Introduction Introduction Reasons for my investigation: My project started as a thought (My own idea). I watch my parents taking part in sport. (Cycling and distant running.) I noticed how they increased their energy and performance levels by using energy drinks. I looked at our garden. The current drought has a shocking negative effect on the plants. I wondered if energy drinks will have the same positive effect on plants as it has on humans. Background Information Background Information The reason for my investigation was my own idea. (Refer to introduction.) Therefore I knew that it would be quite difficult to get references from internet sites, articles in science journals etc. I decided to do two experiments with seeds and plants and to interview people with specific knowledge about the subject. I used internet sites to get more information on the contents of the energy drinks: R7, M2, E9 and P5; as well as information to answer my question why water is so important for plants and humans.
I arranged an interview with Mr. P. Scott (The owner of Scotts Nursery in Vredenburg) to get his ideas on the project. I made an appointment with Dr. M. Raaths (A medical doctor, as well as a keen cyclist in Vredenburg). Dr. Raaths helped me with more detailed information on energy drinks and their influence on the human body. I made an appointment with Mr. B. Adams (an engineer at the Saldanha Bay Municipality Department: Water and Roads to find out why water has such a positive influence on plants and humans and if there is anything that can compare, or take the place, of water. The value of the project South Africa is a water-scarce country. With the current drought it is once again evident how important water is for our daily lives and nature in general. Scientists are under much pressure to come up with an alternative for water to sustain life on earth. By participating in the Eskom Expo: 2016 I increased my awareness of the wonders of science and I improved my knowledge about the world we live in.
Aim Aim The aim of the scientific project is to determine if energy drinks can boost the growth of plants like it boost the energy and performance levels of humans. Hypothesis Hypothesis Energy drinks will boost the plant s growth.
Experiments Method 1: Testing of seeds (In cotton wool) Method 1 Testing of seeds (In cotton wool) 1. I placed each seed (Spinach, Capsicum and Cucumber) in cotton wool, which I then placed in small, white, plastic pots. 2. Each of the seeds received a 10 ml dosage of their specific energy drinks (R7, M2, E9 and P5) on every third day. 3. The group of seeds that received water was handled in the same way as the seeds that received energy drinks. 4. The sprouting and development of the seeds were tested to establish which seed on which energy drink or water would sprout and develop first. 5. The development of all the seeds in the experiment will be measured against each other to compare natural growth. Variables Dependent The development of the seeds. (The height that they grew in cm.) Independent Type of seeds (Spinach, Capsicum and Cucumber). Fixed The seeds and the quantity of dosage (10 ml) every third day will be the same. The seeds will be exposed to the same amount of light and the same temperature.
Results (Graphs and Tables) Testing of seeds (In cotton wool): R7 0,8 1 0,6 0,4 0,2-0,2 0-0,4-0,6-0,8-1 DAYS 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 Spinach - - - - - - - - Capsicum - - - - - - - - Cucumber - - - - - - - - Testing of seeds (In cotton wool): M2 0,8 1 0,6 0,4 0,2-0,2 0-0,4-0,6-0,8-1 DAYS 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 Spinach - - - - - - - - Capsicum - - - - - - - - Cucumber - - - - - - - - Testing of seeds (In cotton wool): E9 0,8 1 0,6 0,4 0,2-0,2 0-0,4-0,6-0,8-1 DAYS 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 Spinach - - - - - - - - Capsicum - - - - - - - - Cucumber - - - - - - - -
Testing of seeds (In cotton wool): P5 1 0,5 0-0,5-1 DAYS 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 Spinach - - - - - - - - Capsicum - - - - - - - - Cucumber - - - - - - - - Testing of seeds (In cotton wool):"tap Water" 3,5 3 2,5 2 1,5 1 0,5 0 DAYS 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 Spinach - - - - - - - - Capsicum - - - - - 0,5 1 1 Cucumber - - 0,5 1,0 1,5 2,0 2,7 3,0 Colour Code Meaning Spinach seed Capsicum seed Cucumber seed
Analysis Analysis: Method 1: Testing of seeds A. Results (Graphs and Tables) - Using Energy Drinks: R7, M2, E9 and P5 None of the seeds that received Energy Drinks: R7, M2, E9 and P5 sprouted during the 15 day experiment. B. Results (Graphs and Tables) Using Municipal Water ( Tap water ) Saldanha Bay Municipal Water The Cucumber seed that received water sprouted on day 5. The Capsicum seed sprouted on day 11. The Spinach seed did not sprout at all, within the duration of the 15 day experiment. Errors and Modifications (Testing of seeds) The concentrate of glucose in the energy drinks attracted ants on day three. I had to counter this by placing sliced English cucumber in between the white plastic pots. This method worked and I got rid of the ants in an organic way.
Photos Photos to demonstrate a few interesting observations made during the duration of the experiment of 15 days. Photos by Chris van Wyk Day 1: Preparation for my experiment with seeds. Day 3: Ants occurred. I placed sliced English Cucumbers in between the seeds to get rid of the ants in an organic way. (My attempt was successful.) Observations with seeds using Municipal Water ( Tap Water ) Day 5: The Cucumber seed, that received water, sprouted first. Day 11: The Capsicum seed, that received water, sprouted second. The Cucumber seed, that received water, was the only seed that developed into a seedling within the duration of the experiment of 15 days. The Spinach seed, that received water, did not develop within the duration of the experiment of 15 days. Observations with seeds using energy drinks None of the seeds that received the energy drinks R7, M2, E9 and P5 sprouted within the duration of the experiment of 15 days
Experiments Method 2: Testing of plants (In potting soil) Method 2 Testing of plants (In potting soil) 1. Plants (Spinach, Cucumber and Capsicum) that are 5 weeks old, will be used to establish which plant will grow the quickest on which energy drink. 2. I placed each of these plants in a small, brown, plastic pot filled with potting soil. 3. Every third day, each plant received a 10 ml dosage of the energy drinks: R7, M2, E9 and P5. 4. One group of plants will receive a 10ml dosage of Municipal Water ( Tap water ) every third day. 5. All the plants will be measured, every third day, to see which one will grow the fastest. 6. All the plants in the experiment will be measured against the plants that received water to compare natural growth. 7. Data will be collected every third day, and will be written in a table. Variables Dependent The height that the plants grew in cm. Independent Type of plants (Spinach, Capsicum and Cucumber) Fixed The plants and the quantity of dosage (10 ml) every third day will be the same. The plants will also be exposed to the same amount of light and the same temperature.
Results (Graphs and Tables) Testing of plants (In potting soil):r7 DAYS 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 Spinach 7,9 10,0 14,0 9,0 4,0 - - - Capsicum 10,9 11,0 11,0 11,0 9,5 9,5 9,5 9,0 Cucumber 6,4 7,0 7,5 7,5 5,5 5,5 5,5 5,2 Testing of plants (In potting soil): M2 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 DAYS 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 Spinach 13,5 16 16 7 7 6 6 6 Capsicum 8,5 9 9 9 6 6 6 6 Cucumber 4 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 Testing of plants (In potting soil): E9 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 DAYS 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 Spinach 13 14 13,5 14 14 13 13 10 Capsicum 9,5 9,5 10 10 9 9 9 9 Cucumber 2 2,5 3 3 2 2 2 2
Testing of plants (In potting soil): P5 DAYS 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 Spinach 8,5 13 13 13 11 7 4 0 Capsicum 10,1 10,1 10 10 9,5 9,5 9,5 9,5 Cucumber 3 3,5 4 5,5 5 6 6 6 Testing of plants (In potting soil): "Tap Water" 20 15 10 5 DAYS 0 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 Spinach 15 16 16 16 16 16 16 16 Capsicum 8 9 10 10 10 10,5 10,5 12 Cucumber 0,5 1 1 2 2 3 3 3 Analysis Analysis: Method 2: Testing of plants in soil A. Results (Graphs and Tables) - Using Energy Drinks: R7, M2, E9 and P5 R7 The plants that received R7 had grown up to the 5 th day. Thereafter the plants slowly began to die. The Spinach plant became a yellowish-brown colour and lost it s leaves. The Capsicum plant lost all it s leaves and it s stem became a dark brown colour. The Cucumber plant was the strongest plant among these three species (It survived the longest). The majority of the plant s leaves turned into a brown colour and the other leaves became a light green colour. The soil also got less and more loose.
M2 The plants that received M2 had grown up to the 5 th day. Thereafter all the plants began to die. The Spinach plant became dark brown at the edges of it s leaves. The leaves also began to curl to the inside. The Capsicum plant lost all it s leaves and it s stem became a dark brown colour. The Cucumber plant was the strongest plant among these three species (It survived the longest). The plant s leaves became a light green colour and became brown at the leave s edges. The soil also got less and more loose. E9 The plants that received E9 had a stable growth pattern. (It grew up to the 7 th day.) The Spinach plant s dead leaves became a pink-brownish colour. The rest of it s leaves became a dark green colour. The beginning of the plant s stem became a light pink colour. The Capsicum plant lost most of it s leaves. The rest of the plant s leaves began to curl to the inside and small pink plant lice - green apple aphid (Aphidoidea ) - began to appear. (The lice changed their colour because of the red colour of the E9 energy drink.) The Cucumber plant was the strongest of the three species (It survived the longest). It leaves became a light green colour and a yellow flower appeared. The soil became very hard and sticky. P5 The plants that received P5 had a variety of growth patterns. The Spinach plant grew at it s highest on day 3. The plant s leaves became a brown colour. A new leaf started to grow. (It had a bright pink stem.) The Capsicum plant grew at it s highest on day 3. The whole plant became a brown colour. The Cucumber plant was the strongest of the three species (It survived the longest). The whole plant became a light green colour and three new yellow flowers began to appear. The soil became very hard and sticky. B. Results (Graphs and Tables) Using Municipal Water ( Tap water ) Saldanha Bay Municipal Water The plants that received tap water had a stable growth pattern. The Spinach plant had grown at it s highest on day 3. The Capsicum plant grew at it s highest on day 15. The plant had dark green, big leaves. A few plant lice the green apple aphid (Aphidoidea) - started to appear. The Cucumber plant had big green leaves. Errors and Modifications The concentrate of glucose in the energy drinks attracted ants on day three. We had to counter this by placing sliced English cucumber in between the plant pots. A few plant lice appeared on some plants. I used 7 ml water, mixed with 3 ml vinegar, which I sprayed onto the plant lice. I used organic ways to get rid of both the ants and plant lice. (My attempt was successful.)
Errors that occurred during the duration of the experiment of 15 days Day 2: A Sun Beetle (Pachnoda sinuata) ate the leaves of the Spinach plant. Day 3: Ants appeared on and around all seeds in cotton wool. The Capsicum plant that received water. Day 13: Plant lice - green apple aphid (Aphidoidea) - occurred Solution to the problems: Sun Beetle: The Sun Beetle flew away and never came back Ants: (On seeds and plants) I placed sliced English Cucumbers in between the white and brown plastic pots. Lice: I used 7ml water, mixed with 3 ml vinegar, which I sprayed onto the plant lice.
Conclusions The outcome between plants in soil and seeds in cotton wool has variable results. The plants that used energy drinks and municipal water had variable outcomes in their growth patterns. The energy drinks clearly show a negative impact on both plants and seeds. There is a comparison between plant and human consumption that proves that continuous usage is harmful. This fact has been confirmed by the medical practitioner, Dr. Raaths, as well as the outcome in the plants and seeds final growth status. R7 and M2, which consists of the most caffeine, caused that the plant s growth terminated of all three plant species (Spinach, Capsicum and Cucumber). The same for the seedlings that did not sprout at all. E9 and P5, which consists of the least energy (glucose), did not terminate the plants growth, but it didn t grow as well as the plants that received water. The seeds (Spinach, Capsicum and Cucumber) did not sprout. My hypothesis was incorrect. The outcome of the scientific experiment clearly shows that water is the best for plants. I now understand that water helps the plant to transport nutrients through the plant. (The plant draws nutrients from the soil.) Without enough water in the cells of the plant, the plant droops and eventually dies. (http://www.perservearticles.com/201101012194/importance-of-water-for-plants.html) http://misskarenu.blogspot.co.za/2015/08/diffusion-and-osmosis.html
Acknowledgements The listed people below assisted with verbal information and financial help. I would like to recognize their valuable inputs as follow: Dr. M. Raaths Medical inputs Mr. P. Scott Provided information about plants (Owner of Scotts Nursery in Vredenburg) Mr. B. Adams - Engineer: Saldanha Bay Municipality. Provided information on the quality of Vredenburg s water supply. Mr. C. van Wyk Provider of financial help and took a few photos. Mrs. E. Bakker My teacher: For distributing of the Expo information. Her encouragement, guidance and support. Mrs. G. Conradie My grandmother: For guidance and support when needed. Sponsors I would like to thank the main sponsor: I would also like to thank the national sponsors: