11/3/16

Seed Germination

Introduction:
Seed germination is the process of a plant developing from a seed. The beginning of a
plant's life starts from an embryo inside of the seed and the seed coat. The conditions it will take
to successfully grow a plant is moisture, warmth, nutrients in the soil, and sunlight. When all of
these conditions are met, the plant cells start to multiply and enzymes get activated. Eventually,
photosynthesis will start to provide food/energy to the plant as it grows.

According to Feagley, Without these nutrients supplied by the soil or applied as

inorganic fertilizers, organically by manures, and other vegetative materials, plant growth would
cease. Which is better, organic or inorganic? Organic is nature's way of growing plants,
inorganic is the scientific way of growing plants.
Experimental Design:

Problem Question: Seed germinations rates based on organic and inorganic fertilizers or other
independent variables?

Hypothesis: If we plant the seeds in the inorganic fertilizers, then the seed germination will
grow faster because of the amount of nutrients, such as: carbon, phosphorus, nitrogen, etc.

Independent Variable: Types of fertilizers

Dependent Variable: Rate of seed germination
Control Group: Topsoil.
Experimental Group: Type of fertilizers, (inorganic and organic)

Materials and Methods:

Materials are six, two-liter bottles, organic fertilizer, inorganic fertilizer, topsoil, water, seeds.
Cut three, two-liter bottles in half, fill bottom of bottle, halfway, with water. Then, place soil in
three different bottles. In bottle 1, place organic fertilizer - bottle 2, place inorganic fertilizer bottle 3, place regular topsoil. Place seeds within the three bottles, then seal.
Top Soil:
Days

11/4

11/7

11/8

11/9

11/10

11/11

11/14

11/15

Germi
nation
Rate

Seed
Germination
Rate

0/10

3/10

4/10

5/10

6/10

6/10

7/10

7/10

70%

Half-Inorganic Half-Top Soil:

Days

11/4

11/7

11/8

11/9

11/10

11/11

11/14

11/15

Germi
nation
Rate

Seed
Germination
Rate

0/10

1/10

8/10

8/10

8/10

8/10

9/10

9/10

90%

Half-Organic Half-Top Soil:

Days

11/4

11/7

11/8

11/9

11/10

11/11

11/14

11/15

Germi
nation
Rate

Seed
Germination
Rate

0/10

6/10

8/10

8/10

8/10

8/10

9/10

10/10

100%

Conclusion: As a team, we tested the germination rates of 30, total, mung beans in organic and
inorganic fertilizers within a two-week time period. Our hypothesis was incorrect, the seed in the
bottle with the organic fertilizer had the highest germination rate. The eco bottle with half topsoil
and half organic fertilizer had a 100% germination rate. From these tests, we have concluded that
organic fertilizers has the greatest impact due to the nutrients that it provided.

Citations
Feagley, S. (n.d.). Vegetable Resources. Retrieved November 02, 2016, from http://aggiehorticulture.tamu.edu/vegetable/guides/texas-vegetable-growers-handbook/ chapter-iiisoils-fertilizers/
Savonen, C. (2008, April 30). Here's the scoop on chemical and organic fertilizers. Retrieved
November 02, 2016, from http://extension.oregonstate.edu/gardening/node/955