Lab Report 1 Stoner 1

Samuel Stoner

Group 1

26 of February 2018

Effects of Media on Plant Establishment Lab

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Introduction

In this experiment, we are studying the growth of marigolds with different types of media over a

4-week period, starting with the actual planting of the germinated seeds. Many people can benefit from

this study, from the large-scale farmer trying to increase crop production, or the gardener wanting to

improve her small collection of crops in her backyard. The objectives for this experiment are to study

various media for their characteristics, and to study the effect of various media on plant establishment. It

is hypothesized that out of all the media combinations we were able to experiment with, the combination

of media one, which consisted of blending compost and peat moss, will produce the best results. This can

be explained by its ability to aerate, which increases the amount of nutrients the plant can absorb, and

also, it’s ability to improve the soil structure (Dziak, 2017).

Materials and Methods

The materials that we used for this experiment include nine cell packs, which have six cells in

each pack. We had three media treatments, so three cell packs were used for each media experiment. We

were also provided plants, marigolds, and the media to use for our experiment. There were three

combinations of media used, one of which was Miracle Gro soil, our control. Our first media combination

was compost and peat moss, and our second was compost and vermiculite. We were also provided plastic

labels to successfully identify each media type, a pencil, and a ruler to measure growth in our experiment.

Each person in our section was assigned a lab group and the different media combinations by our

instructor. Each group used nine, six-cell packs, three for each type of media combination. Also, each

group was assigned 54 plant plugs, which were the marigolds. A total of 18 plants were used for each

type of media experiment, and a comparison was used to determine which media combination proved to

be the most successful on our plant plugs.

Our experiment began on January 29, 2018, as this was the day we originally planted our seeds

for germination. In the next four weeks, with the daily watering, we were able to record the heights of
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these marigolds, which were being manipulated by the different medias. As the weeks passed, we were

able to see significant growth from these plants, as well as variations from each experiment. Also with

this experiment, we were able to see the plants increase in the amount of leaves, as well as the amount of

flowers and buds.

Results

As the experiment was finalized, it was discovered that both media’s 1 and 2 had significant

growth over our control experiment, but that the compost and peat moss in media1 was a better

combination than compost and vermiculite in media 2, for the peat moss and compost had significant root

development than the other medias. This can be shown through the visual aids, data charts, and graphs

which are provided below, and validate our discovery.

Control Media (Miracle Gro)

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Above we have the visual aid for our experiment at the end of the four weeks. As you can see,

these marigolds had little height increase, as well as root development. The control group averaged a 3

centimeter increase in height, which is the slowest increase in size compared to our other two

experiments. The roots were only growing downwards, which means that the radicle system in the

marigolds for this experiment had not fully developed in comparison to media 1 and 2. Overall, this plant

had the lowest rate of weekly growth, total flowers, and leaf count of all the experiments.

Media 1 (Compost/Peat Moss)

Media 1, which was hypothesized to have the best growth, performed neck to neck with Media 2

in growth, but had a much better root development compared to media 2. Media 1 had a growth difference

of 3.5 centimeters, which is not much higher than the control experiment. However, as the picture of the

single pod above shows, there is a much higher radicle system growth than the other 2 experiments. This

verifies the above points in the introduction over good aeration and soil structure, so that the roots can

develop. This experiment also showed high amounts of leaves, flowers, and buds.
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Media 2 (Compost/Vermiculite)

This experiment showed the largest growth difference compared to the other media experiments

that were conducted. An average of 4.5 centimeters was recorded by the growth of these plants, with the

average height of each pod being 7 centimeters, but as the picture on the right shows, the root

development seemed almost identical to the control experiments roots. This experiment had identical

flower, bud, and leaf counts as the media 1 experiment, even with the weaker radicle system in the plant.

Data Charts

The data provided below is collected from all three experiments (control, media 1, media 2) and

includes everything from growth in each week, growth difference, average leaf count, and amounts of

flowers and buds.

Data Chart of Overall Growth

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Media 1 Media 2 Control Flower/buds Average Leaf

(Comp/Peat) (Comp/Vermic) (Miracle Gro) Count

Initial Height 2.5 cm 2.5 cm 2 cm 0 18

Week 2 3 cm 3 cm 2.5 cm 17 25

Week 3 5.5 cm 4.5 cm 4 cm 50 31

Week 4 6 cm 7 cm 5 cm 52 50

Growth 3.5 cm 4.5 cm 3 cm 52 32

Difference

Visual Observations (Weeks 2 through week 4)

Media 1 Media 2 Control

(Comp/Peat) (Comp/Vermic) (Miracle Gro)

Week 2 Grew many leaves and Grew many leaves and Appears to look like

flowers/ much taller flowers/ much taller media 1 and 2 a week

ago

Week 3 Increase in amount of Increase in amount of Larger increase than

buds and height buds, shorter than week 2, but fewer buds

media 1 by a cm and height

Week 4 Shorter than media 2 Tallest of all medias/ Shortest and most frail

plants/ stronger roots root development of all experiments/

weaker than media 1 weakest radicle system

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Plant Growth Over Course of Experiments

Week 4
Time of Experiments

Week 3

Week 2

Week 1

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Centimeters

Control (Miracle Gro) Media 2 (Comp/Vermic) Media 1 (Comp/Peat)

Overall Flower/Buds and Average Leaf Count

60

50

40
Total Count

30

20

10

0
Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4
Time of Experiments

Flower/Bud Count Average Leaf Count

Discussion
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After dissecting the results, it appears that to find the better combination out of media 1 and 2, it

depends on what a producer, consumer, and researcher look for. Of course, our control would not be able

to live up to any of the three viewpoints listed above, but media 1 and 2 do. When looking at the

viewpoint of the producer, the best example of this can be our large-scale farmer. The goal of any farmer

is to produce the most crops he can in a short period to increase profits. Our media 2, which consisted of

the compost and vermiculite, showed the most significant height increase compared to the other

experiments. This has to do with the vermiculite in the mixture, which is successful at holding water and

nutrients, while having excellent aeration and drainage of water. (Stewart, 2013) This allows the plant to

grow quickly, which can be beneficial to farmers looking for large production of crops at a faster rate.

To the consumer purchasing these plants, media 1 will be a better choice. When walking into a

local nursery, consumers should be interested in a plant that has a weak radicle system, which is what

media 2 and the control experiment had. The root system needs to be established so it is able to adapt to

the new environment. In past research, it is widely understood that plants with stronger root systems have

a higher chance of survival for its ability to take in many nutrients, compared to plants with weak root

systems. (Fonoui-Farde, Anouck, & Florian, 2016) So for the consumer, whether buying plants for the

garden or a large-scale landscape, media 1 favors what consumers should look for.

Finally, a researcher would want a plant that is well developed all around to ensure that the plants

can be as reactive as possible to whatever experiment it is faced with. With that, media 1 is more

beneficial for the researcher. While credit was given for the root system in discussing the consumer’s

needs, media 1’s consistent height growth is applicable for the researcher. Media 1 and 2 were very close

in height until week 4 of the experiment, until media 2 increased 1 centimeter above media 1. Overall, a

1-centimeter difference is not drastic when used for research. With media 1, for a plant to fully develop its

radicle system, while maintaining the plumule system, or stem, it shows that the compost and peat moss

are sustainable for overall growth. It has proven ability to not only have substantial affects on a root

system but is able to retain nutrients since it is an organic matter, which increases stem height (Bob,
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1989). When mixed with compost, peat moss is able to share its organic matters to hold water, increase

growth in both stem and roots, and keep a healthy plant for any use: industrial or for pleasure. (Walsh,

2013)

When comparing the hypothesis to the results, and analyzing it from many standpoints, it is clear

to see that the predicted media 1, the compost and peat moss, is the better choice in media combinations.

Overall, the drastic root development and maintaining a successful plant height shows the necessity of

peat moss in a media mixture (Bob, 1989). Ultimately, a plant that has a strong root system can grow at a

high pace, and absorb more nutrients, which is why a strong radicle system is needed. This is the one

factor which ultimately decides how successful a plant will be in strongly developing to full growth. It

could be assumed that over time, the media 1 plants would have had a higher height than media 2 and the

control experiment, given time. Therefore, when looking for a media combination that will guarantee high

growth and a strong radicle system, a combination of compost and peat moss is recommended.
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References

Bob, R. (1989, August 6). PEAT, SPHAGNUM MOSSES HAVE MANY USES. The Palm Beach Post.

Dziak, M. (2017) Peat Moss. Salem Press Encyclopedia Of Science,

Fonouni-Farde, C., Anouck, D., & Florian, F. (2016). Root Development and Endosymbioses: DELLAs

Lead the Orchestra. Trends in Plant Science, 21898-900

Stewart, C. J. (2013). Vermiculite (mineral). Salem Press Encyclopedia Of Science,

Walsh, C.J. (2013). Composting and climate change. Salem Press Encyclopedia Of Science.