The Effects of Detergetn Pollution - 1144 Words

The effects of detergent pollution on the height, number of leaves, and number of flowers on Brassica rappa plants Wisconsin fast plants were separated into two groups. A control group (n=12) and an experimental group (n=12). Both groups of plants were potted in black horticultural six packs (4 total). The type of soil used was a 1:1 ratio of humus to vermiculite. The fertilizer which was also used on both plants was Osmocote. The control group was watered with normal water through its uptake system, and the experimental group was also watered with the same tap water through its uptake system. However, the experimental group had 5mL of polluted water poured in each of the individual plant sections (12 total) after week 1. The polluted water was a mixture of 500mL of tap water and 1 gram of Seventh Generation natural powdered laundry detergent. The two groups were compared based on their stem height, number of leaves, and number of flowers. Using a ruler, the stem height was measured each week in centimeters from the base of the stem to the highest point of the stem. The number of leaves and flow ers were also counted each week and recorded in the data table. The fourth week observations actually occurred five weeks after planting due to the fact that we were unable to record data during a week school closure. At the end of the experiment a t-test was performed to compare the means of the data. The Wisconsin Fast Plants in the experimental group showed a slightly higher