University of Arkansas - AgriScience Project
AGRISCIENCE EXERCISE
PLANT SCIENCE/BIO-TECHNOLOGY
Key Concept: Plant maintenance and Coordination
Sub-Concept: Atmospheric Factors
Agricultural Application: Meteorological Effects on Crop Growth
Exercise: Mini greenhouses
Applied Principle(s):
Goals:
- Learn to read temperature and humidity gauges.
- Develop observational skills.
- Practice data recording.
- Measure plant growth.
- Practice graphing skills
Materials:
- Pencil and paper
- Heat Lamp
- Data Sheet
- Rulers
- Potting soil
- 4 humidity gauges
- 4 thermometers
- Measuring cup
- 4 Ten gallon glass aquariums
- Plexiglass cut to fit top of aquariums
- 8 similar size radish plants
- 8 similar size marigold plants
- 8 cups gravel (2mm-4mm size)
- 4 foot, two tube florescent work light
- Light timer
Teacher Preparation Notes:
- Germinate the seeds for the radish and marigold plants. Germination studies may be executed
with student participation. Grow plant starts for the activity.
- Prepare the mini greenhouses by spreading 2 cups of gravel evenly across the bottom of each
to allow for drainage. Place a 3" layer of potting soil on top of the gravel.
- Transplant two radish plants and two marigold plants into each greenhouse.
- Water the plants lightly, and cover with the plexiglass top.
- Position the four aquariums six inches below the two tube florescent work light. Set timer
for twelve hours of light and twelve hours of darkness.
- Allow the greenhouses three or four days for the plants to get established before beginning the
experiment if possible.
- Two days before beginning, take the lids off of two of the green houses and allow them to dry
out, while watering the other two. Cover the greenhouses as you begin the experiment.
- Place two of the greenhouses, one with high humidity and one with low humidity, together
and aim a heat lamp from about six inches at these two aquariums. Turn the aquarium once a
day to keep the heat more evenly distributed.
Procedures for Conducting the Activity:
1. Divide the class into pairs of students, and provide each with a data sheet and the necessary
materials for this exercise.
2. Instruct the students to complete the activity as directed on their data sheets. You may wish to
monitor their progress as they work; however, it is suggested that the students be left to follow
the instructions and complete the activity on their own.
3. Once all groups have completed the exercise, discuss the answers to the discussion questions as
a class. Be sure to make note of the practical agricultural applications of the principles
demonstrated.
AGRISCIENCE EXERCISE
Mini Greenhouse
STUDENT DATA SHEET
-Recording Temperature, Humidity, Plant Height and Leaf Color-
A. High humidity, high temperature greenhouse
| Plant
Number |
Temperature
(C)
M T W Th F |
Humidity
(%)
M T W Th F |
Plant Height
(cm)
M T W Th F |
Leaf Color
(*see key)
M T W Th F |
| 1
Marigold |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2
Marigold |
|
|
|
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|
|
|
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|
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|
|
|
|
| 3 Radish |
|
|
|
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|
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 4 Radish |
|
|
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|
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|
|
|
|
*key: G=green, Y=Yellow, B=Brown
B. High humidity, room temperature greenhouse
| Plant
Number |
Temperature
(C)
M T W Th F |
Humidity
(%)
M T W Th F |
Plant Height
(cm)
M T W Th F |
Leaf Color
(*see key)
M T W Th F |
| 1
Marigold |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2
Marigold |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 3 Radish |
|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 4 Radish |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*key: G=green, Y=Yellow, B=Brown
C. Low humidity, high temperature greenhouse
| Plant
Number |
Temperature
(C)
M T W Th F |
Humidity
(%)
M T W Th F |
Plant Height
(cm)
M T W Th F |
Leaf Color
(*see key)
M T W Th F |
| 1
Marigold |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2
Marigold |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 3 Radish |
|
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|
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|
|
|
|
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| 4 Radish |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*key: G=green, Y=Yellow, B=Brown
D. Low humidity, room temperature greenhouse
| Plant
Number |
Temperature
(C)
M T W Th F |
Humidity
(%)
M T W Th F |
Plant Height
(cm)
M T W Th F |
Leaf Color
(*see key)
M T W Th F |
| 1
Marigold |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 2
Marigold |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
|
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|
| 3 Radish |
|
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| 4 Radish |
|
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*key: G=green, Y=Yellow, B=Brown
Graph your results. Some suggested graphs are time vs. height and time vs. leaf color (ie. green
brown) for each greenhouse. Use the X axis for time.
Questions for discussion:
- Which plants grew the quickest? What do you think in the four environments was the
cause for the quickest growth?
- The earth is the only plant with life on it (Mars may have had life in the past). How do
you think that the amount of water on the earth may have influenced the development of
life on earth?
- The earth is the third plant from the sun. What effect does the distance from the sun have
on growth of plants?
- How would you design an experiment to determine if life could exist further from the sun?
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