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Assignment 4 - Create an Experimental Protocol

The document outlines an experimental protocol to determine the effect of three types of fertilizers on plant growth using 30 identical seedlings over eight weeks. The procedure involves measuring plant height weekly, documenting growth visually with photographs, and analyzing data for significant differences using methods like ANOVA. The conclusion will identify the most effective fertilizer and discuss observations related to plant health and appearance.

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Anisa Dhar
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Assignment 4 - Create an Experimental Protocol

The document outlines an experimental protocol to determine the effect of three types of fertilizers on plant growth using 30 identical seedlings over eight weeks. The procedure involves measuring plant height weekly, documenting growth visually with photographs, and analyzing data for significant differences using methods like ANOVA. The conclusion will identify the most effective fertilizer and discuss observations related to plant health and appearance.

Uploaded by

Anisa Dhar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Assignment 4 – Create an Experimental Protocol: The Effect of Different Types of

Fertilizers on Plant Growth

Anisa Paadmini Moorlee Dhar

Principles of Research Methodology (2A)

HGEN 0505

Dr. Dan Handley

October 23rd, 2023.


DIRECTIONS

Create an experimental protocol. You do not have to provide details on the statistics you

would use, as that will not be weighed heavily in the grade, but feel free to include something on

any statistical analysis you would like.

OBJECTIVE:

The objective of this experiment is to determine which type of fertilizer promotes the most plant

growth.

MATERIALS:

 Three types of fertilizer (A, B, C)

 30 identical plant seedlings

 30 pots

 Soil

 Ruler

 Water

 Camera

 Notebook and pen

PROCEDURE:

In this experiment, the pots are divided into three groups: A, B, and C. Each pot is filled

with an equal amount of soil, and one seedling is planted in each pot. Following the

manufacturer's instructions, fertilizer A is applied to group A, fertilizer B to group B, and

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fertilizer C to group C. All plants are watered equally every day. The height of each plant is

measured weekly using a ruler, and the data is recorded in a notebook. Additionally, pictures of

the plants are taken every week to visually document their growth. This process is repeated for

eight weeks. After analyzing the data, conclusions can be drawn regarding any significant

differences in growth between the groups.

DATA COLLECTION:

To ensure accurate data collection, the following steps will be followed. Firstly, the

height of each plant will be recorded on a weekly basis. This will provide valuable information

about their growth rate. Secondly, photographs of the plants will be taken every week to visually

document their progress. These images will serve as a visual reference and aid in analyzing any

changes that occur over time. Lastly, any noticeable differences in the health or appearance of

the plants will be carefully noted. This will help identify any potential factors that may affect

their development. By adhering to these steps, comprehensive and reliable data can be gathered

for further analysis.

DATA ANALYSIS:

To calculate the average height of the plants in each group every week, the height of each

plant is measured individually, and the heights are summed up. They are then divided the sum by

the total number of plants in the group. Plotting the average height of the plants against time for

each group on a graph provides a visual representation of the growth rate. This allows us to

observe any trends or patterns in the plant's growth over time.

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To determine if the differences in growth between the groups are statistically significant,

statistical analysis methods like ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) can be employed. ANOVA

helps compare the means of multiple groups and assess if the differences observed are likely due

to chance or if they are statistically significant.

In addition to quantitative analysis, analyzing the photographs of the plants can provide

valuable qualitative insights. Observing any differences in plant health or appearance, such as

color, leaf shape, or signs of disease, can help identify any factors that may be influencing the

growth patterns observed.

CONCLUSION:

Based on the results of the experiment, the conclusion will be developed as follows:

1. Determine which fertilizer led to the most plant growth.

2. Discuss any other observations, such as differences in plant health or appearance.

3. Suggest reasons for the observed results and propose further research if necessary.

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References:

1) Giraldo O, Garcia A, Corcho O. A guideline for reporting experimental protocols in life

sciences. PeerJ. 2018;6:e4795. doi:https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.4795

2) Alzain MN, Loutfy N, Aboelkassem A. Effects of Different Kinds of Fertilizers

on the Vegetative Growth, Antioxidative Defense System and Mineral Properties

of Sunflower Plants. Sustainability. 2023;15(13):10072.

doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/su151310072

3) Xu F, Chu C, Xu Z. Effects of different fertilizer formulas on the growth of loquat

rootstocks and stem lignification. Scientific Reports. 2020;10(1):1-11.

doi:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-57270-5

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