Germination: "The Birth of a Plant"
Research: Germination is when a plant seed starts to sprout. A seed needs oxygen, water, certain temperatures, and energy to germinate.
Purpose: The purpose of my project was to determine which type of seed would germinate the fastest. I would be comparing wheat, sweet corn, field corn, soybeans, peas and sunflowers. I also wanted to test the effect of presoaking the seeds compared to starting with dry seeds.
Hypothesis: My hypothesis was that the wheat seeds would germinate the fastest due to their size.
Procedure: The experiment was conducted as follows:
1. Placed six (6) of each seed type in 50ml of water to soak for 24 hours.
2. Prepared twelve (12) petri dishes by cutting circles of blotter paper and placing in bottom of dish.
3. Soaked the blotter paper in each plated with 3ml of water.
4. Placed the soaked seeds in six (6) of the plates.
5. Placed six (6) non soaked seeds in the remaining six (6) plates.
6. Placed all twelve (12) plates on a tray and placed beside window.
7. All twelve plates received equal amounts of water, light and temperature.
8. Made observations of seeds at least two times daily. Recorded all activity observed.
Results: During both of the tests, the results were always the same. The soaked wheat seeds germinated first. They were followed by the soaked field corn, sweet corn, and soy beans in that order. The non-soaked wheat and field corn eventually germinated but not as quickly as the soaked. See following pages for observation records.
Conclusion: In conclusion, my experimentation supported my hypothesis. The wheat seeds were the first to germinate in all trials. The fact that pre-soaking the seeds aids their ability to germinate was supported by the fact that pre-soaked seeds germinated first under constant conditions.
Warning is hereby given that not all Project Ideas are appropriate for all individuals or in all circumstances. Implementation of any Science Project Idea should be undertaken only in appropriate settings and with appropriate parental or other supervision. Reading and following the safety precautions of all materials used in a project is the sole responsibility of each individual. For further information, consult your state’s handbook of Science Safety.