Abstract

The general overview of this particular experiment entails two different groups. The groups in question are experimental and control group. We conducted a three-week study into the effect of fertilizer on radish plants. Therefore, as part of the experiment, the group used six medium sized plant pots labeled pot 1, pot 2, pot 3, pot 4, pot 5 and pot 6. We hypothesized that the fertilizer would have an effect on the growth of radish plant. Between the two groups, one was watered with fertilizer while the other was not. However, all of them were given water and placed outside where there was sunlight.

The pots with fertilizer grew faster with healthy leaves and stems while the pots without fertilizer took a day more to grow and the leaves were not as flourishing as those with fertilizer. Similarly, during the period of growth and maturity, we measured the weight of the roots, circumferences, and leaf surface area and compared the development between the two groups. From the data collected, the group concluded that treating radish plants with fertilizer will increase the stem height, weight, and circumference of fresh roots. Also, the use of fertilizer will increase the surface area of the leaves.

Introduction

The use of fertilizers in plants plays a crucial role in their growth. Therefore, fertilizers were used in this experiment to provide nutrients to the radish plants and see if it would boost their growth. When we started our experiment, our hypothesis was that fertilizer would have an effect on the growth of radish plants. The group was very cautious and avoided fertilizers high in nitrogen since it could kill the plants. However, more fertilizers will be required after a certain period since radish plants would have absorbed most of the nutrients in the soil (Hershey, 2002). Therefore, refilling the pots with fertilizers would be significant for their growth.

The radish was domesticated in Europe during the pre-Roman period. However, it is an edible root of the family Brassicaceae (Lim, 2014).  There is a wide variety of radishes, and they include scarlet globe, crimson giant, bartender and long scarlet. In the group, we used a scarlet globe. They are round red roots with white flesh and they normally grow to 1 inch (Shry, & Reiley, 2010). The plant has 1 to 2 linear leaflet. After sowing the seeds, a radish plant can take up to 1day to germinate, and a fully matured plant will grow to 3 inches (Shry, & Reiley, 2010). However, for our case whereby we used fertilizers and water, the seed will only take one day to germinate. Radish plant has the following nutrients. They are rich in potassium, folic and ascorbic acid. However, they grow well in soil with a pH of around 5.8 and 6.8 (Shry, & Reiley, 2010).

Radish plant has the following health benefits. First, it helps to a sooth sore throat. Their pungent flavor is useful in eliminating excess mucus in a person’s body. Second, it provides vitamin-C and improves the immune system health (Hemming, 2011). When a person takes a half cup of radishes in a day, it will improve his/her immune system by providing vitamin-C. Third, it helps to cure urinary disorders. Radishes increase the production of urine in a body. Also, it prevents infections in the kidney and the urinary system by cleaning out the excess toxins in the system (Hemming, 2011). Similarly, the economic benefits of radish plants include the following. The roots of the plant are used as food (Hemming, 2011). People normally eat the tap root and they also use the top as a leaf vegetable. However, the entire radish plant is edible Also, people can harvest the plant and sell hence generating revenue. Radish plants are also useful in the production of biofuels. It is economically significant since it offers relief from societal demand for petroleum and other fossil fuels (Jenkins, Williams, Parker, Tittmann, Hart, Gildart, & Dempster, 2009). Similarly, the combustion of biofuel from radish plants contribute less to global climate hence reducing the amount of money the government would have spent to campaign against climate change or global warming effects.

There are other similar studies carried out on radish plant. One of them was to determine the effect of peach Snapple ice tea on radish plant. It was concluded that radish plants watered with Snapple weakened their development compared to the one that received water only (Hemming, 2011).

The hypothesis is that the seeds that receive fertilizer will grow faster than those that did not. The objective of the experiment is to study the effect of fertilizers on radish plant and how the lack of fertilizers can affect the growth of the seeds planted.

Materials  

The experiment was conducted in the school’s science laboratory 26.1333˚ N, 80.2000˚ W.

1. 1 packet of radish plant
2. Fertilizers
3. Tap water
4. 6 Medium sized plant pots
5. Ruler (1 meter)
6. Graduated cylinders
7. Scale
8. Soil required for 6 pots

 Method

1. Take 6 medium sized plant pots and label them pot 1 to pot 6.
2. Fill the pots with the same amount of soil.
3. Plant more than one radish seed in each pot in case some do not germinate. After germinating remove the unwanted plant from the pots.
4. Plant pots labeled pot 1, pot 2 and pot 3 were the control group and were given 35ml of water every day for three weeks.
5. Plant pots labeled pot 4, pot 5 and pot 6 were the experimental group and were given 35 ml of water every day and 100% recommended amount of fertilizers every week for three weeks.
6. The height of the radish plant in each pot is measured and the averages are computed and recorded in the table below.

 Results

Table 1: Radish growth by weeks

(Source: Coleman, 2014)

From the table above, it is observed that the control group (pot 1, pot 2, and pot 3) grew on average with a slower rate than the experimental group (pot 4, pot 5 and pot 6) in the three weeks the group conducted the experiment. Therefore, the plants on experimental group had the fastest growth in three weeks since they followed the recommended concentration of fertilizer and water.

Figure 1: Growth of control and experimental groups

The graph below shows that radish plants both in the control and experimental groups grew over the time of the study but at different rates. The plant in pot 5 grew the tallest while the plant in pot 3 grew the shortest of all.

(Source: Coleman, 2014)

Similarly, the results of the root weight and circumferences, leaf surface area, and leaf dry weight have been recorded below.

Table 2: Average root weight, root circumference, leaf surface area and leaf dry weight

(Source: Coleman, 2014)

Treating radish plants with fertilizer will increase the weight of the roots, root circumference, and leaf surface area. This is because the use of fertilizers provides adequate nutrients to the plant that makes it flourish and grow well.

Conclusion

The hypothesis that the seeds that received fertilizer would grow faster than those that did not is proven right. The data we collected may be questionable although it provided a wide difference in the growth of the two groups. I used three plant pots for each group; however, it would have been better if I used more to increase the sample size. This would also have increased the reliability of my results.

Ultimately, the use of a recommended amount of fertilizer is important since it optimizes the yields of the farm. Similarly, it is not recommended to use continually fertilizer because it will cause nutrients and salts to accumulate in the soil during that period. Therefore, it would be for the benefit of the farmer to use fertilizers once in a week. The farmer can also test the soil to improve and protect the crops.

References

Coleman, E. (2014). Four-season harvest: Organic vegetables from your home garden all year long, 2nd edition. White River Junction: Chelsea Green Publishing.

Hemming, D. (2011). Plant sciences reviews 2010. Wallingford, Oxfordshire, UK: CABI.

Hershey, D. (2002). How do the amount of fertilizer affect plant growth? Retrieved from http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/2002-04/1019088560.Bt.r.html

Jenkins, B., Williams, R., Parker, N., Tittmann, P., Hart, Q., Gildart, M., & Dempster, P. (2009). Sustainable use of California biomass resources can help meet state and national bioenergy targets. California Agriculture, 63(4), 168-177.

Lim, T. K. (2014). Edible medicinal and non medicinal plants: volume 9, modified stems, roots, bulbs. Springer.

Shry, C., & Reiley, E. (2010). Introductory horticulture. Cengage Learning.

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