The water culture experiment is used to find out whether nitrogen, phosphorus and magnesium are essential for plant growth.
HOW TO MAKE A COMPLETE CULTURE SOLUTION?
HOW TO MAKE A COMPLETE CULTURE SOLUTION?
- 1000cc distilled water
- 0.25g potassium nitrate
- 0.25g magnesium sulphate
- 0.25g potassium acid phosphate
- 1g calcium nitrate
- 2 drops iron(III) chloride solution
(Important: The chemicals should be added to the water in the order shown above)
To investigate whether Nitrogen is really needed for plant growth, omit the nitrates and use potassium chloride and calcium sulphate.
To investigate whether Magnesium is really needed for plant growth, omit magnesium sulphate and use potassium sulphate.
PRECAUTIONS
To investigate whether Nitrogen is really needed for plant growth, omit the nitrates and use potassium chloride and calcium sulphate.
To investigate whether Magnesium is really needed for plant growth, omit magnesium sulphate and use potassium sulphate.
PRECAUTIONS
- Before setting up the experiment, all apparatus are to be sterilize to ensure that the apparatus is free from micro-organisms which might interfere with the growth of the seedlings.
- The outside of the gas jars are to be covered completely with black papers to prevent light from entering the gas jars. This prevents algae from growing around the roots and hinder their normal functioning.
- The gas jars are to be placed in such a way that they receive enough sunlight but be very careful not to place the gas jars in direct sunlight as it may caused the leaves of the seedlings to scorch and heat up the culture solutions.
- Keep the cotton wool around the seedling dry to prevent the stem from rotting.
- Renew the culture solution every 2 weeks (Remember: Depletion).
- Aerate the solution by blowing air through the delivery tube to supply oxygen for root respiration.
