Potassium Effects on Aeroponic Plant Growth

34 Pages·2016·2.21 MB·English

by  Chuck Evans

Potassium Effects on
Aeroponic Plant Growth
Katie Evans
th
10 Grade
Berwick Area High School
Research:

Aeroponics- a technique for growing plants without
soil or hydroponic media. The plants are held above
a system that constantly mists the roots with
nutrient-laden water

Roots are suspended in an air environment

NO soil is used

Rockwool- a fibrous material used as a growing
medium. This is used in aeroponic systems

This method of growing is proven to have a less
risk of plants becoming ill or getting diseases

Plants need at least 16 different nutrients to
survive.

All nutrients are present in a nutrient solution
which is a mineral rich solution given to plants.
Research(Continued):

Giving plants too much of a nutrient can be just as
detrimental to the plant as not enough

Potassium is required in plants to ensure protein
synthesis and the opening and closing of the
stomata. It also plays roles in photosynthesis and
the activation of enzymes.

Potassium deficiency can occur

If potassium deficiency occurs the leaves on the
plants will look scorched.

The leaf tips can also curl or the yellowing between
veins can occur
Research(Continued):
• •
This nutrient This is potash
solution is fertilizer and
the base is the
solution I potassium I
used for all added to the
trials base solution
•
This bottles for the
Ratio is 2-1-6 experimental
meaning there trials.
•
is 2% nitrogen This bags ratio
along with 1% is 0-0-6
phosphate. As meaning there
well as 6% is 0% nitrogen
soluble potash along with 0%
phosphate. As
well as 60%
soluble potash
Question:
Will added potassium help
or hinder the growth of
plants ?
Hypothesis:
If I add extra potassium to a
nutrient solution and grow plants
aeroponically and a trial of plants
with just nutrient solution then the
plants grown with the added potassium
will grow tallest and weigh most.
Because potassium is essential for
plant growth and 12% rather than 6%
would be beneficial for the plant.
Variables:
Independent variable: the amount of
potassium
Dependent variable: height in centimeters
and dry biomass
Control: the plants grown with just
regular nutrient solution
Constants: light, water, receiving
nutrients through solution, location
Materials:

1 rubber maid tub 
PVC pipe

12 net pots 
PVC T fitting

4 water sprayers 
2 PVC endcaps

1 water pump 
PVC cement

1 timer 
Graduated cylinder

3 heat lamps 
Measuring instrument with

3 light bulbs(25
centimeters
watt) 
Funnel

Pea seeds 
Potash

Nutrient solution 
Data collection charts

Silicone

Distilled water(in
gallons)

Clay pebbles

Rockwool

Black hose

Before the experiment begins
(building the aeroponic system):
1. Obtain all needed materials
2. Take the lid off of the tub and arrange the locations and
placements of the net pots
3. After the net pots are placed use a writing utensil to race
around the circumference of the net pot on the lid
4. Then cut out each circle and discard of the unneeded material
5. Then file out all the rough edges to ensure the net pot fits
6. Then take the tub and looking down in it measure 4 inches down
on each side from the top
7. At those two points drill/cut out a 1 inch sized hole. Ensuring
the PVC pipe fits.
8. Then take two 16 ½ inch PVC and attach them together using a
PVC T fitting
9. After that slide the whole thing into the two holes already
drilled in the sides
10.Then place a fitting that is for the water pump into the
bottom of the PVC T fitting