How Salinization 

Affects Bean 
Growth  
  
(Lab Report)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Donica Matthews  

Paulina Paz and Emily Poole 

AP Environmental Science  

December 10, 2018  

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Lab Report

I. How Salinization Affects Bean Growth

II. Introduction​:

Salinization is the process soil undergoes, after the action of adding salt to nonsaline soil,

experiencing the actions of becoming saline. Plants need a small amount of salt to survive,

therefore the presence of salt is necessary. There are many negative effects, however, of

salinization. Levels of salts in the soil water may be too high, which may lead the high

concentrations of the mineral to be poisonous for the plant. This may cause water to flow from

the roots, back into the soil. Results of vast amounts of salt in a plant may lead to dehydration,

causing the plant to eventually die. Our group is planning to test the process of salinization with

beans and how it will affect its growth. The less amount of salt that is given to the bean, the more

the bean will grow, increasing the lifespan.

III. Methods:

Our materials were: salt, beans, five petri dishes, beakers, a graduated cylinder, an electronic

balance, water dropper, and paper towels.

1. Choose percentages of the highest concentration, containing the most salt, and the lowest

concentration, consisting of no salt.

2. Create five total concentrations.

a. We cut each concentration in half, causing our highest concentration to be 2%,

while the second concentration was 1%. The third concentration was 0.5%, the

fourth concentration was 0.25%, and the lowest concentration was 0%.

3. We used the process of cereal delusion in order to achieve the different solutions.

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 4. Begin ripping paper towels to fit into the petri dishes.

5. Place ten seeds onto each of the five petri dishes.

6. Place 1 mL of water droplets above of the beans in each petri dish.

a. We controlled the amount of water being placed in order to wet the paper towels,

being 2 mL rather than 1 mL.

7. Over the course of the week, check on each petri dish, comparing the data on a graph in

your notebook.

a. My group and I watched and analyzed the differences between the process of

salinization between each bean throughout the week.

IV. Results: ​On the second and third day of watering our beans, the 0.25% was the most

sprouted, in comparison to the other four percentages. However, by the fourth day, 0%

had more than half of the beans sprouted and became the lead of the most sprouted

percentage, agreeing with my group’s hypothesis. 0.5%, on the first day, similar to the

0.25%, had one out of the ten beans sprouted, however showing more signs of

transformation. 1% and 2% was having difficulties in showing signs of sprouting,

blooming, or any other changes. There were slight differences made between the

following four days. After analyzing the data, my group and I’s hypothesis resulted in

being correct. The less amount of salt that is given to the bean, the more the bean will

grow, increasing the lifespan.

Qualitative

Percentage Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5

of Saltwater

0% Beginning to There was a More than half As the previous As the previous
sprout slight increase of the beans day, this was the day, this was the

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 on the previous sprouted. This most sprouted most sprouted
sprouting. led to the newest percentage. percentage.
most sprouted
percentage.

0.25% Out of the five Out of the five Continued Continued This resulted in
percentages, this percentages, this showing more showing more being the second
was the most still was the advanced advanced most sprouted
sprouted. most sprouted. sprouting. sprouting. percentage.

0.5% One out of the There was a There was a There was a There was a
ten beans had slight increase slight increase slight increase slight increase
sprouted. on the previous on the previous on the previous on the previous
sprouting. sprouting. sprouting. sprouting.

1% There was very There was a There was no There was no There was no
little signs of slight increase change. change. change.
sprouting. on the previous
sprouting.

2% There was very There was a There was no There was no There was no
little signs of slight increase change. change. change.
sprouting. on the previous
sprouting.

Quantitative

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 Number of Beans Sprouted 

(This is the bar graph from my notebook.) 

V. Discussion: In conclusion, my group’s hypothesis was tested to be correct, resulting in a

successful experiment. A recommendation I have for other groups performing this

experiment is to continuously collect and analyze your data. The simple task of noting the

sprouting of the beans daily, can impact the experiment if not done correctly. Also, the

hydration of the beans are extremely important. Always remember to water the beans

daily also, to receive the correct final results. The process of salinization, overall,

decreased the amount of growth within the beans. No salinization allowed the beans to

flourish.