The Pea Plant Project
A study of the effect of humate and rhizobium on plant growth

Mark Cruz
IB Biology

Mrs. Meyer

Purpose: To determine whether or not the addition of Rhizobium or humate to soil aids the growth of plants.

Hypothesis:Rhizobium and humate will have no effect on plant growth.

Variables: 
	Independent: The addition of either Rhizobium or Humate to the soil
	Dependent: Dry biomass of plants
	Controlled: Temperature, amount of sunlight, type of plant, amount of water, 	amount of soil

Materials: empty soda bottles, rhizobium, humate, potting soil, water, seeds, scale, paper towels, graduated cylinder

Procedure

	1. Prepare an empty 2 liter soda bottle for planting by cutting  it across the 	middle, making two cylindrical halves. Poke 3 or small holes in the bottom half 	of the soda bottle for drainage.
	2. Obtain and fill the bottom half of the soda 2/3 full with soil. 
	3. Mix one teaspoon of Rhizobium itno your soil, maing sure to stir adequately so 	that the mixture is uniformly dispersed.
	4. Obtain three seeds and plant them in your soil in separate locations 	aprroximately to teh depth of the knuckle of one’s finger.
	5. Add 100ml of water to the soil.
	6. Place top of soda bottle with cap on on top of the lower half of the soda bottle. 	Place entire assembly in a well lit place.
	7. Repeat steps 1-6 mutliple times for humate and your control group(which will 	not have any growth enhancers added to the soil), making sure you have at least 4 	trials for each group tested.
	8. When seeds sprout, remove the top of the soda bottle 
	9. Allow platns to grow over a two week period, making observations and 	watering as needed.
	10. After the end of a two week period, remove your plants from the soil, being 	careful not to remove the root structures in the process. Rinse the roots off under 	running water to remove any dirt particles, and place paltns on a papre towel next 	to a windot to dry.
	11. After two days, obtain the dry biomassof your plants with a scale, and record.

Works Referenced

The Dirt Cellar <http://commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/dlc-me/zoo/zdrr0101.html>.
Humate <http://www.novaco.com.au/humates/humate.htm>.
What is Humate? <http://www.humateintl.com/history.html>