Aquaponics Post #4
1. Hypothesis (include scientific names of organisms):
Peppermint (Mentha x piperita) will achieve better growth when grown in a medium of expanded clay pebbles than when grown in lava rock. 2. Literature review (based on annotated bibliography) that supports your hypothesis:
b. Copy and paste APA reference M. (2017, December 16). How to Use Hydroton (Expanded Clay Pellets) in the Garden. Retrieved from https://www.greenandvibrant.com/hydroton Quarters, C. (2017, November 21). Can You Grow Edible Herbs in Lava Rock? Retrieved January 8, 2019 from https://living.thebump.com/can-grow-edible-herbs-lava-rock-14005.html Reed, P. H. (2016, October 07). How to Grow Mint From Cuttings Hydroponically. Retrieved January 8, 2019, from https://homeguides.sfgate.com/grow-mint-cuttings-hydroponically-71309.html 3. Independent variable (with units) The independent variable is the type of media used in the grow bed (clay or lava rock). We measured approximately the same volume of each type of growth media before placing it into our system. 4. Dependent variable (with units) The dependent variable is leaf growth; to get data, we will choose three leaves of medium length relative to the plant’s leaves in general, measure the length of those three leaves, and record the average in centimeters as a metric of leaf growth for that plant. We will also count the total number of mint leaves per each plant. 5. Control variables (at least 3) Our control variables include our aquaponics tank, number of goldfish, amount of time allotted for Lamiaceae mentha to grow in each medium, light levels, pH levels, water temperature, room temperature, water supply, species of goldfish used, size of tubing for water pump, grow bed size, volume of each media used, parent plant of the mint cuttings. 6. Experimental group Our experimental group consists of eight peppermint (Mentha x piperita) cuttings grown clay and lava rock growth media (four in each type of media) using an aquaponics system. 7. Control group Our control consists of four peppermint (Mentha x piperita) cuttings grown in a water bed next to our aquaponics experiment. 8. What unexpected challenges have you encountered thus far?
9. How will you know your experiment is a success? Our experiment will be considered a success if we obtain conclusive results as to which media is better suited to plant growth, our goldfish stay alive, and our mint plants are healthy and grow significantly between the beginning and end of the experiment. 10. How your experiment addresses energy dynamics: Our experiment addresses Energy Dynamics through which the producers take in roughly the same amount of energy that they send back out into the system. The energy used by the producers for respiration and other cellular processes is roughly equal to the energy emitted by the producers via photosynthesis and other cellular processes; the mint plants will absorb energy through nitrates, which are vital nutrients, and then release energy through catabolic reactions like cellular respiration. 11. Take and post a “before” picture of your set up. See image below. 12. Compare 1st day and 1st week (day #1 & day #5) chemical H2O readings (NO2, NO3, NH3 pH etc.)
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