Okay, I know it has been a while since I first planted by sweet potatoes & sunflowers - and this will affect my experiment badly seeing as the sunflowers & sweet potatoes have now had 10 whole days head start in growing.
But I will have to continue with my experiment anyway, so I just have to plough on.
So - I have further researched non-vascular plants, and have come to the conclusion that it will be really quite hard to grow them myself. So I have settled on planting my carrots - as they are largely based underground and will thus be affected if the allelochemicals are released into the ground, whereas the sunflowers will be affected more if the allelochemicals were released into the air.
PLUS - the carrots I bought were already growing. So the sunflowers' and sweet potatoes' head start in growth should be cancelled out. Yay! :)
And for my last plant, I have decided to plant cauliflower - it has a high sensitivity to allelochemicals and also is easier to grow than watercress. In addition, they only need to grow for about 2 and a half months, according to:
http://www.readersdigest.com.au/handyman/how-to-grow-cauliflower/article125633.html
I will plant the carrots tomorrow, and get the cauliflower seeds ASAP.
Finally, my problem's solved. :)
~ Day 9 ~
Observations!
ALL MY PLANTS ARE GROWING. IS THIS GOOD OR NOT?
I'm disturbed now. THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DYING!!!!!
The sweet potatoes in Box 2 are growing well - leaves have sprouted and are looking healthy. Furthermore, it's a reasonable assumption that sweet potatoes are not affected by their own allelochemicals.
BUT in Box 1 the sunflowers are growing alright as well! Well, actually not all of them are growing well. The ones further from the sweet potato are actually larger than the one nearer to the sweet potato! So the allelochemicals may actually be working! YAY!
And the extra sunflowers in the little pot are growing fine as well - but there's nothing really against their growth in the little pot.
Box 1 - See how the one just under the sweet potato is smaller and more dead-looking than the ones on the far left? YAY!
Box 2 - The sweet potatoes are looking healthy and robust. Darn - no dying. :(
Extra sunflowers. They look fine as well.
Finally a decision: THE OTHER PLANT IN PART A
I've realised that, what with my major modification to my experiment and all, that I haven't defined how I'm going to classify the plants in Part A of my experiment. Part B is quite simple - just sweet potatoes in the same box.
However, for Part A, I'd been going through some difficulties choosing how to classify the plants - at first it was non-vascular and vascular, with plants that reproduced in different ways as the classification criteria for Part B. But since Part B has been scrapped, I will now simply use the vascular and non-vascular plants for Part A.
Because, truthfully, the way the plants reproduce has practically no effect on if they are affected by allelochemicals, right? So vascular and non-vascular plants it is.
Ummm...but now that I think of it, I don't think you can actually grow non-vascular plants. Apparently, it's very easy to find them near water bodies, but they won't actually grow in my back garden. Sigh.
Okay, I will think about this tomorrow.
It freaking is tomorrow. Sigh.
However, for Part A, I'd been going through some difficulties choosing how to classify the plants - at first it was non-vascular and vascular, with plants that reproduced in different ways as the classification criteria for Part B. But since Part B has been scrapped, I will now simply use the vascular and non-vascular plants for Part A.
Because, truthfully, the way the plants reproduce has practically no effect on if they are affected by allelochemicals, right? So vascular and non-vascular plants it is.
Ummm...but now that I think of it, I don't think you can actually grow non-vascular plants. Apparently, it's very easy to find them near water bodies, but they won't actually grow in my back garden. Sigh.
Okay, I will think about this tomorrow.
It freaking is tomorrow. Sigh.
~ Day 6 ~
Ah - before I get onto observations, I wanted to point out some things:
1. I've decided to observe the plants every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I know that the "Day 1" post is actually on a Sunday, but from now on my observations will be taken on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
2. I've also realised that the title of the last post: "~ Day 2 ~" is inaccurate - that was actually Day 4. SORRY! I will change it shortly, but just wanted to mention it here. Furthermore, it is because of this that this post is called "Day 6" and not Day 3.
Okays. Now on to observations.
THE PLANTS HAVE SHOWN SIGNS OF LIFE/GROWING!!!!! YAYYYYYY!!!!
As you will see in the photos that follow (I have discovered that all you need to do is cut & paste them into the blog post writer/thingy), the sunflowers have sprouted and are actually growing!!! So are the sweet potatoes - they are growing leaves on the tubers!!! HOORAY!!! Okay. That's basically all - except for the fact that none have begun to die yet. I suppose it's still early in the experiment.
OH YEAH - I will be planting further plants next to the sweet potato in Box 1 soon. I know it's been a full week.....but I haven't had time to go to Flower Power again! Sigh.
Okay. Photos:
Box 1 - as you can see, the potato in the centre has begun to grow leaves!
Box 1 - another photo.
Box 2 - the sweet potato tubers here have also begun to grow leaves!
Extra Sunflower pot - two of the 5 dwarf sunflowers have germinated!
1. I've decided to observe the plants every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I know that the "Day 1" post is actually on a Sunday, but from now on my observations will be taken on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
2. I've also realised that the title of the last post: "~ Day 2 ~" is inaccurate - that was actually Day 4. SORRY! I will change it shortly, but just wanted to mention it here. Furthermore, it is because of this that this post is called "Day 6" and not Day 3.
Okays. Now on to observations.
THE PLANTS HAVE SHOWN SIGNS OF LIFE/GROWING!!!!! YAYYYYYY!!!!
As you will see in the photos that follow (I have discovered that all you need to do is cut & paste them into the blog post writer/thingy), the sunflowers have sprouted and are actually growing!!! So are the sweet potatoes - they are growing leaves on the tubers!!! HOORAY!!! Okay. That's basically all - except for the fact that none have begun to die yet. I suppose it's still early in the experiment.
OH YEAH - I will be planting further plants next to the sweet potato in Box 1 soon. I know it's been a full week.....but I haven't had time to go to Flower Power again! Sigh.
Okay. Photos:
Box 1 - as you can see, the potato in the centre has begun to grow leaves!
Box 1 - another photo.
Box 2 - the sweet potato tubers here have also begun to grow leaves!
Extra Sunflower pot - two of the 5 dwarf sunflowers have germinated!
~ Day 4 ~
Today I went and observed the plants again. There wasn't much change, except for the fact that the tuber in Box 1 is starting to stick straight up from the soil - to get more sun, I suppose.
That's a good thing - it shows that it's growing!!! YEAH!!!! :D
The potatoes in Box 2 are not showing much difference, though. Some of the tubers are still lying horizontal across the soil. Not because they're dying. The tubers just point that way....
Anyway, the sunflower seeds are not showing any difference - but that's because they need 7 - 10 days to germinate (sprout or begin to grow). So everything's going according to plan!
For now.
OH - also, I have to mention that I'm watering both boxes with the same amount of water each day: 1 cup. I have a measuring beaker-type-thingo that tells me. :)
That's a good thing - it shows that it's growing!!! YEAH!!!! :D
The potatoes in Box 2 are not showing much difference, though. Some of the tubers are still lying horizontal across the soil. Not because they're dying. The tubers just point that way....
Anyway, the sunflower seeds are not showing any difference - but that's because they need 7 - 10 days to germinate (sprout or begin to grow). So everything's going according to plan!
For now.
OH - also, I have to mention that I'm watering both boxes with the same amount of water each day: 1 cup. I have a measuring beaker-type-thingo that tells me. :)
The Experiment - Day 1
Today I planted my sweet potatoes for both Part A and Part B - I took photos, but I'm not sure how to present them on this blog. I've already tried to upload them, but I couldn't even upload one without dying of boredom! It's so slow it's not funny.
First of all, I obtained two styrofoam boxes from various places - one from a supermarket, and one from the fish markets. I cleaned them out, then filled them with Debco "Green Wizard" Premium Potting Mix. I cut the tubers (the green sprouting growths) from the top of the sweet potato. For Part A of my experiment, I planted one tuber in the middle of Box 1, covering it with a little soil (as the man from Flower Power said to) and watering it. I planted another 5 in the same fashion in Box 2 for Part B of my experiment.
Then I planted three sunflowers in the right side of Box 1 - the "Sunflower: Dwarf Sensation" from Yates - and I will point them out on the photo when I find a way to post them on this blog. Lastly, I planted four extra sunflowers (in case the ones that I want to use die) in a round pot separate from the rest of the experiment. I also kept some extra tubers in the fridge in case I need to grow a few more sweet potatoes.
At present, the sweet potato tubers simply look like green stems sticking out of the dirt. The sunflowers, on the other hand, are not visible because they are covered with 1cm of dirt. Again, I will post pictures of them as soon as I find a feasible way to get them on this blog!
First of all, I obtained two styrofoam boxes from various places - one from a supermarket, and one from the fish markets. I cleaned them out, then filled them with Debco "Green Wizard" Premium Potting Mix. I cut the tubers (the green sprouting growths) from the top of the sweet potato. For Part A of my experiment, I planted one tuber in the middle of Box 1, covering it with a little soil (as the man from Flower Power said to) and watering it. I planted another 5 in the same fashion in Box 2 for Part B of my experiment.
Then I planted three sunflowers in the right side of Box 1 - the "Sunflower: Dwarf Sensation" from Yates - and I will point them out on the photo when I find a way to post them on this blog. Lastly, I planted four extra sunflowers (in case the ones that I want to use die) in a round pot separate from the rest of the experiment. I also kept some extra tubers in the fridge in case I need to grow a few more sweet potatoes.
At present, the sweet potato tubers simply look like green stems sticking out of the dirt. The sunflowers, on the other hand, are not visible because they are covered with 1cm of dirt. Again, I will post pictures of them as soon as I find a feasible way to get them on this blog!
MAJOR MODIFICATION TO EXPERIMENT - VERY IMPORTANT!
Okay. So this is the brainwave that I just came up with:
For Part A of my experiment, instead of simply investigating the effect of allelochemicals on vascular and non-vascular plants, I will study the effects of allelochemicals on vascular and non-vascular plants as well as the different types of plants I was going to study in Part B. You see, I will combine both my previous Part A and Part B together.
Because it seemed that before, my Part A and Part B were basically investigating the same thing - just that Part B was a bit more in-depth. So I have decided to do this!
Furthermore, I think I will begin to observe my sweet potatoes once every two days - because on the note we received before, that detailed what was expected of us in this SRP, said that we were expected to blog at least 3 times a week nearing the end of our experiment. So, in order to be able to blog at least 3 times a week and to blog about information that is actually relevant, I will begin to observe my plants once every two days.
I know that doing that sounds very obsessive, and I will not have much to blog about in the beginning weeks, but at least that will remind me to keep blogging 3 times a week, you know? At least, although I will be going into almost unnecessary detail, I will be able to keep up with what's happening to my plants.
Phew. Okay. That was hard.
Sweet Potato Planting Time!
So yesterday, I went to the local Flower Power and - guess what??
I GOT A SWEET POTATO THAT'S PRETTY MUCH READY TO GROW!!!
All I need to do is plant it in some soil, cover it with a bit of dirt, water it a bit, and then leave it!
However, the vascular and non-vascular plants that I want to plant next to it are really starting to turn out to be a challenge. I wanted to plant a sunflower - but according to the site I found before, they have a "low" sensitivity to allelochemicals! ARGH!!!!
I was really stupid and didn't check it before I went to the Flower Power. I bought sunflowers seeds and carrots already! I didn't get a liverwort, though because I don't think you can actually grow them.....So I have to re-think everything and go buy MORE plants!
:'( I really am stupid.
Anyhow. I will plant the sweet potatoes first, then. I'm gonna do that now.
WAIT - I just had an idea! I will still use the carrots - because I don't want to waste my mum's money, and I will use it in Part B. Although I already have plans for Part B, the carrot can just be another trial plant that I can use. I mean, the more trials the better, right?
Pretty much, anyway.
I GOT A SWEET POTATO THAT'S PRETTY MUCH READY TO GROW!!!
All I need to do is plant it in some soil, cover it with a bit of dirt, water it a bit, and then leave it!
However, the vascular and non-vascular plants that I want to plant next to it are really starting to turn out to be a challenge. I wanted to plant a sunflower - but according to the site I found before, they have a "low" sensitivity to allelochemicals! ARGH!!!!
I was really stupid and didn't check it before I went to the Flower Power. I bought sunflowers seeds and carrots already! I didn't get a liverwort, though because I don't think you can actually grow them.....So I have to re-think everything and go buy MORE plants!
:'( I really am stupid.
Anyhow. I will plant the sweet potatoes first, then. I'm gonna do that now.
WAIT - I just had an idea! I will still use the carrots - because I don't want to waste my mum's money, and I will use it in Part B. Although I already have plans for Part B, the carrot can just be another trial plant that I can use. I mean, the more trials the better, right?
Pretty much, anyway.
Which plants to plant for Part A?
For a vascular plant --> A sunflower, because they are apparently easy to grow and the smaller types begin to flower before 3 months.
For a non-vascular plant --> A liverwort, because they are more well-known than hornworts and they are also apparently easy to grow.
However, I will further investigate these types of plants when I go to the local "Flower Power" today. :)
For a non-vascular plant --> A liverwort, because they are more well-known than hornworts and they are also apparently easy to grow.
However, I will further investigate these types of plants when I go to the local "Flower Power" today. :)
FINALLY - A Good Way to Classify Plants
I found a really good slideshow at:
http://www.slideshare.net/geonyzl/classifying-plants-based-on-climate-and-habitat-331230
It really helped me decide how I was going to do Part B of my experiment - I needed "different types" of plants, but I wasn't sure which classification method to use so that they would be "different". So I've decided to get rid of the flower, cactus, and "different types of plants" in that sense; and I have firmly resolved to classify the plants by the way they reproduct.
This is because the slideshow helped me realise that if I classify plants by their habitat, one or more of the test plants will always be at a disadvantage because I'm only growing them in one habitat - that is, if I grow a flower and a cactus in the same place (my backyard), the cactus will probably grow better than the flower because the cactus is very efficient in the use of water (since it comes from a desert habitat), whereas the flower is not as efficient at using water. Since I will give each plant an equal amount of water, the flower would thus would be at a disadvantage.
Also:
- Classifying plants by life span would be pointless, since I'm only growing them for about 2 and a half months, and the effect of the allelochemicals would not be aided/inhibited by life span.
- Classifying plants by "growth habit" or their structure (woody = trees; or herbaceous = green and leafy) would be pointless because I cannot grow trees in the short time period that I have, so I cannot compare the effect of allelochemicals on trees vs. the effect on green, leafy plants.
- Classifying plants by climatic adaptation would be pointless because I'm only going to grow the plants in one climatic area, meaning that one or more plants would always be at a disadvantage, just as in the habitat classification.
Therefore, it would be easiest to classify the plants by their method of reproduction.
Far Part A of my experiment, I will use:
- A bryophyte: A non-vascular plant
- A tracheophyte: A vascular plant
For Part B of my experiment, I will use:
- An angiosperm: A class of seed plants, having seeds enclosed in an ovary, and flowering - vascular
- A gymnosperm: A plant, such as a cycad or conifer, whose seeds are not enclosed within an ovary; not flowering - vascular
And maybe:
- A fungus (if I can manage to grow one somehow): An organism of the kingdom Fungi lacking chlorophyll and feeding on organic matter - non-vascular
- A chromista (also if I can manage to grow one): An algae - non-vascular
http://www.slideshare.net/geonyzl/classifying-plants-based-on-climate-and-habitat-331230
It really helped me decide how I was going to do Part B of my experiment - I needed "different types" of plants, but I wasn't sure which classification method to use so that they would be "different". So I've decided to get rid of the flower, cactus, and "different types of plants" in that sense; and I have firmly resolved to classify the plants by the way they reproduct.
This is because the slideshow helped me realise that if I classify plants by their habitat, one or more of the test plants will always be at a disadvantage because I'm only growing them in one habitat - that is, if I grow a flower and a cactus in the same place (my backyard), the cactus will probably grow better than the flower because the cactus is very efficient in the use of water (since it comes from a desert habitat), whereas the flower is not as efficient at using water. Since I will give each plant an equal amount of water, the flower would thus would be at a disadvantage.
Also:
- Classifying plants by life span would be pointless, since I'm only growing them for about 2 and a half months, and the effect of the allelochemicals would not be aided/inhibited by life span.
- Classifying plants by "growth habit" or their structure (woody = trees; or herbaceous = green and leafy) would be pointless because I cannot grow trees in the short time period that I have, so I cannot compare the effect of allelochemicals on trees vs. the effect on green, leafy plants.
- Classifying plants by climatic adaptation would be pointless because I'm only going to grow the plants in one climatic area, meaning that one or more plants would always be at a disadvantage, just as in the habitat classification.
Therefore, it would be easiest to classify the plants by their method of reproduction.
Far Part A of my experiment, I will use:
- A bryophyte: A non-vascular plant
- A tracheophyte: A vascular plant
For Part B of my experiment, I will use:
- An angiosperm: A class of seed plants, having seeds enclosed in an ovary, and flowering - vascular
- A gymnosperm: A plant, such as a cycad or conifer, whose seeds are not enclosed within an ovary; not flowering - vascular
And maybe:
- A fungus (if I can manage to grow one somehow): An organism of the kingdom Fungi lacking chlorophyll and feeding on organic matter - non-vascular
- A chromista (also if I can manage to grow one): An algae - non-vascular
Which plant to plant?
Firstly. I've decided to classify the plants in Part B by the way they reproduce. This doesn't seem very relevant to my actual experiment, but it seems to be a very common way of classification of plants, so I suppose it should be alright.
For example, there are angiosperms, who are flowering plants.
So, according to this site I've found, many fruits and vegetables are sensitive to allelopathy. A few are: apple, apricot, avocado, banana, pear, cauliflower, broccoli, watercress, cherimoya and spinach But are these easy to grow in your own back garden? I don't believe that apples are....they grow on trees. So no.
But the easiest looking ones are lettuce, watercress, tomatoes....nasturtiums, which are actually a type of flower! So right now I have a flower for Part B.
Also, according to a gardening resource, spinach plants are particularly easy to grow, as well as carrots. So maybe I'll try those.
For example, there are angiosperms, who are flowering plants.
So, according to this site I've found, many fruits and vegetables are sensitive to allelopathy. A few are: apple, apricot, avocado, banana, pear, cauliflower, broccoli, watercress, cherimoya and spinach But are these easy to grow in your own back garden? I don't believe that apples are....they grow on trees. So no.
But the easiest looking ones are lettuce, watercress, tomatoes....nasturtiums, which are actually a type of flower! So right now I have a flower for Part B.
Also, according to a gardening resource, spinach plants are particularly easy to grow, as well as carrots. So maybe I'll try those.
Interesting...
http://www.tis-gdv.de/tis_e/misc/allelo.htm
This is a very interesting site.
However, I believe that it will change several important things in my experiment.
DARN!
Okay, I will get down to modifying my experiment now.
This is a very interesting site.
However, I believe that it will change several important things in my experiment.
DARN!
Okay, I will get down to modifying my experiment now.
Part B of my Experiment [aka: HOW PLANTS WILL DIEE!!!]
[Note: All allelopathy & allelopathic traits mentioned in this entry are negative, unless mentioned otherwise. Hehe.]
For Part B of my experiment, I want to record the effects of allelochemicals on different types of plants. I have researched allelopathic plants, and I believe that I should plant sweet potatoes because apparently they are not hard to grow: "In fact, the question is not how to grow sweet potatoes, it's rather how to stop sweet potato vines from taking over the whole garden!" and "...sweet potatoes grow with little water and fertiliser." - Source: http://www.tropicalpermaculture.com/growing-sweet-potatoes.html
Well, that's certainly convenient. Whoo! 8D
Furthermore, all I need to grow them are some cuttings about 30cm long. They should be quite easy to obtain from a gardening place like Flower Power, or something.
However, they should take about two and a half to three months to mature in warm weather, longer in cooler weather - and that period is from planting to maturity. Obviously, since I only have 3 months and I still need time to write up my results, conclusion, discussion, etc. I will have to modify my experiment so that maybe I do not start right from the planting of the sweet potatoes, or I will only record my observations for two and a half months.
I think that I would rather record my observations for two and a half months.
Anyway, as mentioned in my previous post:
"I think I want a range of different plants - I researched modern classifications of plants, and one method of classifying them was by the way the plants took in water - whether they get water from the ground through their roots or simply absorb water through their surfaces (leaves, etc.)."
But I want a range of different plants based on their different structures, so I can see the effects of allelochemicals on a variety of plants. Because of this, I think that I should plant two sweet potatoes - one far Part A, with one vascular plant and one non-vascular plant; and the second for Part B, with different types of plants planted around it. My initial idea for "different types of plants" was: a flowering plant, a cactus and a leafy plant. But I'm not sure if they sufficiently cover a wide range of general plants.
Anyhow, I will plant these around the sweet potato, and observe the effect of the allelochemicals on them, along with taking photos just like Part A of my experiment.
On a different subject, according to my research, not all allelochemicals affect every plant the same way.
"The black walnut (Juglans Ingra) produces the allelochemical juglone, which affects some species greatly while others not at all." - Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allelopathy
In this particular case with the sweet potatoes:
"The allelopathic substances in sweet potato were identified as coumarin, trans-cinnamic acid, o-coumaric acid, p-coumaric acid and chlorogenic acid." - Source: http://www.cababstractsplus.org/abstracts/Abstract.aspx?AcNo=20043010129
For Part B of my experiment, I want to record the effects of allelochemicals on different types of plants. I have researched allelopathic plants, and I believe that I should plant sweet potatoes because apparently they are not hard to grow: "In fact, the question is not how to grow sweet potatoes, it's rather how to stop sweet potato vines from taking over the whole garden!" and "...sweet potatoes grow with little water and fertiliser." - Source: http://www.tropicalpermaculture.com/growing-sweet-potatoes.html
Well, that's certainly convenient. Whoo! 8D
Furthermore, all I need to grow them are some cuttings about 30cm long. They should be quite easy to obtain from a gardening place like Flower Power, or something.
However, they should take about two and a half to three months to mature in warm weather, longer in cooler weather - and that period is from planting to maturity. Obviously, since I only have 3 months and I still need time to write up my results, conclusion, discussion, etc. I will have to modify my experiment so that maybe I do not start right from the planting of the sweet potatoes, or I will only record my observations for two and a half months.
I think that I would rather record my observations for two and a half months.
Anyway, as mentioned in my previous post:
"I think I want a range of different plants - I researched modern classifications of plants, and one method of classifying them was by the way the plants took in water - whether they get water from the ground through their roots or simply absorb water through their surfaces (leaves, etc.)."
But I want a range of different plants based on their different structures, so I can see the effects of allelochemicals on a variety of plants. Because of this, I think that I should plant two sweet potatoes - one far Part A, with one vascular plant and one non-vascular plant; and the second for Part B, with different types of plants planted around it. My initial idea for "different types of plants" was: a flowering plant, a cactus and a leafy plant. But I'm not sure if they sufficiently cover a wide range of general plants.
Anyhow, I will plant these around the sweet potato, and observe the effect of the allelochemicals on them, along with taking photos just like Part A of my experiment.
On a different subject, according to my research, not all allelochemicals affect every plant the same way.
"The black walnut (Juglans Ingra) produces the allelochemical juglone, which affects some species greatly while others not at all." - Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allelopathy
In this particular case with the sweet potatoes:
"The allelopathic substances in sweet potato were identified as coumarin, trans-cinnamic acid, o-coumaric acid, p-coumaric acid and chlorogenic acid." - Source: http://www.cababstractsplus.org/abstracts/Abstract.aspx?AcNo=20043010129
Part A of my Experiment [aka: DIE, PLANTS, DIE!!!]
[Note: All allelopathy & allelopathic traits mentioned in this entry are negative, unless mentioned otherwise. Hehe.]
For Part A, I want to investigate IF negative allelopathy actually occurs; and, if so, WHEN and WHERE the allelopathic plant secretes its allelochemicals. I looked up examples of plants that use allelopathy [on Wikipedia, I admit, but also on sites like this one: http://apps.caes.uga.edu/sbof/main/lessonPlan/allelopathy.pdf]; and the plants that use allelopathy include: black walnut trees, sagebrushes and desert shrubs. Thus, it looks like the easiest plants for me to use are either sweet potatoes, alfalfa or sunflowers....perhaps I will use two of the three, to see the effect of two different allelopathic (yes, that is a word. I looked it up.) plants on each other. But I will research more about the different types of allelochemicals they release, and when they release them, before deciding which ones to plant close together.
The next biggest question is: which plants should I test for where the allelochemicals are released? That is, which non-allelopathic plants should I place near the allelopathic ones to see what happens to the non-allelopathic plants? I think I want a range of different plants - I researched modern classifications of plants, and one method of classifying them was by the way the plants took in water - whether they get water from the ground through their roots or simply absorb water through their surfaces (leaves, etc.).
"Plants are either vascular or non-vascular. Vascular plants have tube-like structures that transport water from the roots to the stem to the leaves. Non-vascular plants absorb water only through their surfaces." - Source: http://www.fi.edu/tfi/units/life/classify/classify.html
I believe that it will be helpful to have both a vascular and non-vascular plant that are non-allelopathic so that I can tell whether the allelopathic plant releases its allelochemicals into the ground (in which case the vascular plants would be more affected) or into the air or somewhere else. If the allelochemicals are released into the air, I believe that the non-vascular plant will be more affected by it.
In this case, the independent variable would be if the allelochemicals are actually released. The dependent variable will be the effect on the other plant - how its will growth be impacted on by the allelochemical, and things like that.
I will take observations on the plants every few days, as I said in my last entry....perhaps every 4 days? I'll also take photos, because I want to know when the allelopathic plants start to produce allelochemicals - according to my research, it could be when the plant is actively growing OR even when it's decaying. Does that mean I will have to kill the plants at the end of my experiment and wait until it decays to see the effects of the allelochemicals? I really hope not....that would be really troublesome. =="
BUT I think I will modify my experiment to see when the allelochemicals are released in the lifespan of a plant. That would be better. :D
Since it is March right now, I still have three months to get started on this experiment. It should be enough time.
For Part A, I want to investigate IF negative allelopathy actually occurs; and, if so, WHEN and WHERE the allelopathic plant secretes its allelochemicals. I looked up examples of plants that use allelopathy [on Wikipedia, I admit, but also on sites like this one: http://apps.caes.uga.edu/sbof/main/lessonPlan/allelopathy.pdf]; and the plants that use allelopathy include: black walnut trees, sagebrushes and desert shrubs. Thus, it looks like the easiest plants for me to use are either sweet potatoes, alfalfa or sunflowers....perhaps I will use two of the three, to see the effect of two different allelopathic (yes, that is a word. I looked it up.) plants on each other. But I will research more about the different types of allelochemicals they release, and when they release them, before deciding which ones to plant close together.
The next biggest question is: which plants should I test for where the allelochemicals are released? That is, which non-allelopathic plants should I place near the allelopathic ones to see what happens to the non-allelopathic plants? I think I want a range of different plants - I researched modern classifications of plants, and one method of classifying them was by the way the plants took in water - whether they get water from the ground through their roots or simply absorb water through their surfaces (leaves, etc.).
"Plants are either vascular or non-vascular. Vascular plants have tube-like structures that transport water from the roots to the stem to the leaves. Non-vascular plants absorb water only through their surfaces." - Source: http://www.fi.edu/tfi/units/life/classify/classify.html
I believe that it will be helpful to have both a vascular and non-vascular plant that are non-allelopathic so that I can tell whether the allelopathic plant releases its allelochemicals into the ground (in which case the vascular plants would be more affected) or into the air or somewhere else. If the allelochemicals are released into the air, I believe that the non-vascular plant will be more affected by it.
In this case, the independent variable would be if the allelochemicals are actually released. The dependent variable will be the effect on the other plant - how its will growth be impacted on by the allelochemical, and things like that.
I will take observations on the plants every few days, as I said in my last entry....perhaps every 4 days? I'll also take photos, because I want to know when the allelopathic plants start to produce allelochemicals - according to my research, it could be when the plant is actively growing OR even when it's decaying. Does that mean I will have to kill the plants at the end of my experiment and wait until it decays to see the effects of the allelochemicals? I really hope not....that would be really troublesome. =="
BUT I think I will modify my experiment to see when the allelochemicals are released in the lifespan of a plant. That would be better. :D
Since it is March right now, I still have three months to get started on this experiment. It should be enough time.
ALLELOPATHY!
SO! I have finally decided to investigate negative allelopathy - a naturally occurring phenomenon in which some plants, algae, bacteria, coral and fungi release chemicals (called allelochemicals) that affect the growth and development of plants near them in a bad way. The site that gave me inspiration for this was:
http://chemistry.about.com/od/sciencefairprojects/a/sciprohigh.htm
I looked up "science fair projects" on the internet, as Ms Zhang said we should if we needed ideas.
I talked to Ms Zhang about my idea at the canteen the other day, and I got to see Ms Zhang have a brainfreeze. It was fun. >:D
Okay. Although it was fun; sorry, Ms Zhang. :D
But she said that my idea was okay, I just had to think it through more. I want to investigate if the allelopathic plants actually secrete/release allelochemicals, and I think I will do that by planting other plants near an allelopathic plant. I'll take observations every few days, and that way I will find out if the allelopathic plant affects plants around it. Should I plant the allelopathic plant first, though? And the non-allelopathic plants after, so I can see how well they grow? I'm not sure. Too many questions and choices!! Argh!
OH! Also, Ms Zhang told us in her email that we need to show "whether we have thought through several different project designs". Will it be okay if I simply add a Part A and Part B to my experiment? Then I will have thought through two project designs....
I can't think of any other project designs that check if allelopathy actually occurs.
So is that okay? I've looked at other people's blogs, and most of the time they've only thought of one way to do their experiment. I hope my stuff's okay.
http://chemistry.about.com/od/sciencefairprojects/a/sciprohigh.htm
I looked up "science fair projects" on the internet, as Ms Zhang said we should if we needed ideas.
I talked to Ms Zhang about my idea at the canteen the other day, and I got to see Ms Zhang have a brainfreeze. It was fun. >:D
Okay. Although it was fun; sorry, Ms Zhang. :D
But she said that my idea was okay, I just had to think it through more. I want to investigate if the allelopathic plants actually secrete/release allelochemicals, and I think I will do that by planting other plants near an allelopathic plant. I'll take observations every few days, and that way I will find out if the allelopathic plant affects plants around it. Should I plant the allelopathic plant first, though? And the non-allelopathic plants after, so I can see how well they grow? I'm not sure. Too many questions and choices!! Argh!
OH! Also, Ms Zhang told us in her email that we need to show "whether we have thought through several different project designs". Will it be okay if I simply add a Part A and Part B to my experiment? Then I will have thought through two project designs....
I can't think of any other project designs that check if allelopathy actually occurs.
So is that okay? I've looked at other people's blogs, and most of the time they've only thought of one way to do their experiment. I hope my stuff's okay.
What to do for the SRP? To do or not to do..... :)
I've been thinking, and perhaps I'll do one of the projects suggested by Ms Zhang. That would decrease the chance that my experiment is not suitable for the SRP, and also then I would know what exactly to do.
Maybe I'll investigate the most effective way of dyeing eggs for Easter....mmmm eggs. ;)
I rather like food. :D
OR I could design an effective smoke alarm for the deaf! That actually sounds pretty cool. Designing, though......I really don't know. Heh.
Still thinking. This is hard! But I gotta remember it has to be done by June....
Maybe I'll investigate the most effective way of dyeing eggs for Easter....mmmm eggs. ;)
I rather like food. :D
OR I could design an effective smoke alarm for the deaf! That actually sounds pretty cool. Designing, though......I really don't know. Heh.
Still thinking. This is hard! But I gotta remember it has to be done by June....
