SBI3U - Factors Affecting Plant Growth 
(54 Marks Total)
[K:   /9;  I:   /14;  A:  /14;  C:   /17]

LAB REPORT: FACTORS AFFECTING GROWTH OF BEAN PLANTS

For this assignment you will complete the interactive lab, following the instructions as you go.  Make sure to record all of your data in the provided data table as you will be required to submit this with your report. 

Your lab report should include the following:

Hypothesis (4 marks inquiry, 2 marks Communication)
Write a hypothesis for each variable being tested (light intensity, pH, and potassium level) in terms of what affect you think changing each variable (increasing and decreasing) will have on plant growth.  Remember, the hypothesis is an educated guess, your marks for this section will reflect your ability to clearly communicate your hypothesis while demonstrating critical thinking about plant growth. 

Procedure: (3 marks knowledge)
Describe the experimental protocol in a step-by-step manner for each variable.  Your procedure should be clear enough that another person could repeat the experiment using only your instructions.

Observations/Results: (4 marks knowledge, 2 marks communication)
Present your observations and results in a form that is easily understood. The data should be in tables and graphs, each with a title. 

Analysis Questions: Each question: (2 marks inquiry, 1 mark communication)
1)	At which light intensity would you recommend that the bean plants be grown?  Explain your choice. 
2)	At which pH level would you recommend that the bean plant be grown?  Explain your choice.
3)	At which level of potassium sulphate would you recommend that the bean plants be grown?  Explain your choice.
4)	Based on your knowledge of plant growth, explain why the seedlings grew as they did under the various light intensities.
5)	Discuss any sources of error in these experiments.  How might you improve upon the methods performed? (e.g., If one of the plants died would this be directly related to the amount of light it was given?)

Discussion: 

	1) 	Research and discuss two factors tested in this experiment in more depth. Discuss each factor and how it directly affects plant growth (i.e. why does this factor affect the plant this way). Explain how the extremes - too much or too little of each of the factors you chose would affect the plant.  (6 marks application, 2 marks communication)

	2) 	From your manipulation of these factors in the lab, explain what the ideal growing conditions would be for the plant.(2 marks knowledge, 1 mark communication)

	3)	Explain how understanding these factors and being able to control them has impacted society. Be specific with four ways that this understanding has had an impact.  (8 marks application, 2 marks communication)

Conclusion:  (3 marks communication): 
Summarize the investigation by describing what the results demonstrate about how each of the different factors affect plant growth.