The Effects of Soil Compaction on Radish Growth

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The Effects of Soil Compaction on Radish Growth

• I.E., T.G., D.H., M.M.,
• and Janice Wing
• Project from
• STEM Earth Central

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Plant Growth Basics

• Required conditions
• Water
• Nutrients
• Soil medium
• Sunlight
• Temperature
• Role of pore space in soil

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Compaction

• Modeling human impact on land
• Vehicles on land
• Hiking trails
• Impact on plant growth

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Experiment Hypothesis

• Highly compacted soil will hinder plant
  germination and slow early growth.

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Our Experiment

• 4 soil types
• 3 degrees of soil compaction
• Controlled environmental conditions
• Water
• Sunlight
• Soil volume
• Number of seeds
• Depth and spacing of seeds

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Experiment Methods
Watering
Heavy Compaction
Tap-Down Compaction
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Watering
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Levels of Compaction
Note Standing Water
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Measurements

• Percent germination
• Growth rate (height)

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Germination
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Percent Germination by Date
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Average Seeding Growth Rate
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Radish Growth
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Considerations

• Standing water
• Original soil moisture
• Soil particle size and pore size
• Different soil types

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Conclusions

• Soil compaction reduces percent germination
• Heavy compaction reduces growth rate

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Future Questions

• Is limited growth due to
• Small pore size?
• Limited water percolation?
• Increased pressure?
• Anoxia?

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New Skills Learned

• Manipulating photographs in Adobe Photoshop
  Elements
• Filter Artistic Paint Daubs
• Image Transform Distort
• Composited Layers (to hide leaves)
• Animated 3 images in PowerPoint
• Result Growing Radish
• Hyperlink

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The Effects of Soil Compaction on Radish Growth
Grows on Mouse Click. Third picture appears on
delay.

• I.E., T.G., D.H., M.M.,
• and Janice Wing
• Project from
• STEM Earth Central

Hyperlink
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New Skills Learned

• Picture as background
• Composited Layers
• Result Original background
• No price tag

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Our Experiment
Distracting numbers in the background
Distracting numbers in the background GONE!

• 4 soil types
• 3 degrees of soil compaction
• Controlled environmental conditions
• Water
• Sunlight
• Soil volume
• Number of seeds
• Depth and spacing of seeds

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New Skills Learned

• Use of slide master
• Result Easier slide manipulation
• Greater consistency
• Custom Radish
• Insert movie
• Result seen later

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The End

• Lets Celebrate!