Soil and Seed Sterilization Effects on Dwarf Pea Plants

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The growth of dwarf peas, Pisum sativum depends on the characteristics of the soil and the seeds. Sterile conditions will have a positive effect on P. sativum below and above ground physiology. The plants’ root length, root width and number of leaves will be positively affected by sterile conditions because the pathogens in soil which out compete the plants for its nutrients will be killed off. Soil and some seeds were sterilized and grown for twenty one days before root length, root width, and number of leaf parameters was tested. From the three parameters, root length was the only one affected by sterile conditions. No changes were observed in the other parameters because more growth time for P. sativum plants was required.

Intro

Soil is one of the greatest contributors to plant growth because it consists of nutrients such as potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus and living organism. In the vast plant world, some living organisms in soil and plants such as rhizobia, which are the bacteria that supply sufficient nodulation in legume crops” (Mathew, David, & Mark, 2013) are useful. It’s these important rhizobia bacteria located in the plants’ root nodules that aid in nitrogen fixation for the plant. Other living organisms such as nematodes and parasites are harmful to the plants’ health. The harmful living organisms in soil rob plants for their resources and nutrients leading to nitrogen and sulfur nutrient deficiencies. In highly valued nutritious food plants such as dwarf peas, Pisum sativum that contain an abundant content of essential elements such as starch; the presence of pathogens in soil will lead to low nutrition value content in the dwarf peas.

To overcome the challenges in soil and seeds that negatively affect...

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...et. An example of this is observed through the parameters predicted in the experiment. While some parameters weren’t met, root length was affected by soil sterilization.

Works Cited

Mathew, D., David, P., & Mark, P. (2013). Nitrogen contributions from faba bean ( Vicia faba L.) reliant on soil rhizobia or inoculation. Plant & Soil, 363-374.

Middleton, K. J., Bell, M. J., & Thompson, J. P. (1989). Effects of soil sterilization, inoculation with vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and cropping history on peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) growth in an oxisol from subtropical Australia. Plant and SOil, 41-48.

White, J. G. (1987). The effects of soil conditions, soil sterilization and seed treatment on the emergence of cabbage in controlled temperature cabinents and the field. Institute of Horticultural Research , 347.

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