The purpose of this experiment is to see where a line exists between fertilizing a plant in a health manner and over-using fertilizer to a point where it is harming the plant. To conduct this project, four pots with two carrot tops in soil were used. The Control contained 2/3 soil and two carrot tops. There was no fertilizer applied to it. Pots 1, 2, and 3 also had two carrot tops but had a progressively higher concentration of fertilizer added to it. Pot 1 had 50% concentration of fertilizer, Pot 2 had 100% concentration, and Pot 3 200%. The pots were watered 1/3 cup weekly except for the Control. The fertilizer was added with the ratio:7 drops per quart of water. This ratio equals 100% concentration. The growth of the carrot tops were recorded weekly in centimeters.
After concluding the experiment, it was found that there was limited growth in the pots. There was no growth during the first and second week in all of the pots. During the third week growth was recognized in Pot 3, the pot with 200% concentration of fertilizer. One of the carrot tops had grown to 3.2 centimeters.During the fourth week, which was the final week of the project, the carrot top in Pot 3 had grown to 7.5 centimeters. Pot 3 was the most successful out of all the pots in the experiment.
Jeff A. Germantown Academy '02
