Size vs. Depth: The Relationship Between the Size of a Seed and Its Ideal Planting Depth

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Abstract

Plants have evolved many clever mechanisms to ensure that their seeds will wait for appropriate conditions before sprouting. Some may only germinate after a fire, others only after going through a cold spell. This project explores one important variable among many that determine the ideal conditions for seed germination.

Summary

Areas of Science

Plant Biology

Difficulty

Time Required

Very Long (1+ months)

Material Availability

Readily available

Cost

Low ($20 - $50)

Credits

Objective

To find if the size of the seed determines the ideal planting depth.

Introduction

You may think planting seeds is as simple as putting them in the ground and giving them water. But did you realize that there are a number of different types of seeds that require different conditions to grow? Some seeds may need light to grow, some may need darkness, and some may even need to be charred by fire. So with all these variations in the ideal conditions to stimulate seed germination, how does seed size impact the process of germination? Do certain size seeds need special conditions? In this science fair project, you will investigate how the size of the seed affects how well it germinates and grows when planted at different depths.

Terms and Concepts

To understand the relationship between planting depth and seed size, you should have solid understanding of the seed germination process, the structure of a seed, and the factors that break dormancy for different size seeds.

Bibliography

Gibson, L. and Mullen, R. (2000). Planting Depth. Iowa State University Agronomy Department. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
Texas A&M University. (n.d.). Seed Germination. Aggie Horticulture. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
Hangarter, R. (n.d.). Seed Germination. Plants-In-Motion. Retrieved February 28, 2012.

Materials and Equipment

Seeds that are different sizes. We recommend using the following seeds for this project:
- Garden pea
- Super sweet corn
- Onion
- Lima bean
- White pinto bean
- Radish
- Lettuce
Kitchen scale (for recording the weight of the seeds), such as the digital pocket scale available from Amazon.com
Ruler (for measuring seed size, plant growth, and planting depth)
Pots
Potting soil
Tape or popsicle sticks to mark each of the pots with the type of plant and planting depth
Lab notebook

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Experimental Procedure

Select the types of legume seeds you will be using for the experiment.
For each seed type, record the weight, size, and recommended planting depth in your lab notebook.
For each seed type, determine the planting depths that you will use for this experiment. Here is a recommendation for determining the different depths:
1. Depth 1: Recommended planting depth.
2. Depth 2: Lay the seeds on the surface of the dirt.
3. Depth 3: Two times the recommended planting depth (this will be your deepest seed).
4. Depth 4: Halfway between the surface and the recommended planting depth.
5. Depth 5: Halfway between the recommended planting depth and the deepest seed (which is twice the recommended planting depth).
For each seed type, plant the seed in a pot at each of the depths. (So if you are using six different types of seeds, you will have 30 pots, one for each seed type at each depth).
You should repeat this experiment at least twice to ensure you get enough data for each seed type at each of the depths.
After about 17 days, measure and record the heights of each of the plants.
Did you see a correlation between the size of the seed and the planting depth that they grew best at? Did the largest or smallest seeds grow best at the deepest depth? Did the seeds planted at their recommended planting depth do better than the seeds not planted at their recommended depth?

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Variations

Is there a relationship between seed size and the amount of light, water, or nutrients needed to germinate the seeds?

Careers

If you like this project, you might enjoy exploring these related careers:

Plant Scientist

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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. Read more

Agricultural Technician

Career Profile

As the world's population grows larger, it is important to improve the quality and yield of food crops and animal food sources. Agricultural technicians work in the forefront of this very important research area by helping scientists conduct novel experiments. If you would like to combine technology with the desire to see things grow, then read further to learn more about this exciting career. Read more

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General citation information is provided here. Be sure to check the formatting, including capitalization, for the method you are using and update your citation, as needed.

MLA Style

Science Buddies Staff. "Size vs. Depth: The Relationship Between the Size of a Seed and Its Ideal Planting Depth." Science Buddies, 23 June 2020, https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/PlantBio_p005/plant-biology/seed-size-planting-depth. Accessed 30 Nov. 2023.

APA Style

Science Buddies Staff. (2020, June 23). Size vs. Depth: The Relationship Between the Size of a Seed and Its Ideal Planting Depth. Retrieved from https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project-ideas/PlantBio_p005/plant-biology/seed-size-planting-depth

Last edit date: 2020-06-23

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