Abstract
Everybody knows that worms are good for the soil, but not everybody knows why. Here's a project that investigates just one of the ways earthworms improve the earth.Objective
The purpose of this project is to find out what the ideal proportion of earthworm castings to soil is for young garden plants.
Introduction
Earthworms play an important role in soil fertility, and they are often used as a quick indicator of soil fertility. What do earthworms do to the soil and do they really help to improve plant growth?
Terms, Concepts and Questions to Start Background Research
In order to properly conduct this experiment you should understand the following terms and concepts:
Bibliography
Understanding of earthworm biology:
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/07721.html#types
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthworm
Benefits of earthworms:
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/backyard/wonworm.html
http://www.michigan.gov/mda/0,1607,7-125-1566_1733_22582_22592-68858--,00.html
Similar study exploring the optimal level of castings for plant growth:
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/SandT/Tech-News/TechNews-Jun02.pdf
Materials and Equipment
Experimental Procedure
Variations
Other additives such as ash
Last edit date: 2007-03-22 22:00:00
If you like this project, you might enjoy exploring careers in Plant Biology.
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Soil and Plant Scientist With a growing world population, making sure that there is enough food for everyone is critical. Plant scientists work to ensure that agricultural practices result in an abundance of nutritious food in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner. |
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