Abstract
Nitrogen fixation is an essential process by which plants take in nitrogen from the atmosphere and convert it into usable inorganic nutrients. More than ninety-percent of all nitrogen fixation is carried out by nitrogen-fixing bacteria; therefore, it is hypothesized that increasing the growth of N2 fixing bacteria will ultimately increase the rate of plant development. The purpose of the first part of the experiment was to determine the appropriate concentrations of the active ingredients that constitute the proprietary, commercial growth stimulant (Agricom) that optimized bacterial respiration. A respirometer was utilized to measure bacterial respiration, which indicates levels of bacterial metabolism and population density. It was shown that the selected Agricom solution increased bacterial respiration as compared to the control. The Agricom solution was then utilized in the second part of the experiment to test how it affected the growth of mung bean sprouts. Six groups of twenty mung beans each were subjected to different conditions as follows: water only, Agricom only, fertilizer only, fertilizer and Agricom, fertilizer and N2 fixing bacteria, and all three (fertilizer, bacteria, and Agricom). The results are currently being concluded.
Faculty Sponsors
Dr. Joshua Loomis
Project Type
Event
Location
Alvin Sherman Library
Start Date
4-12-2013 1:00 PM
End Date
4-12-2013 5:30 PM
Increasing Crop Yield by Stimulating Bacterial Respiration with Agricom, an Agricultural Stimulant
Alvin Sherman Library
Nitrogen fixation is an essential process by which plants take in nitrogen from the atmosphere and convert it into usable inorganic nutrients. More than ninety-percent of all nitrogen fixation is carried out by nitrogen-fixing bacteria; therefore, it is hypothesized that increasing the growth of N2 fixing bacteria will ultimately increase the rate of plant development. The purpose of the first part of the experiment was to determine the appropriate concentrations of the active ingredients that constitute the proprietary, commercial growth stimulant (Agricom) that optimized bacterial respiration. A respirometer was utilized to measure bacterial respiration, which indicates levels of bacterial metabolism and population density. It was shown that the selected Agricom solution increased bacterial respiration as compared to the control. The Agricom solution was then utilized in the second part of the experiment to test how it affected the growth of mung bean sprouts. Six groups of twenty mung beans each were subjected to different conditions as follows: water only, Agricom only, fertilizer only, fertilizer and Agricom, fertilizer and N2 fixing bacteria, and all three (fertilizer, bacteria, and Agricom). The results are currently being concluded.
