Number Title Aim Problem Statement Hypothesis Variables

Activity 6.8 (Experiment) Studying the effects of macronutrient deficiency in plants To study the effects of macronutrient deficiency in plants What are the effects of macronutrient deficiency in plants?

Plant grows healthily in a complete Knops solution Macronutrient deficiencies affect plant growth and development. Manipulated variable Responding variable Fixed variable : Components of minerals in culture solution : Growth of the seedling /Condition of the plants : Volume and concentration of solution, size and type of maize seedlings, amount of air that is pumped into the jar, amount of sunlight, surrounding temperature

Material

Maize seedlings, Potassium nitrate (KNO3), Potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH2PO4), Magnesium sulphate (MgSO4), Calcium nitrate (Ca(NO3)2), Ferum(III) phosphate (FePO4), Cotton wool, Black paper, Distilled water

Apparatus Technique used Procedure

Glass jars, Rubber bungs with holes, Straight glass tubes to fit into the holes of the rubber bungs, L-shaped delivery tubes to the connected to a vacuum pump, Knife Observe the effects of different deficiencies on young maize seedling. Maize seedling is under identical conditions of light, temperature and moisture. 1. Eight glass jars are prepared and labelled A Io H. 2. The jars are filled with culture solutions prepared as shown in the Table 6.9. 3. Each jar is set up as shown in figure. 4. Every jar is wrapped with black paper to prevent light from penetrating into the culture solution. This is to discourage the growth of green algae which will deplete the nutrients of the culture solution and affect the results of the experiment. 5. The culture solution in each jar is aerated using an air pump to ensure that the roots of the seedling obtain oxygen for respiration. 6. All the sets are exposed to light so that the seedling are able to carry out photosynthesis. 7. The culture solution in each jar is replaced every week to ensure that the nutrients which are supposed to be available are not depleted. 8. Observation is taken after a month. Each seedling is observed and noted for the following aspects: A. The size, shape, colour and number of leaves B. The height of the seedling C. The length of roots and the growth of branches D. The strength of the stem 9. Any other abnormal characteristics shown are noted.

Results

Conclusion

Hypothesis is accepted. Plants will only grow healthily when the contents of the nutrient components in the gas jar are complete (jar B). If there is a deficiency of a certain nutrient, the plant will have symptoms that show what is lacking.