Abstract:

The purpose of this experiment was to test different fertilizers and
their effect on the height of zinnias. To carry out the experiment nine
plants were planted in sheep fertilizer, nine in chicken fertilizer, nine in
processed fertilizer, and nine in plain potting soil. The plants were
watered daily with 12 ml of water. A heat lamp was placed over them to act
as the sun. It was turned on in the daytime, and it was turned off at night.
The height of each plant was measured in mm daily.
After completing the experiment, it was found that the chicken fertilizer
was the most effective. The average height for the nine plants, after 18
days, in chicken fertilizer was 52.67mm. Processed fertilizer was the second
most effective. After 18 days in processed fertilizer the average height of
the plants was 47.13mm. Plants in potting soil, after 18 days, had an
average height of 43mm. The average height, after 18 days, for all nine
plants in sheep fertilizer was 38mm.
There are two simple ways to explain why this was the case. The first
reason is zinnias prefer soil that is neutral to acidic. Chicken manure is
acidic, so when mixed with potting soil, to form a fertilizer, it perfectly
meets the requirements of zinnias.
The second reason is when the sheep and chicken manure were added to the
soil the sheep was expected to have an advantage by making it more porous.
However, when potting soil was added to sheep manure it created a more dense
soil. Therefore both the chicken and sheep fertilizer were equally
disadvantaged.
These two reasons explain why chicken fertilizer is the most effective on
plant growth.