Sunflower Report 2d4qy

By Isabelle Capra

Group – Oni, Alannah and Tejal

Abstract: Many plants need additional nutrients to maintain a healthy growth rate. The sunflower, Helianthus Annuus, was the plant tested in this experiment. A sunflower with coffee grounds added and a normal sunflower were planted and analysed in order to see which method was more effective. It was hypothesised that the pot containing the coffee grounds would germinate the fastest because coffee grounds would act as a form of nutrients for the plants. Therefore, two seeds were planted in each of the two pots and coffee grounds were added to one pot to test the theory. Every two to three days the plants were watered and data was recorded measuring their height. According to the data that was collected, the sunflower in which the coffee grounds were added, achieved the highest height. Due to these results, it can be concluded that coffee grounds being added to the soil of a sunflower, does in fact affect its growth rate.

Germinating seedlings in pot one -

9th of March 2017

Moving the sunflowers back to W Block - 20h of April

Contents Page:

 Abstract – page 1  Introduction – page 3  Practical Write Up – page 4 and 5  Results – page 6 and 7  Analysis – page 7  Evaluation – page 8  Conclusion – page 8  Bibliography – page 9

Introduction:

The question being investigated within this experiment, is whether adding coffee grounds to the soil of a sunflower affects its growth rate. Through researching about this subject, it has been found that adding coffee grounds to the soil is an effective method of improving its growth rate. According to other research, coffee grounds are a good alternative to compost and fertiliser as they are great for environmental sustainability. (Rhoades, n.d.) Coffee grounds are known to contain useful nitrogen (N) for the soil and they are slightly acidic. With an average volume of two percent nitrogen, the use of coffee grounds in the soil of a sunflower, is an effective method. Coffee grounds are known to be a safer and healthier alternative to compost and manure. (Nelson, 2011) If coffee grounds were added to the sunflower, then the mass of the head will increase, because coffee grounds are a safer, healthier alternative to other fertilizers and contain nutrients that are helpful for the sunflower. This hypothesis was tested to so the inquiry question could be answered. This subject area is important to society and relevant to the community because if the sunflower with added coffee grounds can be proven to be the most effective method, it could be applied to other plants in other subject areas. For example, coffee grounds could then be added to the soil of vegetables improving farming and agriculture.

Practical write up: Aim: To determine whether the addition of coffee grounds to the soil of a sunflower affects the growth rate.

Hypothesis: If coffee grounds are added to the soil of a sunflower, then the mass of the head will increase because of the nutrient and nitrogen levels within coffee grounds being helpful and healthy for the sunflower. Coffee grounds are less harmful than the manure and fertilizer commonly used in other plant soils.

Variables:

    

Causes

Effects

(IVs and CVs)

(DVs)

Same amount of water (CV) The same potting mix (CV) Adding in coffee grounds (IV) The same pot size (CV) No modifications to the seed (CV)

IV = Independent Variable CV = Controlled Variable

Risk Assessment:

    

Height of stem Size of head Mass of head (DV) Size of petals Amount of petals

DV = Dependent Variable

Hazard Other children damaging the sunflowers Chemicals in the soil – consume Chemicals in soil - hands

Prevention Move sunflowers to a safe and protected area Wear protective gear when handling the soil Cleanse the skin as the fertiliser could be harmful

Management Sunflowers were moved to an out of bounds area Face masks were worn as protection Hands were washed after plantation of the sunflower soil

Equipment/Materials: Item Pots Name Tags Marker Sunflower Seeds Soil Water Camera or Phone – for photos Plates – plastic, base for pots An area that receives lots of sun Rulers

Quantity 2 2 1 4 Enough to fill 2 pots Enough to water the sunflower for 2 months 1 2 1 1 to measure

Method: 1. The marker and two name tags were collected to write the names of the in the group on. 2. The soil was added to both the two pots. 3. The coffee grounds were added to one pot. 4. Two seeds were added into each pot. 5. The two name tags were placed into each of the two pots. 6. The sunflowers were placed under the roof of W Block. 7. The sunflowers were moved to the greenhouse. 8. The two pots were watered every two to three days, with photos taken. 9. The end heights were recorded and used for analysis. 10.

Results: Date of Data Recorded 28th / Feb 1st / Mar 2nd / Mar 3rd / Mar 7th / Mar 9th / Mar 14th / Mar 24th / Mar 28th / Mar 20th / April 24th / April 28th / April

Height with coffee grinds (IV) Sunflower 1

Height with coffee grinds (IV) Sunflower 2

Controlled – Controlled – height without height without coffee grinds coffee grinds Sunflower 1 Sunflower 2

0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm 4cm 6cm 10cm 17cm 20cm 22cm 25cm 25cm

0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm 2cm 8cm 15cm 17cm 18cm 20cm 20cm

0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm

0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm

*Not to scale – taken on the 28th of April 2017 The final height of the sunflowers was recorded on the 28th of April. Pot twos’ sunflowers both did not grow so the final height for both those seeds was 0cm. In pot one, the first seedling germinated to 25cm and the second seedling grew to 20cm. This was measured from the base of the pot to the top of the sunflower.

Height of a Sunflower 30

Height of Sunflower (CM)

25

20

15

10

5

0 28th of Feb

1st of Mar

2nd of Mar

3rd of Mar

7th of Mar

9th of 14th of 24th of 28th of 20th of 24th of 28th of Mar Mar Mar Mar April April April

Date of Data Collected Sunflower 1, Pot 1

Sunflower 2, Pot 1

Sunflower 1, pot 2

Sunflower 2, Pot 2

Analysis and Discussion:

Analysis of the results revealed that the sunflower with coffee grounds is clearly the most effective method to use. This analysis is clearly ed above, as the line graph demonstrates that the pot in which the coffee grounds were added, contained the only sunflowers to grow. This would be because the nutrients within the coffee grounds, benefit the sunflowers growth. The nutrients within the coffee grounds include: nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus and many others. These nutrients help balance the PH levels in the soil. The first sunflower in pot one, grew to a total height of 25cm. The second sunflower in pot one, grew to a total height of 20cm. The first sunflower in pot one, had a 25% higher end result than sunflower two. Both sunflowers in pot two, did not sprout or germinate. A trend that emerged from the data recorded above, demonstrates that from the time period of the 14th of March to the 24th of March, the sunflowers in pot one grew very rapidly.

Evaluation: An error within this experiment was the amount of water each sunflower received on a day-to-day basis. The original plan was to water the sunflowers with 100mL-150mL of water every two to three days. This variable was modified as rain, the effects of a cyclone, and variation in times between watering changed and affected the reliability of the experiment. This changing variable affected the experiment because it is unknown whether the sunflowers’ health and strength were affected due to too much rain or not enough rain. This means that the results collected, could be slightly different to the results that would have been collected if it were not for this changing variable. To improve the accuracy of the experiment, all controlled variables would be kept controlled, therefore not affecting the results in the experiment. For future experiments, a different independent variable would be tested that would have a very different results table to the one in this experiment.

Conclusion: It was hypothesised that, “If coffee grounds are added to the soil of a sunflower, then the mass of the head will increase because of the nutrient and nitrogen levels within coffee grounds are helpful and healthy for the sunflower…...” This hypothesis was ed in the results as the pot with the coffee grounds added grew to 25cm and 20cm whereas the pot without coffee grounds did not grow.

Bibliography:



Rhoades, H. (n.d.). Coffee Grounds & Gardening: Using Coffee Grounds As Fertilizer. Retrieved from https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/composting/ingredients/coffeegrounds-gardening.htm



E. (2015, August 11). Grow Your Own Sunflower. Retrieved from https://www.hoselink.com.au/blog/grow-your-own-giant/



Interflora. (n.d.). Sunflower information from Flowers.org.uk. Retrieved from http://www.flowers.org.uk/flowers/flowers-names/q-t/sunflower/



Nelson, J. S. (2011, January 9). Coffee as Fertilizer? - Plant Palette - University of Illinois Extension serving Dewitt, Macon and Piatt Counties. Retrieved from http://web.extension.illinois.edu/dmp/palette/110109.html



Plants & Shrubs That Like Coffee Grounds | Home Guides | SF Gate. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://homeguides.sfgate.com/plants-shrubs-like-coffee-grounds-45743.html