Classroom Experiments Main Page

Plant-A-Plant Introduction


Seed Germination


Light


Water


Mineral Nutrition - Beginner


Mineral Nutrition - Advanced


Carbon Dioxide


Photosynthesis


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Mineral Nutrition


Purpose
Overview
The class will grow their own maize plants on soils with different mineral content and evaluate how the absence or excess of mineral nutrients influences plant growth.  Students will observe plant size, the presence of nutrient-deficiency symptoms such as leaf yellowing, and assess the increase of plant biomass over time comparing differences between treatments.

Essential Questions
How are mineral nutrients essential to plant growth?
Sub-Questions
Are pure water and air sufficient sources for the plant growth?
What is “the dry matter” of the plant?
Which organic compounds do form the plant dry matter?
Which of the chemical elements does consist those organic compounds?
How do the plants take the nutrients from the soil?
Why are nutrients needed for plant growth?

Student Outcomes
Science Concepts
Time
Approximate total amount of time necessary for the experiment is 25-28 days. There can be slight variation in duration of each part of the experiment due to differences in local conditions. 


Level
Advanced Middle School & High School