Will nitrates, calcium, and potassium improve health of plants grown in soil contaminated with copper sulfate? Andrew Pham Biology II period 4

Background Research Copper sulfate is commonly used as an herbicide for killing plant roots that are too close to pipe lines and for killing off algae in aquatic tanks; thus, copper sulfate is toxic to plant life. Copper sulfate is commonly used as an herbicide for killing plant roots that are too close to pipe lines and for killing off algae in aquatic tanks; thus, copper sulfate is toxic to plant life. Potassium is detailed to be a major factor in the longevity and persistence of a plant. Potassium also stimulates plant growth, increases protein production, improves resistance to disease, and many other beneficial things. Potassium is detailed to be a major factor in the longevity and persistence of a plant. Potassium also stimulates plant growth, increases protein production, improves resistance to disease, and many other beneficial things. Phytoremediation is the “use of plants to absorb pollutants from air, water, and soil” (Adler, 1996) Phytoremediation is the “use of plants to absorb pollutants from air, water, and soil” (Adler, 1996) ontent;col1

Introduction and Background Plants require many nutrients to grow healthy and properly. Among all the nutrients that plants crave for, nitrates, calcium, and potassium are among the most important. Copper sulfate is commonly used as an herbicide for killing plant roots that are too close to pipe lines and for killing off algae in aquatic tanks; thus, copper sulfate is toxic to plant life. The purpose of this experiment is to determine if nitrates, calcium, or potassium will improve the health of plants grown in soil contaminated with copper sulfate. I predict that if potassium is added to the soil, then the plants will have a better chance of surviving in the toxic soil because potassium is shown to have significant beneficial properties to plants. This experiment is important because the information gained may help to determine the kinds of nutrients plants may need if they are grown in toxic soils.

Experimental Design Diagram Hypothesis: The experimenter hypothesized, if potassium is added to the soil, then the plants will have a better chance of surviving in the toxic soil. Independent Variable: The different treatments of nutrients applied to the soil contaminated with copper sulfate. Levels of IVControlNitratesCalciumPotassium Trials5 cups with 5 kidney beans in each Dependent Variable:The number of kidney beans with cracked seed coating Controlled Variables (constants): Cups, Amount of water, Amount of beans in each cup, Sunlight, Soil contaminated with copper sulfate, and Time

Materials and Equipment Procedures: 1. Boil 800 mL of water 2. Saturate the water with copper sulfate 3. Dump bag of potting mix into a large tub and mix in the copper sulfate solution 4. Prepare the nutrients for addition to the soil by crushing calcium pills 5. fill each cup half way with the potting soil and copper sulfate mixture 6. To 5 cups add a half tablespoon of Miracle-Gro plant food, mix, then label the cups as nitrogen 7. To 5 cups add a half tablespoon of crushed calcium pills and label cups as calcium 8. To 5 cups add a half tablespoon of Muriate of Potash and label cups as potassium 9. Plant 5 red kidney beans in each cup. 10. Water all cups every four days for about a month. 11. Record any growth observed with each watering. 12. If no growth is observed by the end of the experiment, cup by cup remove the soil 13. Find the seeds to examine if anything has changed with the seed and record data. red kidney beans calcium pills culpric sulfate (copper sulfate) Miracle-Gro plant food large spoon water Miracle-Gro potting mix Muriate of Potash clear cups portable stove graduated cylinder beakers large tub measuring spoons

Data Table Will nitrates, calcium, and potassium improve health of plants grown in soil contaminated with copper sulfate? DV: The number of kidney beans with cracked seed coating IV: Nutrients Trial 1Trial 2Trial 3Trial 4Trial 5Mean/Ave Control Nitrates Calcium (rounded to nearest whole seed) Potassium000000

Data Analysis Data Analysis: Based on the data collected, the treatment most effective at helping the red kidney beans break its seed coat was the Calcium. The others seemed to do nothing.

Materials used in experiment Pictures taken by Student

The 4 different treatment groups Pictures taken by student

In all of the trials only a single kidney bean succeeded in producing a sprout. This sprout was observed in a cup treated with calcium. Pictures taken by student

The beans were unchanged in every trial/treatment excluding the ones treated with Calcium. On a few beans a grey/blue covering was observed. Pictures taken by student

Conclusion The purpose of this investigation is to determine if nitrates, calcium, or potassium will improve the health of plants grown in soil contaminated with copper sulfate. The results were that none of the beans, but one, grew. A few only broke through its seed coating and stopped there. The mean was taken for the amount of beans with a cracked seed coating. The mean for the control group was zero. The mean for the group treated with potassium was zero. The mean for the group treated with nitrogen was zero. The mean for the group treated with calcium was 2. The instrumental error on the measuring spoons used to measure out ½ tablespoons (15 mL) was ±.5 mL. The data did not support the experimenter’s hypothesis which was if potassium is added to the soil, then the plants will have a better chance of surviving in the toxic soil. The outcome may have been what it was because calcium is utilized by the plant for continuous cell division and formation, which is something essential in plant growth. The limits of this experiment was that only three different nutrients were tested and all at the same levels. A systematic error may have occurred if the copper sulfate was not evenly mixed throughout the soil used. Further experimentation can be done to see if different levels of calcium will have a better affect on the growth of red kidney beans in toxic soil. You could improve this collection of data and be more confident in its results if more trials were done with less amounts of copper sulfate. This study can be deepened by using different types of plants on real environments with polluted soil. Further research can be done on the uses of different types of plants in cleaning its environment.

Works Cited 1.Adler, Tina. "Botanical Cleanup Crews: Using Plants to Tackle Polluted Water and Soil – Phytoremediation | Science News | Find Articles at BNET." The CBS Interactive Business Network. BNET, 20 July Web. 12 Oct < ent;col1 >. 2.Galbreath-O'Leary, Braden. "A Call to Ban Copper Sulfate (an Algaecide) For Use in America's Waters." Ezine Articles. Ezine Articles, 19 May Web. 13 Oct < Use-in- Americas-Waters&id= >. 3.Rehm, George, and Michael Schmitt. "Potassium for Crop Production." University of Minnesota Extension. University of Minnesota, Web. 13 Oct <