Co-application of Biochar and Urea on the Nitrogen Uptake of Brassica Rapa

School Name

Spring Valley High School

Grade Level

11th Grade

Presentation Topic

Botany

Presentation Type

Non-Mentored

Abstract

With the growing use of nitrogen fertilizers, there has been a concern for if the fertilizers were doing more harm than good. Nitrogen and water pollution have developed into prominent issues in the environment’s health, as they can lead to low-quality water and eutrophication. This study focuses on the amount of nitrogen plants use, therefore, determining how much nitrogen is being used indirectly, through runoff and other pollutants, using biochar and urea. It was hypothesized that the application of biochar and urea would result in a higher nitrogen efficiency, meaning that a majority of the nitrogen available to the plants is used as intended - by the plants. The nitrogen usage was conducted by measuring the nitrogen before and after plant growth, in the soil and calculating the difference. The nitrogen levels were determined using a nitrogen test kit and a color change chart. For this experiment, a one-way ANOVA test was used, [F(3, 52)=21.36, p<0.05], which determined that a significant difference was present between the data. Furthermore, the post hoc Tukey test was used to determine which difference was significant in the datasets. Four differences were significant, Biochar vs. Urea, Biochar vs. Biochar + Urea, Biochar vs. Control, and Biochar + Urea vs. Control. These results showed that the hypothesis was supported, as the nitrogen usage was highest in the Biochar + Urea group, compared to the other groups. These results concluded that the application of both biochar and urea allowed for more efficient use of the nitrogen available to plants. The results of this study would further improve the methods and practice used to sustainably farm and use fertilizers.

Location

HSS 107

Start Date

4-2-2022 11:30 AM

Presentation Format

Oral and Written

Group Project

No

COinS
 
Apr 2nd, 11:30 AM

Co-application of Biochar and Urea on the Nitrogen Uptake of Brassica Rapa

HSS 107

With the growing use of nitrogen fertilizers, there has been a concern for if the fertilizers were doing more harm than good. Nitrogen and water pollution have developed into prominent issues in the environment’s health, as they can lead to low-quality water and eutrophication. This study focuses on the amount of nitrogen plants use, therefore, determining how much nitrogen is being used indirectly, through runoff and other pollutants, using biochar and urea. It was hypothesized that the application of biochar and urea would result in a higher nitrogen efficiency, meaning that a majority of the nitrogen available to the plants is used as intended - by the plants. The nitrogen usage was conducted by measuring the nitrogen before and after plant growth, in the soil and calculating the difference. The nitrogen levels were determined using a nitrogen test kit and a color change chart. For this experiment, a one-way ANOVA test was used, [F(3, 52)=21.36, p<0.05], which determined that a significant difference was present between the data. Furthermore, the post hoc Tukey test was used to determine which difference was significant in the datasets. Four differences were significant, Biochar vs. Urea, Biochar vs. Biochar + Urea, Biochar vs. Control, and Biochar + Urea vs. Control. These results showed that the hypothesis was supported, as the nitrogen usage was highest in the Biochar + Urea group, compared to the other groups. These results concluded that the application of both biochar and urea allowed for more efficient use of the nitrogen available to plants. The results of this study would further improve the methods and practice used to sustainably farm and use fertilizers.