Introduction
Seed germination requires special conditions, with a particular acidity, sufficient water and light, and the absence of destructive agents. Household chemicals are expected to be such a product, which has a detrimental effect on the germination and growth of seeds due to the presence of highly active chemical compounds. However, the level of this effect has not been previously determined, so in the present laboratory experiment, it was of interest not only to confirm the logical expectations but also to quantify such adverse effects.
Hypothesis
It is expected that the application of Fairy detergent to coriander seed substrate would negatively affect germination and further seedling growth.
Material
- house coriander seeds: 50 pieces.
- Fairy liquid detergent: 54 ml.
- tap water: 300 ml.
- measuring cylinder for 100 ml.
- glass beakers with wide bottoms: 10 pcs.
- paper towels.
- ruler.
- wooden stick.
Methods
Ten transparent beakers were pre-washed and dried under sterile conditions. Each beaker was numbered from 1 to 5, a total of two series were prepared. In beaker #1 of the first series, 20 ml of water was added, in beaker #2, 20 ml of Fairy, in beaker #3, 20 ml of water and 20 ml of Fairy, in beaker #4, half of the contents from beaker #3 was placed, and 20 ml of water was added, and in beaker #5, half from beaker #4 was also added and 20 ml of water was added.
Thus, each of the canisters of the first series contained 20 ml of liquid with different concentrations of detergent: 0%, 100%, 50%, 25%, and 12.5%. Ten coriander seeds were dropped into each of the cups and left to soak for 12 hours. After this time, the seeds, wrapped in a paper napkin soaked in the appropriate solution, were moved to five new beakers of the second series; the beakers were signed with the same name: from 1 to 5. The seeds were monitored systematically for the next seven days, including tracking germination, measuring seedling height, and morphological description.
Observations
After the first 12 hours of soaking in the solutions, the most wrinkled seeds from cup #2, whereas the seeds from cup #1 and cup #5 were swollen. All seeds germinated over time, but the final height was different (see Table). The growth rate also differed: the higher the Fairy concentration, the slower the corianders grew. The results are visualized in the Figure showing the growth of plants on the first day of sprouting and the last day of observations.
Results
Conclusion
The core of the present experiment was an attempt to determine the effect of Fairy liquid product on the growth of domestic coriander. It was shown that the initial hypothesis was fully confirmed. Indeed, as the concentration of detergent in the substrate increased, the height of the plant decreased. The height graph clearly showed that excessive amounts of Fairy were positively correlated with a decrease in maximum coriander height on the last day. Consequently, household chemicals — Fairy, in particular — are indeed destructive to plants. Future research is expected to develop through the use of alternative detergents, including environmentally friendly ones.