Transcript The Effect of Sugar and Salt on Lima Bean Seeds - SMS-HB09

The Effect of Sugar and Salt on
Lima Bean Seeds
Daniel Pham
Hour 2
Abstract
This experiment tested the growth of lima bean seeds over a five-day
period. Three plastic air-tight bags each contained two seeds. All of the
seeds had already germinated prior to being placed in the bags. Each
bag was filled with 150 milliliters of water. One bag had 15 milligrams of
sugar mixed with in the water. Another had 15 milligrams of salt mixed
in with the water. After 30 minutes, all of the water was poured out of
the bags. 24 hours later, a string and a ruler was used to measure the
lengths of each seed’s sprout. This method was repeated for 4 more
days. On the fifth day, the researcher discovered that the plain water
seeds had a length of 4.9 centimeters. Compared with the lengths of
the sugar water seeds (4.8 centimeters) and the salt water seeds (4.1),
it became clear that the plain water seeds had the longest length.
Review of Literature
•
•
All living things need salt, but too much can be toxic (Hill,
2005).
When plants are wilted, giving them sugar will help them
return to normal. Sugar water helps keep the soil moist
(Litherland, 2008).
• Giving the plants too much sugar, however, can
negatively affect plants’ photosynthesis process
(Litherland, 2008).
Problem and Hypothesis
Problem
Will sugar water and salt water affect the length of a lima bean seed
after it has germinated?
Hypothesis
If sugar water is given to lima bean seeds, then the sprout of the seed
will grow the longer than the seeds with plain water and salt water.
Experimental Design
Materials











4 Air-tight bags
6 Lima bean seeds
Liquid measuring cup (metric)
Metric scale
Ruler that measures centimeters
String
650 milliliters of water
15 milligrams of granulated sugar
15 milligrams of salt
Spoon/Mixing device
Markers/Writing utensils
Variables




Control: Seeds with regular
water.
Independent: Type of water.
Dependent: Length of the roots
of the plants.
Constant: Size and type of
bags, temperature of the room,
amount of water, and
temperature of water.
Procedure
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
Fill 1 bag with 200ml of water.
Place all 6 lima beans inside the bag.
Take all of the water out of the bag after 24 hours of soaking.
Wait a few days until the 6 seeds germinate.
Label one bag “Plain,” another “Sugar,” and another “Salt.”
Place 2 seeds in each of the bags.
Pour 150ml of water into the bag labeled “Plain.”
Mix 15mg of sugar into 150ml of water and pour it into the bag labeled “Sugar.”
Repeat step 8 but use 15mg of salt and pour it into the bag labeled “Salt.”
Wait 30 minutes.
Pour the water out of each of the bags.
Close the bag.
Wait 24 hours.
Measure and record the length of each seed’s root.
Average the length of the two seeds with the same labels.
Repeat steps 13-15 for 4 more days.
Data Chart and Graph
Conclusion
From the given data, the researcher can conclude that the seeds that
were given plain water grew the longest over a five-day period.
However, on the fourth day of investigation the sprout of one sugar
water seed and the sprout of one plain water seed had completely
separated from the seed. This meant that the researcher could not
receive any more measurements from the seeds because the sprouts
would stop growing. So, the lengths of the second seed in the sugar
water and in the plain water were recorded as the total average without
the influence of the length of the dead seeds. Despite the death of the
seeds, the following hypothesis was not supported: if sugar water is
given to lima bean seeds, then the sprout of the seed will grow the
longer than the seeds with plain water and salt water. The seeds that
were given plain water grew the longest even though the sugar water
seeds had a rapid growth rate.
Future and Acknowledgments
Future
In the future, the researcher would like to grow the seeds in soil
because the seeds began to rot in the plastic bag. He also plans to
conduct the experiment in warmer seasons because there were
many failed tests prior to this experiment.
Acknowledgments
Parents for buying the materials.
Mrs. Richards for giving a lesson about seeds and helping me with
the experiment.
•
•
Bibliography
Hill, P. (2005). “What Effect Does Salt Water Have on Plants?” eHow. Accessed: January
11, 2010. From: http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4967967_does-salt-water-haveplants.html
Litherland, N. (2008). “Effects of Sugar Water on Plants.” eHow. Accessed: January 11,
2010. From: http://www.ehow.com/facts_5016890_effects-sugar-water-plants.html
Miller, E., & Miller, C. (1998). “Growing Lima Beans.” Countryside & Small Stock Journal,
82 (4), 72. Accessed: December 15, 2009.
Parker, P. (2008). “How to Grow Lima Beans in a Jar.” eHow. Accessed: December 15,
2009; From: http://www.ehow.com/how_2223122_grow-lima-beans-jar.html
Pleasant, B. (2009). “All About Growing Beans.” Mother Earth News, (234), 26.
Accessed: December 15, 2009.