Acid Rain and Radish Biomass Science Fair Projects

Radish Science Fair Projects

Radish science fair projects can be used to examine how acid rain impacts the growth of pH sensitive plants. However, they can also be used to test the aciditity of water and soil samples. Just use what you know about radish biomass production and pH levels to make predictions.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the effect of acid rain on the biomass of radishes.

I became interested in this idea when my family started to plant a garden. We watered, fertilized and weeded the plants. Not all of the plants grew. They died within a week or two. I wonder it could have been caused by acid rain. My parents also told me once how the rain may be affecting the crops. They told me about some chemicals that get in rain.

The information gained from this experiment could help gardeners and farmers with their crops. It could also help warn those who might contribute to acid rain, such as, factories, truck-drivers, and others who drive automobiles.

HYPOTHESIS

My first hypothesis was that the plant’s biomass would be less as the water pH decreased (became more acidic).

My second hypothesis was that the survival rate of the radishes would decrease as the pH decreased.

I based my hypotheses on a book “Acid Rain” by Gail B. Stewart. It stated, “In the last twenty years, rain has been associated with other, less pleasant ideas. Scientist, especially those who study the environment, has found that not all rain and snow are pure. In whatever form, much of the water that comes from the sky is laced with deadly chemicals that turn into acid. The acid builds up in lakes and rivers. It kills the fish and insects that live in the water. Acid rain has also damaged many of our forests. It is harmful to some crops. There is also more and more evidence that acid rain is hazardous to human beings.”

EXPERIMENT DESIGN

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