Effect of Trampling on Seed Germination, Lab Report Example

The process of trampling on the soil is associated with the aspects of compaction. Trampling on the soil enhances the density of soil which is unsaturated with water by decreasing the volumes of air which are trapped in the voids of the soil. Trampling is easily confused with consolidation. Trampling on the soil implies compression. The intensity of the consolidation which takes place can be forecasted by a number of approaches (Terzaghi, 1996; Das & Sobhan, 2013).

In the classical approach which was proposed by Terzaghi, the soil is reviewed with an Oedometer in order to ascertain the index of compression. The Oedometer examination is a form of geotechnical review. The index of the compaction of the soil will be the independent variable. The dependent variable in this experiment will be the germination of the seeds. In this experiment, Scottish marigold seeds will be applied (Terzaghi, 1996; Das & Sobhan, 2013).

Independent Variables, Dependent Variables and Constants

The effect of compaction has been detailed as having an effect on the light and water which reach the plant in order for germination to occur. The three independent variables will be the soil compaction index, the quantity of water added to each pot daily and the index of water saturation in the soil prior to the experiment. The three dependent variables will be the extent of the plant growth, the number of leaves on each plant (foliage) and the extent of the green color of the marigold plants which are germinating. There are seven constants which will be applied in this experiment.

The constants are: the chronological age of the plants (days), the classification of plant, the dimensions of the pot, the quantity of fertilizer added, the temperature, the quantity of soil and the quantity of sunlight received by each plant in the control group and the experimental group. .The control group which will be applied will be the plants which are planted in soil which has not been trampled.  The experimental group will be the plants which are placed in soil where the soil has been trampled upon resulting in soil compaction (Terzaghi, 1996; Bas & Sobhan, 2013).

Background of the Scottish Marigold – Calendula

The variety of marigold which was used in this experiment is the Scottish marigold. The marigolds belong to the family of plants which are designated Asteraceae. The Scottish marigold originates from southern Europe. It is a flower which flourishes in temperate areas of the world. The species which was applied in this experiment is the species calendula. The Scottish marigold is a perennial plant which is normally perceived to be an annual plant. This is attributed to the marigolds capacity of growing in colder climates (Davis, 2010).

The Scottish marigold is extensively cultivated and grows with ease in the majority of soil types. The marigolds have a brief lifespan and have the tendency of reaching approximately 80 cm in height. The plant is sparsely populated with leaves. The leaves grow to approximately 5 cm in length and possess fibers on both aspects. The marigold flower is yellow. It is composed of a thick stem with a bright yellow flower on top (Davis, 2010).

The marigold bears a fruit which has the condition of a curvaceous thorny achene. The achene is a basic dry fruit which is commonly produced by many other flowering plants. The achene is composed of one seed. The Scottish marigold has traditionally been applied as a medicinal flower. The Scottish marigold is applied in order to treat cancers of the rectum and stomach. The other medicinal uses for the Scottish marigold are as an analgesic. It has been commonly used in order to initiate menstrual cycles, decrease fevers and to deter muscle spasms (Davis, 2010).

Hypotheses

The hypothesis which will be applied is the marigold plants which are placed in soil which has been trampled upon have less growth than the plants which have not been trampled. The null hypothesis will be there is no difference the germination of the marigolds in the control group and the experimental group. The constants which will be applied are the quantity of sunlight, the quantity of soil, the quantity of fertilizer, and the dimensions of the soil samples which are 5 cm x 5 cm 10 cm. The seeds will all be placed at a depth of 5cm below the surface.  The sixty seeds will be taken from the same package.

Materials

1. Three hundred marigold seeds. Sixty marigold seeds were used in each trial. There were five trials which had been conducted in this experiment.
2. Water
4. Plant fertilizer
5. Graduated measuring spoons (10 g ± 0.1 g) and graduated cups (250 ml ± 0.1 ml).
6. Potter’s soil.
8. Twenty pots which are 5cm wide, 5 cm long and 10 cm deep.
10. Five tier shelf placed in a window sill

Procedure

1. Collect materials.
2. Applying one label to each pot, label each of the pots with a number which ranges from one to twenty.
3. The first ten pots were applied as the control group and the second group of ten plants was applied as the experimental labeled from eleven to twenty.
4. Two cups of soil will be placed into each pot. Marks will be made where the soil level reaches.
5. One tablespoon of fertilizers will be applied to the soil in the pot and mixed until the mixture is evenly mixed with fertilizer.
6. Small indentations will be made halfway into the depth each pot. The indentation will be measured with a small ruler which has a margin of error of ± 0.1 cm. The indentation should measure 5 cm.
7. A seed was placed into each of the indentations in each pot.
8. The seeds were subsequently covered with soil.
9. Ten of the pots which were labeled experimental had the soil which was contained compacted. The compaction was approximately one cm in the depth of the pot. The compaction had been measured with the ruler in each instance.
10. The control group had no compaction which had been applied.
11. Thirty ml of water was applied to each pot.
12. Charts were made for the twenty pots. A separate chart was made for the experimental group and the control group.
13. The procedure was repeated during the five trials for a total of fifty pots in the control group and fifty pots in the experimental group.
14. The growth of the plants which were used in the five trials was monitored over a period of fourteen days.
15. The plants which were germinating in the pots were each watered daily with thirty ml of water.
16. After two weeks, the height of each of the plants in the control and experimental group was measured.
17. The results were placed on a table and a graph was formulated for the fifty plants which were in the control group and the fifty plants which were in the control group.
18. Conclusions were drawn for the effect of the trampled soil on plant growth.
19. A formal laboratory report was composed.
20. The materials which had been used were cleaned and the sprouting marigold plants were transplanted into a garden.

Conclusion

The growth in the marigolds which had been measured over the fourteen day period confirmed the hypothesis which was proposed in the beginning of the experiment. The aspect of trampling on the soil and compacting caused the soil to have less absorption of water. Consequently, the plants which were placed in the pots which formulated the experimental group manifested less growth than the marigold plants which had not been subjected to compaction be trampling. The effect of the compaction was one dimensional.

The compaction caused the plants to receive less sunlight and less water. The potential error which may have occurred in the experiment could be attributed to the cups or to the ruler which had a potential for error of ±0.1 cm. This aspect may have affected the measurement of the compaction which occurred in the experiment.

Reference

Das, B. & Sobhan, K. (2013). Principals of geotechnical engineering. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning.

Shepherd, R. (2014). Renee’s garden  heirloom & gourmet vegetable, flower & herb seeds. Renee’s Garden. http://www.reneesgarden.com/articles/images/transplant/4cover.jpg

Tarzaghi, K. (1996). Soil mechanics engineering practice. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Watts, D. C. (2010). Dictionary of plant lore. San Diego, CA: Academic Press.