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Botany Science Fair Project

Organic Fertilizer and Mung Bean Growth

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Organic Fertilizer and Mung Bean Growth | Science Fair Projects | STEM Projects
Does organic fertilizer help plants grow faster than plain water? You plant mung beans in nine pots and water them with three different solutions: tap water mixed with organic fertilizer, plain tap water, and mineral water. Each group has three pots. You measure the height of every plant each day for five days. The fertilizer group grows tallest and fastest. The tap water and mineral water groups grow at about the same slower rate.

Hypothesis

The hypothesis is that watering mung beans with organic fertilizer (as opposed to inorganic fertilizers) will help them grow faster.

Science Concepts Learned

Fertilizers and Plant Nutrition

Adding plant food to soil can help a plant grow faster. When mung beans get plant food mixed in their water instead of plain water, "the fertilizer group grows tallest and fastest." The plain water groups grow at the same slower rate. This shows that the extra plant food is what makes the big change.

Method & Materials

You will fill 9 pots with soil, place a mung bean in each pot, and divide the pots into 3 groups. You will prepare 3 different watering solutions and water the plants with each solution. You will measure the height of the plants every day and record the results.
You will need mung beans, 9 pots, soil, Hasta Gro fertilizer (or any other brand of organic fertilizer), tap water, mineral water, a ruler, and 3 watering cans.

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Results

It was observed that the plant in group A (watered with tap water mixed with Hasta Gro fertilizer) grew the fastest. The plants in group B (watered with tap water) and group C (watered with mineral water) grew slower but at almost the same pace.

Why do this project?

This science project is interesting because it shows how organic fertilizer can help plants grow faster than regular fertilizer. It also shows how chemical fertilizers can be dangerous to humans and animals.

Also Consider

Variations of this experiment could include using different types of soil, or comparing the use of organic fertilizers and chemical fertilizers.

Full project details

Additional information and source material for this project are available below.

Related video

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