2644 - CSUN ScholarWorks - California State University, Northridge

Journal of Student Research Abstracts · 15
was 19 days; and 72% of the Carolina Cherry seeds germinated successfully. The student researchers concluded
from this germination study that the Carolina Cherry seeds took a longer time to sprout up through the
topsoil because the construction of their seed coat was thicker and harder than that of the Granny Apple seeds.
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Part two: What effect does the reflective backgrounds of aluminum foil and the color of white have on plant
growth in an artificially illuminated growth laboratory at room temperature?
School: Clay Middle School. Teacher: Vince Papineau Jr. Student Participants and Coauthors: Devon
Barney; Guadalupe Carrillo; Sherleey Cerelia; Anthony Chandler; Sam Contreras; Monica Ellis; Chardae
Foster; Lennisha Hicks; LaToya Lewis; Vance Lewis; DeMaris Martinez; Dakenya Moore; Michael Pitts; Jose
Ramierz; Ronell Ray; Christopher Robertson; and Vermercedes Vaughn.
This is the process followed when the tree seedlings broke the surface of the topsoil, they were immediately
placed under artificial illumination in the growth laboratory of the classroom to cultivate at room temperature.
At this time, the student researchers were actively engaged in four weeks of observation while they collected
data associated with the growth stimulation of their seedlings. While participating in the second phase,
the student investigators had to record, compare, and interpret the growth data that they obtained from their
daily observations. After the four week cultivation period concluded, the students came together as a group and
studied, interpreted, and compared all the growth data. To complete the four week investigation, the student
researchers as a team had to summarize their findings relative to the botany study. The tree seedlings were
placed in a growth laboratory which utilized a wide spectrum, 33 watt and 25 inch General Electric cool white
fluorescent light source. All three lights in the growth laboratory were regulated by a timer that was set to turn
the lights on from 6:30 am to 1:30 am. The growth laboratory included a cabinet-like, wooden structure that
had three separate shelves. Each shelf was approximately 9 inches from its base to the illumination source. The
first shelf was lined entirely with a reflective foil. The walls, the ceiling, and the base for the second shelf of
the growth laboratory was painted white. The third wooden shelf of the growth laboratory did not use any
reflective device. For this reason, the seedlings that were cultivated on the third shelf are considered to be the
control samples in this study. The environmental placement of the seedlings in the growth laboratory was randomly
determined by the baseball cap drawing described in the germination phase of this botany experiment.
As soon as the tree seedlings sprouted up through the topsoil they were placed on the shelves accordingly.
Moreover, every shelf in the growth laboratory supported at least three tree seedlings from each type of plant
sample in this study. Once a third leaf developed on the seedling it was fertilized with a commercial product
referred to as "Miracle-Oro". The "Miracle-Gro" fertilizer is classified as a water-soluble product concentrated
with 15% of nitrogen; 30% of phosphorous; and 15% of potassium. Relative to the growth observation and
cultivation period, every plant seedling was fertilized at least once in this botany investigation. Throughout the
experiment, the seedlings were daily rotated approximately a quarter turn to vary the angle of illumination that
the plants were being exposed to. In addition, the seedlings were watered by the students when the topsoil of
their plant felt dry to the touch. At the conclusion of the four week period, the final growth or size of the respective
seedlings were recorded. The scientific data collected from this phase of the botany experiment produced
the following information: the average height size for the Granny Apple seedlings that were cultivated on the
first shelf, the second shelf, and the third shelf of the growth laboratory measured approximately 2.5 inches;
approximately 3.16 inches; and approximately 2.6 inches respectively. The average height size for the Carolina
Cherry seedlings that were cultivated on the first shelf, the second shelf, and the third shelf of the growth laboratory
measured approximately 2.75 inches; approximately 3.5 inches; and approximately 3.0 inches respectively.
Although the shelf that exhibited the white reflective background recorded more average height size
than the other shelves in the growth laboratory, there was not a significant difference to conclude that the white
reflective background is a better growth stimulant for plants than the other two backgrounds utilized in this
botany investigation.