The Effect of Potassium Chloride on Ammonia Production of Rhodospirillum rubrum
School Name
Spring Valley High School
Grade Level
10th Grade
Presentation Topic
Environmental Science
Presentation Type
Non-Mentored
Abstract
With the increasing problem of saline soil infertility, the availability of nitrogen found in this infertile soil has become a heavily researched topic. Nitrogen fixing properties are found in a wide range of bacteria. The purpose of this experiment was to evaluate whether the bacteria Rhodospirillum rubrum is an effective bacterium for aiding plants in extreme saline conditions. The hypothesis was stated that if the potassium chloride concentration was increased, then the Rhodospirillum rubrum’s nitrogenase properties would produce less ammonia because of similar inhibition properties found in other nitrogenase bacteria in the family. Three 500 ml sterile nutrient broths were prepared. 20 ml of broth was placed in 30 test tubes for the control group. In the high saline mixture, 7.2 grams of potassium chloride was added to the 600 ml of nutrient broth preceding the transfer of broth to the test tubes. The Rhodospirillum rubrum was then placed into the vials and was cultivated for 5 days. It was found that data was inconclusive and that no difference between each variable could be determined. It was however concluded that in both experimental and control groups >500 ppm of ammonia was found in a test tube filled with 20 ml of broth.
Recommended Citation
Agarwal, Sahil, "The Effect of Potassium Chloride on Ammonia Production of Rhodospirillum rubrum" (2022). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 40.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2022/all/40
Location
HSS 214
Start Date
4-2-2022 11:30 AM
Presentation Format
Oral and Written
Group Project
No
The Effect of Potassium Chloride on Ammonia Production of Rhodospirillum rubrum
HSS 214
With the increasing problem of saline soil infertility, the availability of nitrogen found in this infertile soil has become a heavily researched topic. Nitrogen fixing properties are found in a wide range of bacteria. The purpose of this experiment was to evaluate whether the bacteria Rhodospirillum rubrum is an effective bacterium for aiding plants in extreme saline conditions. The hypothesis was stated that if the potassium chloride concentration was increased, then the Rhodospirillum rubrum’s nitrogenase properties would produce less ammonia because of similar inhibition properties found in other nitrogenase bacteria in the family. Three 500 ml sterile nutrient broths were prepared. 20 ml of broth was placed in 30 test tubes for the control group. In the high saline mixture, 7.2 grams of potassium chloride was added to the 600 ml of nutrient broth preceding the transfer of broth to the test tubes. The Rhodospirillum rubrum was then placed into the vials and was cultivated for 5 days. It was found that data was inconclusive and that no difference between each variable could be determined. It was however concluded that in both experimental and control groups >500 ppm of ammonia was found in a test tube filled with 20 ml of broth.
