OPPapers.com

Chemicals And Lack Of Soil Effect Growth, Development, And The Amount Of Nutrients Found In Brassica

For this experiment, Wisconsin Fast Plants (Brassica rapa) were grown using different techniques of modern agriculture. Three treatments were used. In Treatment A, the plants were given Miracle Gro® when planted. In Treatment B, the plants were exposed to diluted amounts of Meijer™ Brand Malathion Insect Control Concentrate twice a week and in Treatment C, the plants were grown hydroponically (without soil). After the fast plants had matured, tests were performed to determine if there was a difference in carbohydrate types, protein concentration, pigmentation, and absorption spectra. To determine carbohydrate types, a Benedict's test was performed to test for reducing sugars. A Barfoed's test was used to test for the presence of monosaccharides. A Selivanoff's test was used to determine whether aldoses or ketoses were present. A Bial's test was used to test for furanose rings. An iodine test for starch was performed for all plants as well. Pigment analysis was conducted using paper chromatography. Analysis of absorption and action spectra was also performed. In addition, light spectroscopy was used to quantify the Benedict's and Barfoed's tests so the treatments could be compared to the control group to determine if a difference in the amount of sugar production occurred. Also, plant height was recorded twice a week and the treatments were compared individually to the control using t-tests. It was found that there was a significant increase in plant size and sugar production when plants were treated with Miracle Gro® and a small decrease when plants were treated with organophosphate pesticide or grown hydroponically. No difference was found in the types of sugars present.

Agriculture has made great advances in recent years and is now a modern science. The use of chemicals and other methods for growing plants are becoming more popular as technology advances. Such methods include the use of fertilizers, hydroponics, and pesticides. As these...