The Effect of Magnesium Nitrate and Calcium Nitrate on the Germination of Lettuce Seeds Hi. My name is Nicole Callahan. My science fair project was on the effect different nutrients, in chemical fertilizers, have on seed germination. The title of my project is The Effect of Magnesium Nitrate and Calcium Nitrate on the Germination of Lettuce Seeds. I am in 10th grade. By: Nicole Callahan

Question What effect do different concentrations of Magnesium Nitrate and Calcium Nitrate, two important secondary nutrients found in chemical fertilizers, have on lettuce seed germination? The question of my experiment was what effect do different concentrations, .1 Mol, .01 Mol, .001 Mol, .0001 Mol, of Magnesium Nitrate and Calcium Nitrate, two important secondary nutrients found in chemical fertilizers, have on lettuce seed germination? The purpose was to analyze the if various amounts of nutrients found in chemical fertilizers actually benefit seed growth and structure.

Background Fertilizer refers to any compound that contains one or more chemical elements, organic or inorganic, natural or synthetic, that is placed on or incorporated into the soil, or applied directly onto plants to achieve normal growth. Magnesium, a secondary nutrient, is essential for crop quality because of the unique role it plays in the photosynthesis process. Calcium is essential for good growth and structure. Fertilizer refers to any compound that contains one or more chemical elements, organic or inorganic, natural or synthetic, that is placed on or incorporated into the soil, or applied directly onto plants to achieve normal growth. Fertilizers are substances added to soil to improve the growth of plants. The essential nutrients needed for healthy plant development are nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium. There are, however, many other nutrients plants need to survive. Two of the most important secondary nutrients are magnesium and calcium. A secondary nutrient is also an essential supplement; however the quantities needed for proper plant development are much lower than the primary nutrients: potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus. Magnesium, a secondary nutrient, is essential for crop quality because of the unique role it plays in the photosynthesis process. It is apparent that the magnesium atom has a very specific role. It provides the chlorophyll with the exact absorption spectrum needed for this detailed and very precise process. Without magnesium the chlorophyll would not be able to initiate the process of photosynthesis. The chlorophyll is responsible for the light energy that the plant leaves collect. Calcium is essential for good growth and structure. Calcium enhances nutrient uptake by regulating the movement of nutrients into the roots and throughout the cells within the plant. Calcium activates the stimulation of the protein channels that take up the nutrients. Calcium also strengthens the plant, making it possible to fight off otherwise dangerous organisms.

Hypothesis It was hypothesized that the lettuce seeds which received these nutrients would exhibit more growth than the lettuce seeds which received only distilled water (control); yet, also that the seeds that received calcium nitrate would exhibit even more growth, because calcium promotes healthy plant growth and structure. It was hypothesized that the lettuce seeds which received the magnesium nitrate and calcium nitrate would exhibit more growth than the lettuce seeds which received only distilled water (control); yet, also that the seeds that received calcium nitrate would exhibit even more growth, because calcium promotes healthy plant growth and structure.

Additional Materials: Essentials: Bleach Distilled water Mg(NO3)2 Ca(NO3)3 Lettuce seeds Additional Materials: Petri dishes Filter paper 100mL graduated cylinder 100mL flask Pipette Ruler Safety goggles Gloves Apron The essential materials used in this experiment included: bleach distilled water Mg(NO3)2 Ca(NO3)2 lettuce seeds The magnesium nitrate and calcium nitrate were obtained from Flinn Scientific. Additional materials included: petri dishes filter paper 100mL graduated cylinder 100mL flask pipette ruler safety goggles gloves apron

Procedure I (Serial Dilutions) Control Measure 100mL of distilled water using graduated cylinder .1M Solution (Solution 1) Measure 100mL of Mg(NO3)2 using a graduated cylinder and pour into a flask Repeat for Ca(NO3)2 .01M Solution (Solution 2) Take 10mL from solution 1 and pour into a fresh flask Add 90mL of distilled water and mix thoroughly .001M Solution (Solution 3) Take 10mL from solution 2 and pour into fresh flask .0001M Solution (Solution 4) Take 10mL from

Procedure II (Sterilizing Seeds) Treat lettuce seeds is a 10% bleach solution Let sit for 20 minutes Rinse five times with distilled water

Procedure III (Arranging Seeds in Petri Dishes) Soak six seeds of filter paper with control substance Place 5 lettuce seeds onto each sheet of filter paper in Petri dishes (equally spread apart) Place lid on Petri dish Put all Petri dishes into a Ziploc bag Label bag “control” Soak three sheets of filter paper with Mg(NO3)2 solution 1 Place lids on Petri dishes Label bag “Mg(NO3)2 solution 1” Repeat steps 6-10 for Mg(NO3)2 solutions 2-4 and Ca(NO3)2 solutions 1-4

Variables Independent variable: concentration levels of Magnesium Nitrate and Calcium Nitrate Dependent variable: the germination rate and root lengths of the lettuce seeds Control: 100mL of distilled water Constants: seeds from same place, chemicals from same place, same type of distilled water, same measuring methods, etc. The independent variable for this experiment was the concentration levels of magnesium nitrate and calcium nitrate. The dependent variable for this experiment was the germination rate and root lengths of the lettuce seeds. The control for this experiment was 100mL of distilled water. Some constants for this experiment included the seeds and chemicals were purchased from the same place, the same type of distilled water was used, and the same measuring methods were used.

Data This graph shows the average root lengths for the seeds that were placed in the Magnesium Nitrate solutions. Notice that the seeds that were placed in the .0001M solution, the .001M solution, and the .01M solution exhibited more growth the seeds that were placed in the 0M solution (distilled water); however, the seeds that were placed in the .1M solution demonstrated no growth. This suggests that while small amounts of nutrients can help seed growth, too much nutrients can be detrimental.

Data This graph shows the average root lengths for the seeds that were placed in the Calcium Nitrate solutions. Notice that the seeds that were placed in the .0001M solution exhibited more growth than the seeds that were placed in the 0M solution (distilled water). The seeds that were placed in the .001M solution and the .01M solution exhibited almost the same amount of growth as the 0M solution. Lastly, the .1M solution was once again detrimental. This suggest that very little amounts of Calcium Nitrate are beneficial to seed growth and the slightest increase has no benefit and can eventually become detrimental.

Data This graph shows the average shoot lengths for the seeds that were placed in the Magnesium Nitrate solutions. Notice that the seeds that were placed in the .0001M solution and the .001M solution exhibited more growth than the seeds that were placed in the 0M solution. The .01M solution appeared to be slightly detrimental and the .1M solution appeared to be very detrimental. This suggests that small amounts of Magnesium Nitrate are beneficial to the shoot growth; however; solutions highly concentrated with nutrients can harm shoot growth.

Data This graph shows the average shoot lengths for the seeds that were placed in the Calcium Nitrate solutions. Notice that the seeds that were placed in 0M solution (distilled water) produced the shoots with the greatest lengths. The .0001M solution, .001M solution, and the .01 appeared to be very slightly harmful; however, .1M solution was very detrimental. This suggests that small amounts of Calcium Nitrate can be used; however, they are not required for successful growth. Also, that too much nutrients are detrimental.

Data This graph shows the average root to shoot ratio for both the seeds that were placed in the magnesium nitrate and the calcium nitrate solutions. Notice that the ratio ranges from 1-1.5 in the 0M solutions, the .0001M solutions, the .001M solutions and in the .01M solution, however only for the calcium nitrate. The ratio exceeds 1-1.5 in the .01M solution for magnesium nitrate and drops significantly below 1-1.5 in the .1M solutions. This suggests that both the root and shoot grew at a healthy rate in the 0M solutions, .0001M solutions, .001M solutions, and the .01M solution (calcium nitrate); whereas they did not grow at a healthy rate in the .01M solution (magnesium nitrate) and the .1M solutions.

Data This graph shows the total number of germinated seeds out of fifteen. Notice that in the 0M solutions (distilled water), the .0001M solutions, .001M solutions, and the .01 solutions almost every seed germinated. However, the seeds that were placed in the .1M solutions exhibited little to no growth. Once again, this suggests that small amounts of nutrients can benefit seed growth; whereas, too much nutrients can be detrimental.

Conclusion Hypothesis stated that the lettuce seeds which received the nutrients would exhibit more growth than the lettuce seeds which received only distilled water (control); yet, also that the seeds that received calcium nitrate would exhibit even more growth, because calcium promotes healthy plant growth and structure. The hypothesis was partially supported. The seeds that received the nutrients grew more abundantly than the seeds that received only distilled water, with one exception. The .1M solution was detrimental to seed growth because of its high concentration in nutrients. The hypothesis was rejected because the seeds that were placed in the calcium nitrate did not exhibit more growth than those placed in the magnesium nitrate. The hypothesis was partially accepted. It stated that the lettuce seeds which received the nutrients would exhibit more growth than the lettuce seeds which received only distilled water (control); yet, also that the seeds that received calcium nitrate would exhibit even more growth, because calcium promotes healthy plant growth and structure. The seeds that were placed in the magnesium nitrate and calcium nitrate did in fact exhibit more growth, with one exception. The .1M solution proved to be detrimental because of its high concentration of nutrients. The hypothesis was rejected because the seeds that were placed in the calcium nitrate did not exhibit more growth than the seeds that were place in the magnesium nitrate.

Improvements Sources of Error Further Study Temperature fluctuations Unhealthy seeds Further Study An attempt to acquire the primary nutrients Various types of seeds could be used Test the effect of all the nutrients found in fertilizers There were various factors that could have effected this experiment. The seeds were originally kept in a drawer at room temperature, it is possible that the temperature inside the drawer could have fluctuated. Secondly, there were a small amount of seeds that did not germinate. This could have led to many variations in the data collected. To further this study and improve the experiment, an attempt to acquire the primary nutrients could be made. This would represent the overall effect fertilizers have on healthy growth and structure, due to the fact that they are the most abundant in chemical fertilizers. Also various types of seeds and other nutrients could be used. This would produce very diverse results providing the experimenter with an outlook on how fertilizers assist and or hinder plant growth.

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