Research Plan Template

Name(s): Amelia Bennett

Research Plan (to Accompany Form 1A)

A) Rationale
Include a brief synopsis of the background that supports your research problem and explain why this research is
important and if applicable, explain any societal impact of your research.
The experiment may impact soil health and removes the necessity of using harsh chemical fertilizers when growing
food crops. Vermiculture offers the potential for farmers and lower income communities to utilize natural fertilizer
produced by earthworms which will be more economical and help the environment. The purpose of this experiment is
to evaluate the effects of varying diets on both the worm’s reproduction and the pH, nitrogen, phosphorous, and
potassium levels in the soil. The quantity of worms tunneling in the soil impacts root growth and the level of above
noted soil nutrients impact the health and growth of plantings.
B) Research Question(s), Hypothesis(es), Engineering Goal(s), Expected
Outcomes.
How is this based on the rationale described above?
Research Question(s): How do different organic materials in an earthworm’s diet impact vermicompost and the
quality of the soil processed?
Hypothesis(es): The introduction of organic vegetable waste will both increase the pH nitrogen, phosphorous, and
potassium content of the soil and accelerate worm reproduction.
Expected Outcomes: The compost bin with the addition of additional organic fruits will encourage more rapid
earthworm reproduction and higher quality of soil.
Procedure(s)
Detail all procedures and experimental design including methods for data collection. Describe only your project. Do
not include work done by mentor or others.
1. Place soil in each pot, water soil, pat soil down, fill to ¾ full (approx. 8870.40g-10509.68g)
2. Label pots by the diet the worms will eat (grain, fruit, vegetable, eggshell)
3. Weigh paper cup in grams on a scale. Write mass of cup. Repeat for three other paper cups.
4. Add the initial number of worms (50) to each cup
5. Weigh cups again with the worms. Write the mass of the cup and the worms. Subtract the mass of the cup
from the mass of the cup and the worms. Record worm masses.
6. Take picture to compare the appearance of the worms at the beginning verses the end of the experiment
7. Add one cup of worms into a pot. Add moist potting soil to the top of the worms. Soil reaches approximately 5
cm (2 inches) from
the top edge of the pot. Repeat for the other pots
8. Cover the pots with moist newspaper
9. Wrap each pot with a dark plastic bag. Poke air holes into the top of the bags
10. Store pots on drainage trays in a cool spot. Keep all pots in similar conditions
11. Create a data table for each pot and record, observations of food appearance, worm activity, and pot
drainage, date of food additions, time of food and water additions, mass of food and water additions, special notes
12. Place approx. ½ of the initial worm population weight in food under the newspaper every 2-3 days. Continue
using this amount of food until the three-week recount. Add water as needed. Place dark plastic bag back over the
pot.
13. Every three weeks recount worms and take mass again. Recalculate amount of food to ensure the worms are
being fed ½ their weight. Continue to record date and mass of food added.
14. Analyze soil acidity, relative levels of potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorous from original untreated soil
 15. Check every 2-3 days, add water as needed. Make sure most food has disappeared before adding more.
Experiment will be run from when I obtain the worms through to December 12 th, 2022 (9-week period).
16. Track worm health and activity by moving the food out of the way and seeing if there are any worms directly
under it and checking the pH levels.
16. At the end, weigh paper cups initial mass and count the number of worms for each pot as they are placed in
the cup
17. Record changes of in appearance and size of the worms in each pot compared to the beginning of the
experiment
18. Take pictures for tri-board
19. Analyze soil acidity and levels of phosphorous, nitrogen, and potassium. Record acidity and levels
Research Plan Template

Name(s): Amelia Bennett

20. Conclude
Risk and Safety
Identify any potential risks and safety precautions needed.
Potential risks include live worms escaping the compost bin and excess matter leaking from the pot. I will control this
by using a drip pan to catch any escapees or drainage. Another safety precaution involves the chemicals utilized to
test soil samples to evaluate soil health. I will not be mixing chemicals to test the soil. I will instead use test strips to
test the soil for pH, nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium.
Data Analysis
Describe the procedures you will use to analyze the data/results.
Using different test strips to evaluate the pH, phosphorous, potassium, and nitrogen in the compost bins and the
original soil used. Count the number of worms before and after the 2-month period has concluded. Depending on if
time permits it, I will attempt to grow plants but if not, I will not.

IF Applicable
Below are subject-specific guidelines for additional items to be included in your research
plan/project summary as applicable.
Human participants research:
a. Participants: Describe age range, gender, racial/ethnic composition of participants. Identify vulnerable
populations (minors, pregnant women, prisoners, mentally disabled or poor).
b. Recruitment: Where will you find your participants? How will they be invited to participate?
c. Methods: What will participants be asked to do? Will you use any surveys, questionnaires, or tests? What is
the frequency and length of time involved for each subject?
d. Risk Assessment: What are the risks or potential discomforts (physical, psychological, time involved, social,
legal, etc.) to participants? How will you minimize risks? List any benefits to society or participants.
e. Protection of Privacy: Will identifiable information (e.g., names, telephone numbers, birth dates, email
addresses) be collected? Will data be confidential/anonymous? If anonymous, describe how the data will be
collected. If not anonymous, what procedures are in place for safeguarding confidentiality? Where will data be
stored? Who will have access to the data? What will you do with the data after the study?
f. Informed Consent Process: Describe how you will inform participants about the purpose of the study, what
they will be asked to do, that their participation is voluntary, and they have the right to stop at any time.

Vertebrate animal research:

a. Discuss potential ALTERNATIVES to vertebrate animal use and present justification for use of vertebrates. b.
Explain potential impact or contribution of this research.
c. Detail all procedures to be used, including methods used to minimize potential discomfort, distress, pain
and injury to the animals and detailed chemical concentrations and drug dosages.
d. Detail animal numbers, species, strain, sex, age, source, etc., include justification of the numbers planned.
e. Describe housing and oversight of daily care
f. Discuss disposition of the animals at the termination of the study.
Potentially hazardous biological agent’s research:
a. Give source of the organism and describe BSL assessment process and BSL determination.
b. Detail safety precautions and discuss methods of disposal.

Hazardous chemicals, activities & devices:

• Describe Risk Assessment process, supervision, safety precautions and methods of disposal.