Name: ROMILYN A.

FURIO
Grade & Section: 9 – Mendel

Investigating The Impact of Alternative Light Source on Plant Growth

INTRODUCTION:

ㅤ ㅤ Plants is one of the main sources for food and plants needs light to thrive. Plants gets the light
they need to thrive from the Sun and photosynthesis, the process within a plant that converts light,
oxygen and water into carbohydrates needs light in order to make energy for the plant in order for it to
grow. However since natural light is needed for it’s growth and not all the time natural light is
available especially for plants inside the house, there are still alternative light sources such as led
lights.

ㅤ ㅤ Led lights are pretty common in household and is easy to find which is a good alternative light
source. This research explores how plants would react in a different light source on plants growth
specifically led lights. The objective is to know whether a plant would grow more effectively in an
artificial light source than the plant exposed to natural light or it would be the opposite.

METHODOLOGY:

ㅤ ㅤ There would be two plants in two separate pots. A total of 10kg of loam soil would be used and
into two pots; both pots would have a total of 5kg of loam soil. 4-5 seeds, spaced evenly, will then be
placed per pot. A 20x16x12-inch cardboard box with a hole on top of it is where one of the pots
would be placed. A flashlight will be put in the hole, and since a lettuce seed needs approximately 6 to
8 hours of direct exposure to sunlight each day for its growth, the flashlight will be turned on for 6 to
8 hours a day.

ㅤ ㅤ The cardboard box that contains one of the pots will be placed in a dark room where no
sunlight will enter, while the other pot will be exposed to sunlight for 6–8 hours a day. The lettuce
needs a temperature of 16 to 30 degrees Celsius, or not more than 70°F. This will be checked by using
the soil moisture meter. The soil needs to be moist but not wet, and lettuce plants need to be watered
twice a week with around 9’’ of water. The plants temperature and height will be monitored day by
day. In about 7 – 10 days, the plants will emerge, after 2 – 4 weeks of monitoring all the data recorded
will be compiled for results.

SOURCES:
Introduction sources
https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/lighting-indoor-plants
https://letstalkscience.ca/educational-resources/backgrounders/needs-plants
Methodology sources
https://greenupside.com/what-is-the-best-temperature-for-growing-lettuce-3-tips/
https://www.spadetofork.com/blogs/news/lettuce
https://www.theseedcollection.com.au/blog/Lettuce-How-to-grow-from-seed
https://www.google.com/url?q=https://plantophiles.com/gardening/the-water-needs-of-lettuce/
&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwjhuvjvi62CAxUbzDgGHesDCl4QFnoECAsQAg&usg=AOvVaw1rfOK3
YNkxf2ClbItJ-dpf
https://www.allthatgrows.in/blogs/posts/grow-lettuce-at-home-in-india