Fluorescent vs. LED Lights

Kevin O’Quinn, Jordan Ball, Mesha Arant, and TJ White

Hypothesis

• If LED growing plates are used instead of fluorescent lights, then the plants will grow taller and have a higher germination rate.

What was measured?

• We used ImageJ software to measure plant length.

• Measurements were taken every week of the experiment.– 3/11/09– 3/18/09

Results

• The fluorescent had a higher germination rate and grew taller plants. If this experiment was done 100 times, 95 times the same results would occur.

Results Explained

• The fluorescent lights were better for growing Arabidopsis plants than LED lights. The fluorescent lights grew taller plants and had a higher germination rate.

Conclusion

• Original Hypothesis: If LED growing plates are used instead of fluorescent lights, then the plants will grow taller and have a higher germination rate.

• Our results do not support our original hypothesis.

We believed that the LED lights would result in a higher germination rate and taller plants. The results show that the fluorescent lights help the plants to grow taller and increases germination rates.

We could have changed the distance of the plants from the lights and used sunlight or incandescent lights.