comparing fertilizers
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Comparing Fertilizers
Hania Koziol and Emma MarchettiAdvanced Chemistry with Mr. Spangler
Introduction• 1st Studyo Research Question:
Which of the two dilutions of water mixed with digestate (1:1 or 1:4) will have a more beneficial or negative effect on plant growth?
o Hypothesis: If the Wheat berries are soaked/watered with 1:1 dilution of
digestate then there will be better plant growth.
• 2nd Studyo Research Questions:
Will Wheatgrass grow better in store-bought soil or natural soil (fines)?
What are the differences between generic brand (Vigoro) fertilizer and Algae Aqua's fertilizer (Digestate)
o Hypothesis: If Wheatgrass is grown in fines and watered with digestate
then there will be better plant growth.
BackgroundAlgae Aquaculture Technology
-AACT has integrated bio processors that consume waste, heat, and carbon dioxide to produce renewable energy and organic soil amendments.
-Our study would be beneficial to their company o Ex. If we had different results than the study
they conducted, it would be useful for them to know
• We took their idea and expanded into our own studyo Testing store-bought fertilizer and soil
compared to theirs
Algae AquaCulture Technology Process
Algae AquaCulture Technology
The Greenhouse
Bioreactors and Raceways
Bioreactors Algae Raceways
• We conducted two separate studies1. Independent Variables: Varying the Digestate
to water ratio • 1 part digestate: 1 part water and 1 part digestate
to 4 parts water
2. Independent Variables: Comparing soil vs fines• For each: 1:1 and 1:4 ratio, full and half vigoro, and
control• Controlled Variables: water (50 ml), & sunlight• Dependent variable: Plant growth. We measured plant
height each time we watered
Procedure
• We used natural light bulbs with closer wavelengths to natural light than the average light bulb
• Wheatberries must be soaked overnight for maximum sprouting and growing
Growing Techniques
Setup
Our Workspace
Setup
Digestate Dilutions Wheatberries Soaking
Initial Setup With Fines
Pictures of 1st Study
Day 1 Day 5
Pictures of 1st Study
Final Product: Day 8
1:1 1:4
Data
Conclusions of 1st Study
-1:1 had higher average of growth except for two days (6 and 7) but that could have just been a measuring error.
-Overall we conclude that 1:1 dilution had higher average growth and therefore is a better dilution of digestate:water proving our hypothesis correct.
Conclusions of 2nd Study
-From the data we found that the Control grown in soil seemed to grow the best out of all samples. - Digestate grew better than Vigoro in Fines but Vigoro had higher height averages in store bought soil.
Improvements-Could have done another study to have more
results for more accurate conclusions-We made a mistake... instead of only soaking seeds
in Algae Digestate, we soaked and watered plants. By only soaking we would have saved a lot of digestate and maybe would have had different results, although it didn't seem to have too much effect as long as it was kept constant
-Our data could have been collected more accurately, busy schedules interfered greatly.
Solar Testing at AACT
-Concluded that at AACT there was a 50% difference in the light intensity outdoors vs. indoors (outdoors being 50% higher)
-Used a light intensity meter
References"Algae AquaCulture Technology." Algae AquaCulture
Technology. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2013. <http://www.algaeaqua.com/AACT/Welcome.html>.
Bergonzi, Michael. "How To Grow Wheatgrass." How to Grow Wheatgrass. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2013. <http://www.wheatgrassgreenhouse.com/growgrass.html>.
"GE Lighting Global | Lighting Solutions | GE Lighting." GE Lighting. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2013. <http://www.gelighting.com/>.
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