CLAYTON

WORKMAN
A-6-1

THE OVERLOOKED
DUCKWEED

Testable Question
Will Duckweed grow at a faster rate in
the sun or in the shade?

Hypothesis
If I put containers of duckweed in the
shade and out in the sun, then the
duckweed in the sun will grow at a faster
rate because there will be more sunlight.

Rational
The results will benefit society by
knowing how quickly duckweed
can grow.

Abstract
Equal number of duckweed were
placed in two containers of water.
Aerators were placed in the water
so that the duckweed would have
oxygen. Data was collected and
pictures were taken over one week.

Materials
Two identical plastic containers
Measuring cup
Camera
Gloves
Scale
Duckweed
Screen
Thermometer
Aerators

Experiment Procedure
1.

Collect duckweed

Experiment Procedure
2. Measured the water
3. Counted the duckweed
leaves
4. Placed the same amount
of water and duckweed
in the container

Experiment Procedure
1.

Placed one container in the sunlight and one

in the shade

2.

Every 24 hours, measure each container for

growth

3.

Every 24 hours measure temperature of

water in both containers

4.

Every 24 hours, take a picture of the

duckweed

Experiment Procedures
Continued
9.

72 hours after the experiment begins, measure the

water level of each container

10.

At the end of the experiment, measure the water of

each container

11.

At the end of the experiment measure the water

temperature

12.

At the end of the experiment, count the number of

duckweed in each container

Data Analysis
Date
11/9/201
5
11/10/20
15
11/11/20
15
11/12/20
15
11/13/20
15
11/14/20
15
11/15/20
15

Degrees
(Sun)

Degrees
(Shade)

Liters
(Sun)

Liters
(Shade)

Amount
(Sun)

78.5

76.5

77.5

76

74.5

73

1.95

74.5

72.5

1.9

1.95

74

72.5

1.85

1.95

69

68.5

1.8

1.9

70.5

70.5

1.8

1.9

Amount
(Shade)
20

20

42

38

Graph
Water Evaporation
2.05
2
1.95
1.9
1.85
1.8
1.75
1.7

42317

42318

42319
Liters (Sun)

42320

42321

Liters (Shade)

42322

42323

Chart
Water Temperature
80
78
76
74
72
70
68
66
64
62
42317

42318

42319

42320

Degrees (Sun)

42321

Degrees (Shade)

42322

42323

Graph
Duckweed Amount
50
40
30
42 38

20
10
0

20 20
42317

42318

42319
Amount (Sun)

42320

42321

Amount (Shade)

42322

42323

Conclusion
The duckweed grew at a faster
rate in the sun than in the shade.

References
"Duckweed | The Plant of the 21st Century | Duckweed."
Duckweed. Web. 24 Nov. 2015.
"Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations."
Food and Agriculture Organization. Web. 24 Nov. 2015.
"Garden Pool | A Nonprofit Organization to Develop and
Teach ..." Gardenpool.org/onlineclasses/growingduckweed. Garden Pool. Web. 24 Nov.
2015.