The effect of Taraxacum officinale, extract, and Mycorrhizal fungi in clay, silt, and sandy soil on the growth and dry mass of Glycine max
School Name
Spring Valley High School
Grade Level
10th Grade
Presentation Topic
Botany
Presentation Type
Non-Mentored
Oral Presentation Award
1st Place
Abstract
Inhospitable soils attribute to several problems and have caused many plants to perish quickly. To prevent this from happening, the idea of using the mycorrhizal fungi from Taraxacum officinale roots to re-mediate the soil was proposed. The purpose of this experiment was to compare the homemade mycorrhizal extract with the commercial brand on Glycine max plants. The aim was also to test for a correlation between the mass of Glycine max seeds and the number of Taraxacum officinale’s germinated. It was hypothesized that if Glycine max seeds were put in silt soil along with Taraxacum officinale seeds, then the germination and dry mass of the Glycine max plants would be most successful. It was further hypothesized that if Glycine max seeds were inoculated with commercial brand and homemade mycorrhizal fungi, the commercial brand would be more effective for germination and would increase dry mass. The Taraxacum officinale roots were pestled and a one to one ratio was used for both extracts when mixed with distilled water and given to the Glycine max seeds daily. Taraxacum officinale and Glycine max seeds were planted in silt, clay, and sandy soil. A partial least squares test was run to determine the correlation between dry mass, number of Taraxacum officinale’s germinated, and the treatment. The variables were strongly correlated, [r(73) = .77, p < .001]. Dry mass was also statistically analyzed with an ANOVA test that showed [F(2,87)=1.23, p=0.297]. This suggested there was not a significant difference in the dry masses of the different extracts. The mycorrhizal fungi from Taraxacum officinale roots was found to be beneficial for extracting toxins from the soil, increasing germination rate, and increasing dry mass; however, there was no significant difference in the type of extract used.
Recommended Citation
Padi, Sirila R., "The effect of Taraxacum officinale, extract, and Mycorrhizal fungi in clay, silt, and sandy soil on the growth and dry mass of Glycine max " (2015). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 139.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2015/all/139
Start Date
4-11-2015 3:15 PM
End Date
4-11-2015 3:30 PM
The effect of Taraxacum officinale, extract, and Mycorrhizal fungi in clay, silt, and sandy soil on the growth and dry mass of Glycine max
Inhospitable soils attribute to several problems and have caused many plants to perish quickly. To prevent this from happening, the idea of using the mycorrhizal fungi from Taraxacum officinale roots to re-mediate the soil was proposed. The purpose of this experiment was to compare the homemade mycorrhizal extract with the commercial brand on Glycine max plants. The aim was also to test for a correlation between the mass of Glycine max seeds and the number of Taraxacum officinale’s germinated. It was hypothesized that if Glycine max seeds were put in silt soil along with Taraxacum officinale seeds, then the germination and dry mass of the Glycine max plants would be most successful. It was further hypothesized that if Glycine max seeds were inoculated with commercial brand and homemade mycorrhizal fungi, the commercial brand would be more effective for germination and would increase dry mass. The Taraxacum officinale roots were pestled and a one to one ratio was used for both extracts when mixed with distilled water and given to the Glycine max seeds daily. Taraxacum officinale and Glycine max seeds were planted in silt, clay, and sandy soil. A partial least squares test was run to determine the correlation between dry mass, number of Taraxacum officinale’s germinated, and the treatment. The variables were strongly correlated, [r(73) = .77, p < .001]. Dry mass was also statistically analyzed with an ANOVA test that showed [F(2,87)=1.23, p=0.297]. This suggested there was not a significant difference in the dry masses of the different extracts. The mycorrhizal fungi from Taraxacum officinale roots was found to be beneficial for extracting toxins from the soil, increasing germination rate, and increasing dry mass; however, there was no significant difference in the type of extract used.
