Anthony Rodesney

Spring 2016
Radish Growth Experiment
Acid Rain Experiment (Atmosphere Group)
Question: How do different levels of acidity affect the development and growth of radish plants?
Independent Variable: pH of vinegar and water solution.
Dependent Variable: Development and growth of the plant.
Measured Data: Height of plants, number and size of leaves, color of leaves, mass of final plant,
root system observations.
Controlled Conditions: Same soil, same amount of watering per plant, same amount of sunlight
and other ambient conditions.
Simplified Procedures:
1. Plant six different sets of five seeds according to the instructions on the seed pack for a
total of 30 plantings. Each group of five will receive water with different vinegar
concentrations.
2. Water the plants twice a day with the appropriate water for the length determined on the
seed packet while taking measurements and observations of the plants. Plants will be
watered with a spray bottle. The soil should remain moist.
Predictions:
Anthony - The more acidic water will result in less desirable plants. The plants will be
shorter and discolored and the root system will not be as developed as the plants in less
acidic soil. The acid will disrupt the normal chemical reactions that make for a
strong/healthy plant.
Katie - The trials with the lowest pH will have the least developed plants. The fruit will
be smaller, the roots as well. The leaves will not be as full as the control and the leaves
will be discolored. The trials with only slightly acidic water (pH = 5) will do better than
the control as some acid might help the growth of the plant.
Melissa: I predict that the more acidic the radish plants the less it will grow. I think the
acidity will hinder the growth and development of the plants and the controlled plant,
with just water added, will be grow and develop the most.
Ryan: The height of the plant may not change much but it will not stand as tall because
the structure of the plant will be weaker. I also think that the bulb/fruit of the plant will be
smaller (size and possibly mass) than the controlled group. I also think that the leaves
will not be nearly as green as the control group.
Seeds were planted on March 2nd according to the directions on the seed
packet. After 10 days the soil looked very dry. I can only water before I leave
for school and after softball practice. On March 13th I placed the pots in a
shallow basin and kept the basin full of distilled water. Plants were stilled
sprayed with their respective bottle twice a day. The potting soil was Miracle
Grow: All Purpose Garden Soil. The seeds were Burpee brand organic cherry
belle radishes.

Anthony Rodesney
Spring 2016

Observations made on 3/27:

Overall
Look

Plant 1

Plant 2

Plant 3

Plant 4

Distilled
Water

Lots of leaves
with holes in
them. Some
discoloration
that was not
present a
week ago.

19 decent
look leaves.
Some are
beginning to
discolor.

Only eight
small leaves.
Three are
discolored.

Destroyed
while
unpotting.

.01% Vinegar

13 leaves.
Most are
turning
yellow.

Many small,
eaten leaves
what are
discolored.

.1 % Vinegar

13 leaves.
Many contain
holes and/or
are
discolored.

10 good
looking
leaves. Few
holes and
good color.

1% Vinegar

Four broad
leaves. No
holes, but
slightly
discolored.

11 leaves.
Good green
color on
most.

10% Vinegar
100% Vinegar

Only four
skinny,
discolored
leaves.
No Growth

11 very small
leaves. Color
looks good
compared to
others.
10 welldeveloped
leaves. Most
are well
colored and
without
holes.
11 small
leaves. Most
have a good
color. Some
have a
purple/yellow
rings around
the edge.

No Growth

17 leaves.
Many are full
of holes
and/or are
discolored.

No Growth

No Growth

No Growth

No Growth

No Growth

No Growth

No Growth

Height
(cm)

Plant 1

Plant 2

Plant 3

Plant 4

Distilled Water

6.2

5.6

3.5

Anthony Rodesney
Spring 2016
.01% Vinegar
.1 % Vinegar
1% Vinegar
10% Vinegar
100% Vinegar

5
7.2
5
5
0

3.4
6.2
3.8
0
0

2.7
5.7
3.6
0
0

0
5.5
0
0
0

Radish Leaf Height

7.2
6.2
5.7
5.6
8 6.2
5.5 5
5
5
3.8
3.6
6
3.5 3.4
2.7
4
2
0
0
0
0 000 0000

Height of Tallest Leaf (cm)

Plant 1
Plant 2
Plant 3
Plant 4

Concentration of Vinegar

Mass
(g)

Plant 1

Plant 2

Plant 3

Plant 4

Distilled
Water
.01% Vinegar
.1 % Vinegar
1% Vinegar
10% Vinegar
100%
Vinegar

3
4
2
1
0

2
3
2
0
0

1
4
2
0
0

0
3
0
0
0

Anthony Rodesney
Spring 2016

Radish Mass

Mass of Plant (g)

5
4
3
2
1
0

4
3

4 4
3 3

3
2
1

222
1

Plant 1

1
0

Plant 2
000

0000

Plant 3
Plant 4

Percent of Vinegar

Roots
(cm)

Plant 1

Plant 2

Plant 3

Plant 4

Distilled Water
.01% Vinegar
.1 % Vinegar
1% Vinegar
10% Vinegar
100% Vinegar

9
9.5
10
10
8
0

16
10
9.5
8
0
0

8
6.5
9
5.5
0
0

0
0
8
0
0
0

Radish Root Length

20
15
10

16
10
9.5
6.5

9 8

10
9.59 8 108
5.5

5
Root Length (cm)

Plant 1
Plant 2
000

0000

Percent of Vinegar

Picture
Distilled Water

Plant 1

Plant 2

Plant 3

Plant 4
---

Plant 3
Plant 4

Anthony Rodesney
Spring 2016

.01% Vinegar

---

.1 % Vinegar

--1% Vinegar

Anthony Rodesney
Spring 2016

10% Vinegar

---

---

---

---

---

---

100% Vinegar
---

Data Analysis and Reactions:

The radishes in the .1% group seem to have done the best. This group tied
with the distilled water group with the most plants produced. These two
groups both produced four out of five plants. After the plants began to grow,
one pot from each group that did not grow was thrown out. The distilled
water groups along with the .01% and the 1% group each had three out of

Anthony Rodesney
Spring 2016
five plants grow. The 10% group had one plant grow along with a tiny sprout
that was not measured. None of the seeds germinated in the 100% group.
The .1% group had the tallest average plant height (6.15cm) followed by
distilled water (5.1cm), 1% (4.13cm), and .01% (3.7cm). The 10% group only
had one surviving plant (5cm). None of the 100% plants grew.
The .1% group also had the highest average mass (3.5g). The distilled water
group (2.6g) came in second again followed by the .01% and the 1% group
that both had an average of 2g. The only 10% plant had a mass of 1g.
The plants in the distilled water grew the longest roots on average (11cm).
This number is inflated a bit since one of the plants had roots almost twice as
long as any of the rest in that group. The .1% group averaged 9.125cm, the .
01% group averaged 8.67cm, the 1% plants averaged 7.83cm. The only 10%
plant grew 8cm of roots.
Overall the seeds grown with .1% vinegar grew the best. They had the
highest average mass, and height. They also looked better than the other
groups. The distilled water group did second best overall. The 1% and .01%
groups were pretty close by all measures. Only one 10% plant grew and none
of the 100% group even germinated.
Radishes prefer slightly acidic soil to very acidic soil and pH neutral soil.