Plant Growth Rate with Different Environmental Light.
Plants of all types expend energy through growing, maintaining function, and reproduction. The plant requires not only energy but also proper environmental conditions to survive. Air gases, sunlight, water, minerals, and a substrate for support of the root are critical requirements that provide the energy for plant growth. Environmental conditions such as pH, salinity, air movement, space, light, absence or control of parasites, predators, and disease must also be maintained in order to support plant life. .
The growth success of plants depends on the environment in which they are grown. This experiment is being performed to determine the effects of light on plants. In order to determine the effects of different lighting on plant growth, a control group must be established by which to compare each of the variables. The control group for this experiment consists of young plants of the same species (Brassica rapa) and age, which are all grown in the same soil type, water amount, air, and sunlight. In this experiment, Brassica rapa will be manipulated with the experimental variable of added light. Each experimental group is identical to the control group in all aspects except for one variable or this experiment would not be valid. The additional light is the factor responsible for any differences found between these groups.
This study exposed Brassica rapa to fluorescent light and the controlled use of added fluorescent lighting. This experiment was tested bi-weekly for five weeks to determine if the plants with added light would grow at a faster rate than the plants with no additional light. It was hypothesized that the plant with added light would experience more growth. .