Comparing Fertilizers

Hania Koziol and Emma MarchettiAdvanced Chemistry with Mr. Spangler

Introduction• 1st Studyo Research Question:

Which of the two dilutions of water mixed with digestate (1:1 or 1:4) will have a more beneficial or negative effect on plant growth?

o Hypothesis: If the Wheat berries are soaked/watered with 1:1 dilution of

digestate then there will be better plant growth.

• 2nd Studyo Research Questions:

Will Wheatgrass grow better in store-bought soil or natural soil (fines)?

What are the differences between generic brand (Vigoro) fertilizer and Algae Aqua's fertilizer (Digestate)

o Hypothesis: If Wheatgrass is grown in fines and watered with digestate

then there will be better plant growth.

BackgroundAlgae Aquaculture Technology

-AACT has integrated bio processors that consume waste, heat, and carbon dioxide to produce renewable energy and organic soil amendments.

-Our study would be beneficial to their company o Ex. If we had different results than the study

they conducted, it would be useful for them to know

• We took their idea and expanded into our own studyo Testing store-bought fertilizer and soil

compared to theirs

Algae AquaCulture Technology Process

Algae AquaCulture Technology

The Greenhouse

Bioreactors and Raceways

Bioreactors Algae Raceways

• We conducted two separate studies1. Independent Variables: Varying the Digestate

to water ratio • 1 part digestate: 1 part water and 1 part digestate

to 4 parts water

2. Independent Variables: Comparing soil vs fines• For each: 1:1 and 1:4 ratio, full and half vigoro, and

control• Controlled Variables: water (50 ml), & sunlight• Dependent variable: Plant growth. We measured plant

height each time we watered

Procedure

• We used natural light bulbs with closer wavelengths to natural light than the average light bulb

• Wheatberries must be soaked overnight for maximum sprouting and growing

Growing Techniques

Setup

Our Workspace

Setup

Digestate Dilutions Wheatberries Soaking

Initial Setup With Fines

Pictures of 1st Study

Day 1 Day 5

Pictures of 1st Study

Final Product: Day 8

1:1 1:4

Data

Conclusions of 1st Study

-1:1 had higher average of growth except for two days (6 and 7) but that could have just been a measuring error.

-Overall we conclude that 1:1 dilution had higher average growth and therefore is a better dilution of digestate:water proving our hypothesis correct.

Conclusions of 2nd Study

-From the data we found that the Control grown in soil seemed to grow the best out of all samples. - Digestate grew better than Vigoro in Fines but Vigoro had higher height averages in store bought soil.

Improvements-Could have done another study to have more

results for more accurate conclusions-We made a mistake... instead of only soaking seeds

in Algae Digestate, we soaked and watered plants. By only soaking we would have saved a lot of digestate and maybe would have had different results, although it didn't seem to have too much effect as long as it was kept constant

-Our data could have been collected more accurately, busy schedules interfered greatly.

Solar Testing at AACT

-Concluded that at AACT there was a 50% difference in the light intensity outdoors vs. indoors (outdoors being 50% higher)

-Used a light intensity meter

References"Algae AquaCulture Technology." Algae AquaCulture

Technology. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2013. <http://www.algaeaqua.com/AACT/Welcome.html>.

Bergonzi, Michael. "How To Grow Wheatgrass." How to Grow Wheatgrass. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2013. <http://www.wheatgrassgreenhouse.com/growgrass.html>.

"GE Lighting Global | Lighting Solutions | GE Lighting." GE Lighting. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2013. <http://www.gelighting.com/>.