humans get our P- form plants) P is involved in blooming, root growth and helps plants handle stress. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN PLANTS DON'T GET ENOUGH PHOSPHORUS ! : Plants that don't get enough P have thin-stems that are weak. Their growth is stunted or shortened, and their older leaves turn a dark bluish-green.

How do plants get phosphorus? P is macronutrient that plants obtain from the soil Because it’s a macronutrient, plants need it in macro( very large) amounts.

! Our question ! My team wanted to know… What is the difference in soil quality between our South Chicago community and other Chicago neighborhoods ?!

! Our prediction and hypothesis ! My team predicted that... – The soil in Bessemer Park will have more phosphorus than South Chicago.

! Methods ! Procedures ! : Testing the soil Procedures ! : Testing the soil Each group will recieve 2 Erlenmeyer flasks (125mL), each filled with 30mL of distilled water Each Erlenmeyer flask has a rubber stopper and one pipette Two people will recieve two,Floc-ex, tablets and insert them into the flasks of water. Once the tablets have been inserted, the flask must be shaken until the pills are disolved Once the solution is completely mixed and tablets dissolved, take three pinches of your soil and put into one of the flasks- then shake the soil/mixture vigiorously for one minute with the stopper on top.

Methods procedures: Once the solution is completely mixed and tablets dissolved, take three pinches of your soil and put into one of the flasks- then shake the soil/mixture vigiorously for one minute with the stopper on top.

Methods Materials! : Cups (four clear cups) Tablets Gloves (8) Flower pots (4) Ruler (cm) Camera Different soil (Houston, Russel square Park and Escanaba, Bessemer Park) Seeds ( four seeds, or 2 Daisy seeds, and 2 Tulipes seeds) Pipet (1) Recording chart

Methods ! Steps taken!! Steps taken!! Step One- different parks Russell Square and Bessemer park Step One- different parks Russell Square and Bessemer park Step Two-One cup of soil from each park (put on gloves). Step Two-One cup of soil from each park (put on gloves). Step three-label the flower pots (R) for Russell and (B) for Bessemer Park. Step three-label the flower pots (R) for Russell and (B) for Bessemer Park. Step four- Plant one seed in each flower pot one daisy and one tulip seed for each park pot. Step four- Plant one seed in each flower pot one daisy and one tulip seed for each park pot. Step five- Put the flower pots in the window where they can get the same amount of sunlight. Step five- Put the flower pots in the window where they can get the same amount of sunlight. Step Six- Water each pot until the soil is moist. Step Six- Water each pot until the soil is moist. Step Seven- Record the days it started to sprout ( how long it took from day one?) Step Seven- Record the days it started to sprout ( how long it took from day one?) Step Eight- Also measure the different height of it every ten days. (With cm ruler) Step Eight- Also measure the different height of it every ten days. (With cm ruler)

References Better crops Functions of phosphorus in plants. Better crops. Vol 83, NO 1. (6-7). Elmhurts phosphorus cycle. (Online). Available from: phosphorus.html phosphorus.html NCAGR Plants Nutrients. (online). Available from: ent.html ent.html