PURPOSE
The purpose of this experiment was to determine
if a pineapple (Ananus comosus) could be regenerated from its crown
more effectively in rich soil, sand, or water.
I became interested in this idea because I’ve
always liked to do experiments that involve plants and that have something
to do with real life. When my mom explained to me that pineapple could
be grown from their crowns I knew I wanted to explore this further.
The information gained from this experiment may
help pineapple growers produce their crops more efficiently and help use
the least amount of materials that are needed such as water, sand, and
soil.
HYPOTHESIS
My hypothesis is that the pineapple (ananus
comosus) will grow much faster and be healthier in rich soil than if
you grow the pineapple in water or sand.
I base my hypothesis on research that I gained
about the pineapple (ananus comosus) on the Internet.
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EXPERIMENT DESIGN
The constants in this study were:
The same size of pot and the same amount of soil
The amount of light plants were exposed to
The temperatures where plants were grown
The same amount of pineapple crowns in each group
The same depth the pineapples are planted in
and
The same environment plants where grown in
The manipulated variable was the type of growing
medium in each group.
The responding variable was the length of the
roots of the pineapple.
To measure the responding variable I would use
a millimeter ruler to measure the length of the roots every week.
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MATERIALS
QUANTATY |
ITEM DESCRIPTION |
| 16 |
4" plastic pots |
| 16 |
pineapple crowns (leafy part) |
| 1034 grams |
potting soil plus ". 08-.12- .08"
(.08% Nitrogen, .12% Phosphate,
.08% Solube Potash) |
| 1040 grams |
sand |
| 129 grams |
fertilizer "18-6-12"
(18% Nitrogen, 6% Phosphate,
12% Solube Potash) |
| 1 |
250ml measuring cup |
| 20ml |
planting food "10-6-10"
(10% Nitrogen, 6% Phosphate,
10% Solube Potash) |
| 15cm |
ruler |
|
Hard water |
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PROCEDURES
1. Gather the materials needed such as pineapple
crowns, soil, water, fertilizer, camera, 16 pots, and sand.
2. Take four pots and place 500 ml of potting
soil in them. Label them "Soil
1", "Soil 2", etc.
3. Do this step with 4 more pots using 500 ml
water instead of soil. Label.
4. Repeat this process with sand and with potting
soil, but both of these groups also receive 7 grams of fertilizer per pot.
Label.
5. Take pictures while you are doing the
experiment groups and procedures.
6. Then put 1 crown into each pot 6 cm deep
in the soil.
7. Let the crowns in the pots full of water
sink to the bottom of their pots.
8. Water plant groups every 3 days.
9. Take observations every week using millimeters
to measure the length of the roots.
10. Write observations in project log recording
the date and what you did for that day.
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RESULTS
The original purpose of this experiment was to
determine if the pineapple (Ananus comosus) germinated more effectively
in rich soil rather than sand or water.
The results of this experiment were that the pineapple
grew more effectively in water than in potting soil, or in sand or soil
containing fertilizer.
See the graph below.
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CONCLUSION
My hypothesis was that the pineapples would grow
much faster and healthier in rich soil than if you grow them in water or
sand.
The results indicate that this hypothesis should
be rejected. The pineapple roots grew much faster in water than in rich
soil or sand.
Because of the results of this experiment, I wonder
if this experiment was repeated would the group with water grow faster
than all the other groups as it did this time. A second question
is whether as the plants mature would those grown in soil or with fertilizer
surpass the water group.
The usefulness of my findings would help pineapple
producers start their crops much faster in water and that would help them
produce more pineapples.
If I were to conduct this project again I would
try to place the pineapples in a green house to keep the soil moist.
I would also try to grow them at a higher temperature, like 80° or
90° F., because that would be more natural. I would also change my
procedures in which I wouldn’t have to take the pineapples out of the soil
or sand until the experiment was all finished.
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RESEARCH REPORT
Introduction
Plant experiments are done for two main reasons.
Plants are fundamental to survival and people are curious about living
organisms. That is why scientists are so interested in learning more
about plants through experimentation.
Pineapple
The pineapple is a fruit classified as the Ananus
Comosus. It comes from the Bromelicelaid family, Bromelceae. The pineapple
has over 2000 species and 46 genera. One specie is found in South Africa.
The pineapple gets its name from a large pinecone. It resembles the fruits
guava, agave, and yuccas. The pineapple grows to be one meter (three feet)
tall. The roots grow long underground and short above the ground of the
soil. It takes three to four years to grow a pineapple. During the fourteen
to sixteen months of the growth of the pineapple, the pineapple inflorenscences
two violets that are two centimeters long on each rind. A domesticated
pineappple can grow from its slips, suckers, and crown. The most grown
pineapple is the Smooth Cayenne. The pineapple is also filled with vitamin
C.
Discovery and Origination of the Pineapple
The pineapple has been said to have been
discovered by many people. It also has been originated from many places
around the world. Scientist believes the pineapple originated from Brazil.
Later, the pineapple was found in the West Indies and Central and South
America. The Portuguese are mainly responsible for the pineapple's origination.
Christopher Columbus was the first English explorer to taste the pineapple
in 1493. Sir Walter Raleigh and Gonzalo Fernandez de Oveida y Valdez also
discovered the pineapple after Columbus did. The pineapple is domesticated
in the high plateaus in Central America. It is domesticated there after
the arrival of the Europeans.
Plantation and Growth of Pineapples
The pineapple plant is planted in rows.
The soil is first fumigated for insects. The pineapple plant, which is
the pineapple crown, is inserted through paper in the fumigated soil. Fifteen
thousand through twenty thousand pineapple plants are planted per acre.
Seven million six hundred metric tons of pineapple are planted annually.
Twenty percent of the crops come from Thailand and sixty percent of canned
pineapples come from Hawaii.
Pest and Disease
Eventually, all plant have some type of
disease. A pineapple plant has two types of disease. One disease is called
heart rot caused by fungi. The cure for this disease is putting fungicide
in the heart (center) of the crown. The pineapple plant may get mealy bugs
or scales. The cure for this pest are putting insecticide or washing the
leaves of the crown.
Climate
The pineapple plant is used in very warm climates.
In the United States, a pineapple plant is easy to grow. During the winter,
the pineapple plant is kept on the window seal during the day. During the
evening it is removed from the window seal to prevent frost damage. In
the summer, the pineapple plant is kept outside in the garden. It is placed
in a very shady place in the garden.
Pineapple Producers
Pineapple producers are found everywhere
around the world. Thailand produces the most pineapples. Hawaii produces
the most canned pineapple. The other countries that
Produce pineapples and sells them as exports
are Brazil, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and South Africa.
There is one coast that produces pineapples. That is the Ivory Coast.
Commercial Pineapples
The first commercial growing system for
the pineapple was done in 1850 in Azores, England. It is still done to
this day. The second commercial system was during the 1860's. It started
in the Florida Keys. In 1910, the production and shipping of pineapples
in crates increased. There is no known date when the production of pineapple
began to decline. The production of the pineapples began to decline after
Cuba said the pineapple brought disease to the country. In 1970, Hawaii
lowered the cost for the pineapple and commercial products rose because
fruit was now canned.
SUMMARY
The pineapple is well known fruit throughout
the world. There are over ten major pineapple producers around the world.
Plantation is usually done outdoors in tropical areas of the world. Many
explorers are said to have found the pineapple but not many people know
where pineapple was really first found. The pineapple has over two thousand
species. Many pineapple producers still use pineapple commercially today
as they did during the 1800's. Pineapples do not always get pest or diseases
but it does occur.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Art: Courtesy of the Dole Company Encyclopedia
Britannica, Inc. "Pineapple," The New Encyclopedia Britannica. 1988. Vol.9.
Pp.452-453
Bartholomew, D." How to Grow a Pineapple in Your
Home." [Online] Available http://agrss.sherman November of 1995
Bruce Coleman Inc., "Pineapple," The World Book
Encyclopedia. 1991. Vol.19. Pp.476-477
Collins, Julius L. " The Pineapple: Botany" Academic
American Encyclopedia.1998. Vol.15. Pp.306-307
Division of Encyclopedia, Inc. "Pineapple." Compton's
Encyclopedia. 1988. Vol.19.pp.329
Hershey, David R. Plant Biology Science Projects,
1995
Kindersley, Dorling. "Pineapple." Microsoft Bookshelf
98 1998 ed. CD-ROM. Microsoft Inc. 1997
Levins, Hoag."All About the Pineapple." [Online]
Available http://www.vuse.vanderbilt.edu. /~Shenco/pineapp2.html,1995-1996
Tanabe, Michael J. "Pinepple" World Book.1991.Vol.5.
Pp.476-477
Wolf H.S. "Pineapple." Colliers Encyclopedia.
1995. Vol. 19. Pp55 |
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