Sunflower Seeds Lab

The Effect of Different pH Levels on the Growth of Sunflower Seeds

Purpose: The purpose of this experiment is to see how germination is affected by differing pH levels in water.

Background Information: In order to germinate and grow, seeds require oxygen, water, and the correct temperature. Once seedlings appear, they will also require light and carbon dioxide. The amount of water a plant receives is very crucial in their growth and survival. If a plant receives too much water, the roots will literally drown and be deprived of oxygen. This will cause the roots to rot and the plant will die. A study done by the Southern Weed Science Research Unit concluded that “broad pH range indicates that pH may not be a limiting factor for germination

The harder the water is, the more calcium and magnesium is in it. Natural hard water accumulates this high mineral content through the water cycle. Soft water, on the other hand, contains low concentrations of ions, charged atoms or molecules. Soft water has particularly low levels of calcium and magnesium. pH levels of water have not been found to significantly change the rate of seed germination, however this depends on the soil and in this experiment, there is no soil being

All three containers were placed in front of a window where they could receive natural light. Over the weeks that the experiment was held, however, there were a few cloudy days, making the room quite dark. Some seeds need light to germinate, however for some seeds, light can actually be detrimental to germination. Furthermore, there could have been an issue of the viability of the seeds. This factor is probably the most likely reason why the experiment did not go as planned. There was absolutely no sign of germination. As well as the fact that sunflower seeds could take more than 7 days to germinate, the seeds used might not have been properly stored the way most seeds used for planting are; they should be stored in a cool, dry place, however these seeds could have been stored in unsuitable conditions, for example a hot or humid warehouse.

In addition, there was a possibility of the amount and type of water not being right for the seeds. This could’ve been the pH levels of the water being too high or