The Effect of Both Synthetic and Natural Fertilizer on the Germination of Corn

Researched by Jacob R.
2003-04

PURPOSE

The purpose of this experiment was to compare the effect of both synthetic and organic fertilizers on the germination of corn (Zea Mays. )

I became interested in this idea because my grandpa was a farmer and I wanted to learn more about boosting crop growth.  

The information gained from this experiment will help farmers and gardeners to know which fertilizer will make corn grow faster.

Back To Top of Page

HYPOTHESIS

My hypothesis was that the synthetic fertilizer would make the corn germinate faster than the natural fertilizer.

I based my hypothesis on information I found in Encarta stating that natural fertilizer is deficient in three important nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. A synthetic fertilizer has about 20 times as much nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium as an equally massive amount of natural fertilizer.

Back To Top of Page

EXPERIMENT DESIGN

The constants in this study were:

  • Species of corn
  • Seed age/storage method
  • Temperature
  • Light
  • Pot size/shape
  • Amount of fertilizer
  • Paper towel
  • Amount of water 
  • Number of seeds
  • Brand of fertilizer
  • Number of days


The manipulated variable was type of fertilizer.  

The responding variable was germination rate of the corn.  

To measure the responding variable I will count the germinated seeds.

Back To Top of Page

MATERIALS
 

QUANTITY
ITEM DESCRIPTION
25 Corn Seeds
1 bag  Organic Fertilizer
1 bag  Miracle Grow (synthetic fertilizer)
1  Ruler
Unlimited Supply Tap Water
1 Pencil
1-roll Paper Towels
3  Plastic Cups
1 Syringe
3 1 Quart Jars
Back To Top of Page

PROCEDURES

1. Lay a one meter long paper towel strip horizontally on a table.   Draw a horizontal line with a pencil five centimeters up from the bottom edge of the paper.
2. Cross-mark that pencil line every three centimeters until you have 25 marks.
3. Now put a seed on each mark.  
4. Fold the paper towel upward along the line, so each seed is in the crease or fold.
5. Next roll the paper tightly down its length and wrap a rubber band around it.  
6. Repeat step 1-5 two more times.
7. Put the rolled paper towels into three separate plastic cups.
8. Label a jar “Miracle Grow. ” In that jar mix Miracle Grow according to the directions. Use one quart of water and two tablespoons Miracle Grow.
9. Label a jar “Fish Fertilizer. ” In that jar mix Alaskan Fish Fertilizer according to the directions. Use one quart of water and two tablespoons Miracle Grow.
10. Label a jar “Water (Control). ” In that jar pour only tap water.
11. With the syringe measure into the first test cup 20 ml. of the Miracle Grow mixture. With the syringe measure into the second test cup 20 ml. of the fish fertilizer mixture, and fill the third cup with 20 ml. of the water.
12. Repeat step 11 every 12 hours.
13. On the third day open the towels and count how many seeds of the original 25 have germinated.  
14. Multiply this number by 4 to get the percentage of germination. Record this number in data sheet.
15. Repeat 1-14 two more times.

Back To Top of Page

RESULTS

The original purpose of this experiment was to determine which type of fertilizer would make the corn germinate faster.

The results of the experiment were that the natural fertilizer germinated 52 of the 100 seeds; they also had the longest sprouts. The synthetic fertilizer germinated 44 of the 100 seeds, some of the sprouts were long but a lot of them just barely germinated so were very small. My control unit (H2O) germinated 24 of the 100 seeds they just had barely sprouted so they were all really small.

See my table and graph.

Back To Top of Page

CONCLUSION

My hypothesis was that the synthetic fertilizer would make the corn germinate faster than the natural fertilizer.

The results indicate that this hypothesis should be rejected, because the natural fertilizer made more seeds germinate and they were longer sprouts than the synthetic fertilizer.

Because of the results of this experiment, I wonder if using different species, like soy beans or wheat would have similar results.  

If I were to conduct this project again I would use more brands and kinds of fertilizer. I also would try to measure the amount of fertilizer better. Next I would do the experiment with more corn seeds in each group at least 100.  

Back To Top of Page
RESEARCH REPORT

Introduction

Corn is one of the world’s most important crops for people and animals because it is very rich in starch, which provides the body with energy.   Also corn gives the body fats and protein. Farmers use corn to feed some of their livestock. It is used in making many things we use today such as medicine, foods, paper goods and so on.  

Corn (Zea Mays)

Corn has a green hollow stem ranging from sixty cm to six meters (depending on the type) the leaves are long and narrow. The color of the stem ranges from light green to dark green. The husk is a white silky color and the kernels inside are usually yellow but can be different colors (depending on type of corn. )

Dent corn

Dent corn gets its name from a dent in the kernel. It is the most popular corn in the world. The dent is from the starch drying and shrinking. Millions of tons of grain are made from dent corn, which is used to feed humans and livestock.

Pests and Diseases of corn

Wire worms are one of many pests to corn. They are a brownish yellow worm that often gets mistaken for meal worms. They are a pest to corn because they live in the soil for 1 to 3 years and eat the seed and roots of germinating corn. Wire worms are usually found in old alfalfa fields that are used to plant corn.

Seed rot is a corn disease that the causes the corn to rot before it germinates. Damping off causes the corn seed to die a little bit after the corn seed emerges.

Needs

Corn can be used for many things, from food to natural hygiene items.   Some of the foods that are made are corn flakes, corn meal, corn oil, corn syrup, and corn starch. Also, it can make other products that we use often today such as soaps, film for cameras, antifreeze, and alcohol.   Corn alcohol is often mixed into gasoline.  

Fertilizer

Definition

“Fertilizer is a substance that is added to soil to help plants grow.   Farmers use various kinds of fertilizers to help produce abundant crops.   Home gardeners use fertilizers to raise large, healthy flowers and vegetables.   Landscapers spread fertilizers on lawns and golf courses to help grow, thick, green grass. ” World Book Encyclopedia. There are three main components in fertilizer they are nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus.
 

Synthetic Fertilizer

Synthetic fertilizer is the most widely used fertilizer in the world.   It is water-soluble and provides a quick boost of growth. If you apply too much synthetic fertilizer you can kill your plants. Synthetic fertilizer has advantages in the spring because if it is applied as a liquid, it can still go into cold soil. The strength of the components in fertilizer are usually listed on the container. Since the three main components in fertilizer are nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus, a fertilizer listed as 16-16-16 would have 16% of each component. Another fertilizer with 40-5-0 would have 40% nitrogen, 5% potassium, and no phosphorus.

Natural Fertilizer

 Natural fertilizers are manure, sludge, guano, or dead or rotten organic materials. Natural fertilizers have less nutrients than synthetic fertilizers do, but natural fertilizers help keep the soil moisturized.   Manure is the most important of the organic fertilizers because it’s a mix of liquid and solid animal waste.

What Fertilizer Is Used For

 Fertilizer is used for making plants grow faster and more healthy.   Fertilizer can be made by chemicals or by manure and other natural materials.   You need fertilizer if your plants need a boost of growth in a short amount of time.  

Plants

Importance of Plant

Without plants humans couldn’t live. For one reason, plants provide oxygen and food. The plants are what animals eat, and humans eat some of the animals. Also, we live in houses that you use trees to make, and some of our clothes are made of cotton, which come from the cotton plant.

Agriculture

 Agriculture is farming and other jobs that have to do with raising plants and animals. It provides humans with almost all the food in the world. It is one of the oldest industries. Before agriculture started every one had to hunt and gather food for themselves.

Summary

 Corn is used to make many things we eat and use to cook such as corn flakes, corn meal, corn oil, corn syrup, and corn starch. Also, corn makes thing a lot of people use in their daily lives like soaps, film for cameras, antifreeze, and alcohol. Corn alcohol is often mixed into gasoline. Fertilizer helps plants grow big and strong with lots of nutrients. It helps plants grow faster, like corn for. There are two types of fertilizers they are called natural and synthetic fertilizer.  

 
BIBLIOGRAPHY

Berstresser, Paul. "Corn. " World Book Encyclopedia.   2002.

“Corn,” ENCARTA Encyclopedia Deluxe. 2001.

“Fertilizer. ” ENCARTA Encyclopedia Deluxe. 2001.

“Fertilizer. ” Britannica Intermediate Encyclopedia. December, 29. 2002.  

Hershey, R. David. “Soil and Fertilizers. ” Plant Biology Science Project. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1995. pp. 3-19.

Hyness, Erin. “Gardening,” ENCARTA Encyclopedia Deluxe. 2001.

Hyness, Erin. “Organic Farming,” ENCARTA Encyclopedia Deluxe. 2001.

“Manure. ” ENCARTA Encyclopedia Deluxe. 2001.

Troeh, Frederick. "Fertilizer. " World Book Encyclopedia.   1999.

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank the following people for helping make my project possible:
 

  • My mom for buying all the materials I needed.
  • Mr. Newkirk for correcting my report.
  • Mrs. Helms for helping me with my report.

 
 

Top of page

Menu of 2003-2004 Science Projects

Back to the Selah Homepage