Chemistry research plan for the Fairchild Gardens challenge.

1. Title
The Effect of pH on Plant
Growth

2. Problem
How does pH affect the
growth of plants?

3. Hypothesis
Plant growth is affected by the
acidity or alkalinity of the soils in
which they are grown.

4. Variables:
Independent Variable: pH of soil
Dependent Variable: Growth of plants
Control: Neutral pH (pH 7)

5. Constants
Temperature
Rain (water)
Humidity
Amount of light
Types of plants
Soil type

6. Materials
pH soil tester kit
Soil
Plants -celery
-hydrangea -bell pepper
-parsley -tomatoes
-cabbage -asparagus

7. Procedures
1. Set up the garden beds by placing a
weed barrier at the bottom.
2. Add soil to bed.
3. Check soil for pH.
4. Mix ammonium nitrate fertilizer to soil
to create a bed with acidic soil.

8. 8. Check the progress of the
growth of the plants weekly,
noting their color, health, number
of leaves, height, width, and other
growth parameters.

9. Ammonium nitrate fertilizer
Calcium carbonate mix
Garden bed
Weed barrier

10. 5. Mix calcium carbonate with the soil
to create a bed with alkaline soil.
6. Do not treat the neutral soil bed
unless it is not at pH 7. Add either
ammonium nitrate or calcium
carbonate to bring the pH to 7.
7. Plant 5-6 of each type of plant in
each of the three beds.

11. Research
Include…
What is pH
How can the pH of soil be changed?
What plants grow best in acidic soil?
What plants grow best in alkaline
soil?

12. References
At least 3