The Effect of Different Soil Moistures on Radish Germination
Researched by Ashley K.
2003-04
PURPOSE
The purpose was to determine the effect of soil moisture on the germination of radishes.  

I became interested in this idea when my first experiment didn’t work correctly.

The information gained from this experiment would be interesting to anyone who is interested in growing radishes.

HYPOTHESIS

My hypothesis was that the high moisture plants, watered at 45 ml, every three days, would germinate the best.  

I based my hypothesis on what my mother told me about her childhood experiences with growing and experimenting with radishes.  

 EXPERIMENT DESIGN

The constants in this study were:

  •  The species of radish
  •  Seed age
  •  Seed storage 
  •  Soil moisture
  •  Temperature
  •  Amount of light
  •  Tray size 
  •  Tray shape
  •  Time planted
  •  Amount of soil 
  •  Soil type
  •  Testing procedures
  •  Planting depth 
  •  Planting procedure 
  •  Plants per pot
  •  Plants time to grow 
The manipulated variable was the amount of water the plants were watered with.

The responding variable was the percentage of radishes that did germinate.  

To measure the responding variable I counted the number of seeds that germinated. Then I calculated the percentage that did germinate.  

MATERIALS


QUANTITY 		 ITEM DESCRIPTION
10 planting trays (the same size and shape)
 20  seeds (per tray) 
2 pints potting soil (in each tray)
1 measuring stick
200 radish seeds
1 good grow light

 


 


PROCEDURES

1. Getting the soil
a. find or buy 10 trays that are the same size and shape
b. get a good grow light 
c. get some scarlet white tip radish seeds
d. buy the soil 
e. put 2 pints (4 cups) of soil in each tray

2. Planting the Seeds and Getting started on the Experiment
a. get the measuring stick
b. count out 20 radish seeds for each tray
c. using the measuring stick, push all 20 seeds into one tray, spread the seeds about a cm (or more) apart
d. repeat step 2c until all 10 trays are filled
e. place the trays in an area that is about 20*C
f. DO NOT WATER the first tray
g. tape a piece of paper on the side saying 0ml
h. with a graduated cylinder water one with 5 ml of water
i. tape a piece of paper on the side saying 5ml
j. water the 3rd one with 10 ml of water 
k. tape a piece of paper on the side saying10ml
l. water the 4th one with15 ml of water
m. tape a piece of paper on the side saying15ml
n. water the 5th one with 20ml of water
o. tape a piece of paper on the side saying20ml
p. water the 6th tray with25ml of water
q. tape a piece of paper on the side saying25ml
r. water the 7th tray with 30ml 
s. tape a piece of paper on the side saying30ml
t. water the 8th one with 35ml
u. tape a piece of paper on the side saying35ml
v. water the 9th one with 40ml 
w. tape a piece of paper on the side that says 40ml
x. water the last one with 45ml
y. tape a piece of paper on the side saying 45ml
z. every day water the plants
aa. then make observations
bb. later that day make more observations
cc. the plants should be done germinating in about six days, if not they won’t be germinating at all 
3. Comparing
a. after the plants have had enough time, count how many have germinated in each tray
b. calculate the percentage of them that did germinate in their conditions 
 

RESULTS

The original purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of soil moisture on the germination of radishes.

The results of the experiment were that the radishes watered with 45ml of water daily, germinated the best.  

See the table and graph below.


 


CONCLUSION

My hypothesis was that the high moisture plants, watered at 45 ml, every day, would germinate the best.  

The results indicate that this hypothesis should be accepted, because the tray with 45ml of water had one of the highest germination levels. The one with 40ml and the one with 45ml of water both had all 20 seeds germinating.  

Because of the results of this experiment, I wonder if I started the plants out with a grow light, by the heater, if they would grow better.  

If I were to conduct this project again I would take more notes, start the plants out in better growing conditions, with a grow light, and start my project earlier.  


RESEARCH REPORT

Introduction

Plants are a big part of life as we know it. They are a big help to almost everything in the world. Without plants life would end. Everything would die off eventually, because people use them for food, and for their animals’ food, and for lumber to make houses.

Water

Water also is a big part of life. Every living thing needs water, even plants need water. If there was no water not only would people and other things die. But plants would die as well.  

Plants

Plants can provide lumber for houses, food, and jobs for people who grow them. They also provide oxygen for people to breathe. Plants can make their own food. The chemical equation for this is 6 H2O + 6 CO2 = C6H12O6 + 6O2. That is also known as photosynthesis. There are so many plants in the world and there are a lot species that have not even been discovered yet. It would be impossible to even try to list of name them all.

Radishes

Radishes are a hot and spicy (depending on how much they are watered) vegetable that can be used for food for people and for animals. They have juicy roots that can be cut and put into salads or eaten alone. Radishes also have big bushy and can be round or shapes like icicles. They can weigh anywhere from1 ounce to 2 pounds. They have very tiny seeds that need to be watered a lot. Radishes have a wide range of colors. They can be white, red, yellow, pink, purple, black, or a combination of red and white. Radishes grow best in cool or cold weather because they can withstand the frost. You can harvest radishes in about 20 to 60 days after they have been planted.

Agriculture

Agriculture is the most important industry in the world. It provides us with clothes, paints, foods, and jobs. The job it provides us with is farming. The food that farming provides are animals such as chickens, hogs, turkeys, cattle, and plants such as potatoes, beans, wheat, barley, rice, all sorts of fruits, grass, corn, and radishes.

Summary

Many people don’t understand how important plants really are. If plants are destroyed so is our world. Water is very important for plants.
BIBLIOGRAPHY







Arnald, James D. "Plants,” World Book Encyclopedia, 1999.

Bristly Starbur, Acanthospermum hispidum October 15,2003 http://edis. ifas. ufl. edu/BODY_FW004

Goatheads /Puncurevine November 5,2003 http://goatheads. com/history.html 

Hershey, David R. Plant Biology selah schools, science project, SIS science, S.I.S. New York John Wiley & sons, Inc. 1995 

Oregon Noxious Weed Web. October 29, 2003 http://oregonweeds. org/weeds_puncurevine.html 

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank the folowing people for helping me with my project
  • Mr. Newkirk for being a great teacher and showing me how to do things
  • Mrs. Helms for helping me fix my mistakes
  • Breanna for incouraging me to do my best
  • My mom and dad for not letting me quit

 
 

Top of page

Menu of 2003-2004 Science Projects

Back to the Selah Homepage