Testing nitrate amounts in fertiziled soils

[janetbray1104]

We are doing a science experiment testing the amount of nitrates in run-off water using different types of fertilizer. The experiment says to use topsoil in 4 different pots mixed with manure, liquid inorganic fertiziler, compost, and granule fertilizer. Then we are to water daily and use a nitrate testing kit to measure the nitrates in each pot.
The experiment does not tell us how much manure, compost, liquid fertiziler, or granule fertilizer to add to the top soil. It does not also tell us how much water to add each day.

Can anyone help?

[deleted-176807]

Are there specific instructions you are following? I couldn't find any on this site, but I may have missed them.
Anyway, I don't think the amount matters as much as using the same amount for each of the conditions. For example, if you add a cup of manure to 4 cups of topsoil for one condition, you will want to add a cup of liquid inorganic fertilizer to 4 cups of topsoil for another condition. Also, for a control, you might want to add a cup of top soil to 4 cups of topsoil. The same goes for the water. The specific amount doesn't matter as much as adding the same amount to each condition each day.
Good luck and feel free to ask if you have any more questions!
Katie