INTERSPESIFIC COMPETITION

Problem statement:
Does the distance between the paddy plants affect the dry mass /growth rate of paddy
plant?
Objective
To study how the distance between the paddy plants can affect the growth rate of paddy
plant.
Hypothesis
The longer the distance between the paddy seedlings, the higher the growth rate of paddy
plant.
Variables
Manipulated variables - distance between paddy plants/seedlings
Responding variables -dry mass
Controlled variables -quantity and type of garden soil, amount
of water, intensity of sunlight, distance
between seedlings and number of
seedlings
Apparatus Materials (AM)

05
Material
1. Paddy plants/seedlings,
2. water,
3. garden soil
Apparatus
1. A meter rule
2. Tray/basin/container
3. Oven + electronic balance
4. Marker pen
Technique
Measure and record the dry mass of the paddy plant by using
electronic balance

Procedure
04
K1 :
K2 :
K3 :
K4 :
K5 :

The set up of apparatus (steps 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

How to fix the constant variable? ( steps 1, 3, 4)
How to operate the responding variable? (steps 6, 7, 8)
How to operate the manipulated variable? (step 3)
Precaution/Accuracy of experiment (step 7)

Sample answer :
1. Three planting trays are filled with 4 kg of garden soil.
2. The trays are labeled as A, B and C using waterproof paint.
3. 30 numbers of paddy seed are planted in tray A at a distance of 10 cm intervals , 30
numbers of paddy seed in tray B at a distance of 5cm intervals and 30 numbers of
paddy seed in tray C at a distance of 2cm intervals.

x 10 cm x

x 5cm x

x
x
x
x
x
x
x

x 2cm
x x
x x
x x
x x
x xC
x x

x
x
x
x
x
x
x

x
x
x
x
x
x
x

4. Each tray is watered daily with the same amount of water for 30 days.
5. After 30 days, remove10 paddy seedlings randomly from tray A and the root of
seedling are washed under running water.
6. Heat and dry the paddy seedlings at 1050C in an oven
7. Weigh the dried paddy seedlings to obtain an average dry mass. The average dry
mass is calculate using the formula
= the average dry mass of seedling /g
time taken / day
8. Step 5 to 7 are repeated for seedling from B and C. The dry mass in tray B and C are
measured separately.
9. The result are recorded in a table.
Result

Th
e
dis
tan
ce
bet
we
en
se
edl
ing
s
(c
m)
/
Tra
y

Th
e
dry
ma
ss
of
10
se
edl
ing
s/
g

Av
era
ge
dry
ma
ss
of
pa
dd
y
se
edl
ing
s
(g)

The growth rate of paddy seedlings (g/day)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1
0
A
B
C

Conclusion
The longer the
distance between
seedlings, the
higher the growth
rate of paddy plant.