Effects of Phosphate on Radish Sprouts 1

The Effects of Phosphate on the Length of Radish Sprouts

Madeline Jokela

Columbia Adventist Academy

Chemistry

Mr. Larry Hiday

June 9, 2022
Effects of Phosphate on Radish Sprouts 2

Abstract

This experiment was undertaken to explore the effects of phosphate on the length of

radishes. The radishes were grown in 25cm by 52cm by 5cm seed trays with a 2:2:1 ratio of,

premium fine grade orchid bark, peat moss, and premium pumice. The two groups were the

control and the experiment. The experiment had 5g of phosphate pellets mixed into the soil
mixture, which is 1 g P /1300 c m3 of soil. Most of the experiment died due to excess Phosphate.

This is a conclusion based on the fact that most the control survived the whole experiment grew

little before most died. The difference in length from the experimental plants and control was

substantial with the average difference being 4.77cm with the control having the longer average

length. This experiment demonstrated that excess phosphate would harm germinated radishes

causing over half of them to perish. It also proved that there needs to be no fertilizer present for

the radish seeds to germinate.

Keywords: phosphate, radishes, soil, fertilizer, growth, plants, experiment

Hypothesis: If phosphorus is present then the length of the radish will increase.

Phosphorus

Phosphorus is a common fertilizer and has been applied far more than what is required to

achieve high crop productivity (Kim, H.-J., & Li, X. (2016)). Phosphorus is an extremely

important nutrient to plant growth since it is one of 17 essential nutrients required for plant

growth and 80% of the total amount of Phosphorus in the soil is immobile. So, it is important

that there is supplements available to have effective plant growth. (Liu, C., Wang, Y., Pan, K.,

Jin, Y., Li, W., & Zhang, L. 2015). The chemical form of phosphorus that plants can utilize is

phosphate (Mäkelä, P. S. A., Wasonga, D. O., Solano Hernandez, A., & Santanen, A. (2020)).
Effects of Phosphate on Radish Sprouts 3

Studies Involving Phosphorus and Plant Growth

In the study of “Effects of Phosphorus on Shoot and Root Growth, Partitioning, and

Phosphorus Utilization Efficiency in Lantana”, it was found that the presence of phosphorus

contributed to the higher existence of roots and flowers but not in the overall biomass. It also

found that when the concentration of phosphorus was lower the utilization efficiency was

greater. (Kim, H.-J., & Li, X. (2016))

The study “Phosphorus Influx and Growth Characteristics of Corn Roots as Influenced by

Phosphorus Supply” found that when a corn plant is starved of phosphorus for the 1-8 days it

will have a higher efficiency intake when phosphorus is reintroduced. It also found that the

plants that had been exposed to phosphorus had roots that were 25% larger than their unexposed

counterparts. (Anghinoni, I., & Barber, S. A. (1980))

The study “Vegetative Growth of the Common Bean in Response to Phosphorus

Nutrition” found that a deficiency in Phosphorus led to a lower rate of photosynthesis in the

common bean. It also found that phosphorus stress didn’t harm the photosynthesis productions.

They also found that in the common bean phosphorus primarily effects that leaf production.

(Lynch, J., Läuchli, A., & Epstein, E. (1991))

Procedure

In each seed tray was a soil mixture of 4 liters of fine grade orchid, 2 liters of primum

pumice, and 4 liters of peat moss. In the experimental tray there was 5g of phosphorus that was

evenly mixed. In the dry soil the early scarlet globe radish seeds were planted 1.3cm deep by

using a wooden dowel to create a hole at that specific depth. The seeds were also spaced 2.54cm

apart from each other and the edges. There were 40 scarlet globe radish seeds or scientifically,

Raphanus Sativus in both the control and the experimental tray. Each of the trays were evenly

watered with 1 liter of water. After being fully prepared, they were transferred under the grow

lights. The lights were centered, 23cm above the trays and the green house covers were placed

over top with half of the ventilation flaps open. Prior to the trays being placed the lights were

programmed via Bluetooth plugin to turn on each morning at 9am and shut off each night at
Effects of Phosphate on Radish Sprouts 4

9pm. Both trays were watered weekly with 0.5 liters each, evenly across the tray. After 38 days

the germinated seeds were harvested, and data was collected.

Collected Data

The data was collected shows that the germinated radishes that had phosphate present

were on average 4.8cm shorter than the control. (See figure 1) After converting the

recommended amount on the back of the bag of Phosphate fertilizer post experiment, the
recommended concentration level is 1g/2082059c m 3. The concentration of phosphate per cm of

soil was used was 1 g /1300 c m3. The concentration used was extremely high creating an excess

of phosphate which harmed the plants.

Radish Sprout Growth (Figure 1)

25

20

15
Growth (cm)

10

0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38

Plant Number

Plant length control (cm) Plant length experiment (cm)

The data was collected by carefully measuring the length of each of the sprouts from the

tip of the tap root to the top of the longest leaf. The data that was collected can be shown in

figure 2.
Effects of Phosphate on Radish Sprouts 5

FIGURE 2

Plant number Plant length control (cm) Plant length experiment (cm) Average difference (cm)
1 3 2 4.8
2 7.6 2.1
3 8.2 5.1
4 8.5 5.5
5 8.6 5.6
6 9.4 5.7
7 10 5.8
8 10.1 5.9
9 10.5 7.5
10 10.5 7.6
11 10.6 8
12 10.7 8.4
13 11.1 8.5
14 11.1 8.5
15 11.5 8.6
16 11.6 9.4
17 11.6 10.6
18 12.2 11.2
19 13 12.4
20 13 16.2
21 13.2 0
22 13.2 0
23 13.4 0
24 13.7 0
25 13.9 0
26 14.1 0
27 14.9 0
28 15 0
29 15 0
30 15 0
31 15.1 0
32 15.4 0
33 15.6 0
34 15.8 0
35 16.5 0
36 16.6 0
37 16.8 0
38 20.3 0
Mean 12.53421053 4.068421053
Median 13 2.1
Mode 13 0
Effects of Phosphate on Radish Sprouts 6

Results

In figures 3 and 4 the growing conditions of the radishes are shown. The radishes were

kept at a temperature between 10-20℃.

Figure 3 Figure 4

In figure 5 it is clearly shown that the overdose of phosphate led to a lower survival rate

of the radishes. The left side is the control, and the right is the experiment.

Figure 5

In figures 6 the sprouts that had phosphorus present are shown and in figure 7 the control is

shown.

Figure 6 Figure 7
Effects of Phosphate on Radish Sprouts 7

Conclusion
The hypothesis was not proven because of the overdose of Phosphorus. This experiment

does indicate that with a high concentration of phosphate plants will be more likely to not

survive to maturity. If the experiment was to be redone it would be better if the concentration of

Phosphate was at the recommended level.

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Effects of Phosphate on Radish Sprouts 8

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