Biomass of Plants

An experiment to determine the effect sugar has on the growth of grass while acting as a stimulus.

Aim: The aim of this experiment was to determine the effect of sugar on grass growth.

Introduction: This experiment shows the effect that sugary water has on grass seeds. Sugar was chosen because it is a known stimulus of energy in humans. We were hopeful that the plants will react the same way to humans. This practical was carried out in biology lab in UWC Atlantic College. In this experiment we used 7 samples of soil and grass seeds mixed with different amounts of sugar, the then left the seeds to germinate and grow for up to 4 weeks however we watered them every day with 40ml of water. To determine the difference in growth rate we measured the biomass of the grass.

Hypothesis

Sugar may help in the growth of grass. Sugar can be used as a carbon source to help booth the growth of plants. Plants make their own sugar through photosynthesis by combining water and carbon dioxide which means they don’t need additional sugar to grow, however seeds or young plants may need additional help to boost growth so that they can start producing sugar on their own.

Identifying Variables

The Independent Variables in this practical was the mass of sugar added to the trays of grass at the beginning of the practical, the Dependent Variables was the height and biomass calculated from the grass and the Controlled Variables was the mass of water added to the grass every day, the mass of grass seed added to each tray at the beginning of the practical, the mass of soil added to each tray and the location of the trays which remained the same during the practical.

Apparatus

• Grass seeds

• Trays (7)

• Sugar

• Water

• Soil

• Camera

• Scale

• Ruler / Measuring tape

Method

• Collecting of the apparatus

• Labelling of trays

• Add the same amount of soil to each container

• Add the same amount of grass seeds to each container

• Mix sugar with 35ml of water

• To obtain diverse results for this practical add different amounts of sugar to water to 7 different beakers and mix them together. ( As shown in the table below)

• Proceed to pour the sugary water over each the tray

• To