Experiment 2.

2
Title ： Macronutrient deficiency effect

Aim: To study the effects of macronutrient (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) deficiency on
plant growth?

Problem statement: What are the effects of macronutrient (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium)
deficiency on plant growth?

Hypothesis: Deficiency of macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) stunts plant growth.

Variables:
a) Manipulated variable : Type of culture solution
b) Responding variable: Growth of plant
c) Constant variable: volume of culture solution, size and type of seedlings, light and temperature

Materials: Distilled water, complete culture solution, culture solution without nitrogen, culture solution
without phosphorus, culture solution without potassium, maize seedlings, black paper and cotton
wool.
Apparatus: Boiling tube, connecting tube, air pump and cork.

Procedure:

1. Prepare the apparatus set-up (Figure 2.8).

2. The apparatus set-up is placed in a bright place such as near the laboratory window where there is
sunlight.
3. Air is pumped into the culture solution in each boiling tube for 5 minutes every day.
4. The culture solution in each boiling tube is replaced once a week with the same type of culture solution.
5. After two weeks, the conditions of the seedlings are observed and recorded in term of size of plant,
colour of leaves and the growth of roots.

1
Observation:
Type of culture solution Nutrient Plant growth
deficiency Plant size Colour of leaf Root growth
Complete culture none Normal Green Normal
solution
Complete culture Nitrogen Small Yellow Normal
solution without nitrogen
Complete culture Phosphorus Small Purplish Deteriorates
solution without /bluish with
phosphorus brown edges
Complete culture Potassium Small Yellow with Reduced
solution without brown spots
potassium

Discussion:
The boiling tube wrapped in black paper to block the light form entering the culture solution in the
boiling tubes. Culture solution exposed to light encourages growth of algae. Algae will absorb nutrients
from the culture solution and affect the results of the experiment. The purpose of aerating the culture
solutions is supplies oxygen for the respiration of the roots. The culture solution in each boiling tube
changed once a week with the same type of culture solutions to replace the macronutrients which have been
absorbed by the seedlings. Besides nutrient, surrounding temperature, humidity of air, light intensity also
affects the growth of seedlings.

Conclusion:
Plants need nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium for healthy growth. The hypothesis is accepted