IB Environmental Systems and Societies. ' Internal Assessment (SL) An investigation into the effect acid rain has on plant growth Word count: 2231 Candidate code: jbn669 Tora score: 24 —oP Research question To what extent is the level of acidity in water correlated to the vertical stem growth of Tagetes Introduction ‘Acid rain, also known as acid deposition, is a very consequential issue in our environment which is worsening as pollution increases. Itis a global problem that affects most countries and. encompases any form of precipitation containing acidic components, which are usually nitric and sulfuric acids. Acid rain is caused by a chemical reaction that begins once substances such ‘as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide are emitted to the atmosphere through a variety of human activities, which include industrial emissions, the use of vehicles and heavy equipment, the buming of fossil fuels, power generators, oil refineries and many more (United States Environmental Protection Agency, n.d), These chemicals mix and react with water and various other atmospheric gases like oxygen and form highly acidic pollutants such as sulfurous acid, sulfuric acid and nitric acid (Batema, 2019). These chemicals return to the ground in the form of precipitation, known as acid rain, As these toxins pass through, soil, they cause soil depletion, which refers to the increase of acidity in the soil and’the léaching of its essential ‘minerals and nutrients which are vital for the growth of a plant. In addition, the toxic compounds cause aluminium to be released into the soll, which prevents the plant from absorbing the water needed for its growth, resulting in severe damage to plants (United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2020). Damage to primary producers due to acid rain can disrupt entire food chains and ecosystems, which could ultimately lead to the extinction of species. For us humans this also involves severe consequences as we rely on forests and various plants for climate homeostasis, oxygen, food and resources, etc., without which human life would be in danger of extinction, This environmental issue is directly connected to theJ Ogos tas Fe, quate 1 research question as in has been deemed responsible for the decline in vertical stem growth of a plant. This is intended to be demonstrated by comparing, on a small scale, the J difference in vertical stem growth of plants depending on the acidity concentration of the water & that these will receive. To resemble acid rain, vinegar will be used. A substance is considered RN, acidic when its pH level is inferior to 5.6), Viriegar has a pH level of 3.0 due to its component S fone acid and will therefore be used inthis experiment mixed with water to resemble acid rain. The effects seen on the plants can then be generalized to a larger scale to find out the exact, aS effect acid rain has on the growth of plants in forests and ecosystems. Ke Planning Variables Independent: = Acidity of the water, which will either be high (pH 3.5), medium (pH 4.5) or low (pH 5.5). Y Dependent: = Vertical stem growth (in cm) of the plants. Ceophes esas) Controlled: - The plants were planted on the same day. ~The difference in the initial length will be accounted for. /~ ~The plants will receive the same amount of sunlight by placing them in a linear fashion, W~ ~The plants will receive the same amount of water at the same time,, ~~ "The plans will e exposed tothe same temperanye by being placed inthe same place. /~ = © The vértical growth of the plants will be measured at the same time. “ = The plants were outside but protected fiom the tain as they were under a roEquipment list - Brragetes erecta planted in soil pots. - Gloves - Water = Vinegar (acetic acid) - PH measurer = Spray bottle ~ Measuring cup ~ Tape measure = Calculator Sample Strategy The primary data to be used in this investigation will include the weekly recording of the vertical stem growth of fifteen plants throughout the course of 8 weeks. The fifteen plants will be divided into three groups in which they will be watered with different pH levels, two of them being very acidic, representing aéid rain and one being slightly acidic, representing normal rain. The reason Tagetes erecta was chosen for this experiment is because it reaches its ‘maximum growth within approximately 8 weeks, allowing forall of the stages of the growth to be recorded. The use of this sample strategy will provide an accurate set of data of the vertical stem growth of the plants in an effective and unbiased way as it provides sufficient data for the resullts to be generalized to forests and ecosystems exposed to acid rain. woler, Heats fo stew lrow to chase. pH levels o} wok lai Sos, with canditole, \shificotion is provided th metliedology and Prcediste. “The metbied is appreprte be te resent quaston, but the corcicote fouls 4p collect sufPicient relevost date by only slohna, 3 condi viens.Risk Assessment and Ethical and Environmental Considerations ‘When woersog the plants wits te atic subsance, wear gloves and make sue to not came fn physical contact with the solution as it may cause a chemical bum if soaked into the skin. If contact is made, ri ly with water. If there is acidic water left after completing the experiment, flush it in a toilet, and make sure that it does not come in contact with nature as it may harm plants and living beings in that area, The plants used in the experiment can either be kept after the completion of the experiment, composted or replanted if enough research is made demonstrating that the plant is not an invasive species in the area in which it is desired to be lanted. . i a qa- Pexsibes Went assessment and the eltuical ceasidemiens . Describes safehy -preaastiens. Methodology and procedure 1+ Preparation a) Get fifteen Tagetes erecta plants from a store or a garden that were all planted on the same day. b) Divide the fifteen plants in three groups (five plants per pH group) and label the pots to PLA: know what group they are in. IreiPbaient cate (doesnot meet the Scordibion tule) = Group A will be watered with a pH level of 3.5. This is the pH level that extremely GX Aeidic rain contains (Russo, 2017). There have been several rainfalls recorded with this a e Be an level. In order to achieve this pH level, mix 500 milliliters of vinegar with 500 mililiters of normal tap water (with a pH level of 7). Use a pH measure to assure that the right pH level is achieved. = Group B will be watered with a pH level of 4.5. This is the pH level that typical acid rain contains (United States Environmental Protection Agency, n.d). Most of the recorded rainfalls have had a similar pH to this one. In order to achieve this pH level,mix 100 milliliters of vinegar with 900 milliliters of normal tap water (with a pH level of 7). Use a pH measure to assure that the right pH level is achieved. ~ Group C will be watered with a pH level of 5.5. This isthe pH level that slightly acidic GoM\~ rain contains, that being a typical rain pH that is not considered to be harmful to plant) Ne fecincte, This group will serve as a control group because the plants in this group are not supposed to be negatively affected, and as a result will help determine the consequences tne acidic water has on vercal stem growth. In onder to achieve this pH level mix 20 milliliters with 980 milliliters of normal tap water (with a pH level of 7). Use a pH measure to assure that the right pH level is achieved, ©). Measure and record the vertical stem length of each plant from the soil surface to the terminal bud of the plant with the use of a measuring tape before the start of the experiment. 2- Set up a) Place the fifteen plants next to each other on a balcony where there is a minimum of three hours of direct sunlight: Place the plants in a way that all receive the same amount of sunlight throughout the day. 3- Procedure a) Water the fifteen plants with 15 milliliters of water that has a pH level of 5.5 with the use of a spray bottle in order to replicate normal rain. ‘This will be done to give the plants a break from the acidity since over exposure to acidity can instantly kill a plant and rarely ever occurs in nature (Queensland Government, 2019). ‘oesb) The next day, water each plant with 15 milliliters of its corresponding pH leveled water depending on its designated group with the use of a spray bottle, ©) Repeat step 1 and 2 respectively everyday for 8 weeks. axfficent doe Yor vec 4) Atte end ofeach week, measure the vertical stem length ofeath plant the sme way it was done before the start of the experiment and record it to later observe and analyse oe metbes, (20886 + Pepeicele ES hi an ee Digan ee the growth progress, Results, an: Raw data cole Table 1. Recording of the weekly vertical stem growth of the plants in the 3.5 pH group. ~~ pH3.5(1) | pH3.5(2) | pH3.5(3) | pH3.5(4) | pH3.5(5) Initial length | 7.0 cm 7.1m 72cm 7.1m 7.3m Week 1 72cm 7.3 cm 7.3cem 7.3cm 7.6cm Week 2 720m 74cm 7.5m 75cm 7.7m Week 3 7.20m 74cm 75cm 7.5m, 7.7 cm. Week 4 7.2cm 74cm 7.5m 7.5 em. 7.7m Week 5 72cm 74cm 75cm 7.5 cm 7.7m Week 6 720m 7.4em 75cm 75cm 7.7m Week 7 720m 740m 75cm 7.5m 7.7 cm Week 8 720m 740m 7.5m 7.5m 7.7 cm.‘Table 2. Recording of the weekly vertical stem, ea the plants in the 4.5 pH group. pH45(1) | pH45(2) | pH4.5() | pH45(4) | pH45() Initial length | 7.3 cm 7ALem 74cm 720m 7.0 em Week 1 73cm 76cm 8.0 cm 7.6m 75m Week 2 9.0m 87cm 9.4.0m 8.8 cm 8.8m Week 3 10.8em * | 40.5 em 11.0 cm 10.6 em 10.4 cm Week 4 1.5em 1.2m 1.8 cm 15 cm 11cm" Week 5 11.7 om 11.3 em 11.8 cm 1.6 em 11.3 em Week 6 11.7 cm 11.3 cm 1.8 cm 11.6 cm u.3.em Week 7 11.7 cm 13cm 1.8m, 11.6 em 3m Week 8 1.7 em u3.em 11.8 om 11.6 em 11.3. om Table 3. Recordi ing of the weekly vertical stem jest the plants in the 5.5 pH group. pHS.5(1) | pH5.5(2) | pH5.5(3) | pH5.5(4) | pH5.5 (5) Initial length | 7.4 cm 7.2m 7.2m 7.1m 7.3m Week 1 8.2m 8.0m 81cm 7.9m 8.cm Week 2 97em 96cm 96cm 9.6em 9.8 cm Week 3 1,7 cm usem | idem 1.3m 17 em Week 4 14.2 em 44cm | 14.1.em 14.5 em 14.8 cm Week 5 16.9 cm 170m — | 16.5 cm 17.3em 16.8 cm Week 6 19.5 em 204cm | 19.7 em 21.6 cm 20.0 em Week 7 22.2. em 24tom — | 22.5 cm 25.4. em 22.9 om Week 8 25.0 em 2a.30m | 25.6cm 28.8 cm 26.0 omProcessed data The data that had been collected from the fifteen plants was simplified by calculating the weekly average length of the five plants in each group. 714m This will allow a better overview of the gréwth difference between the plants in each group ex. Average length of pH 3.5 initial length ~ (7.0 + 7.1 + 7.2 + 7.2 + 7.3): and will furthermore permit to display the data in graphs in which the difference in length can be compared and contrasted. Lok ane) & 3m ener Table 4. The average weekly vertical length of the plants in each pH group Avg. pH3S Avg. pH4S Avg. PHS Initial length 7.14cm 7.20cm 7.24cm Week 1 7.34¢em. 7.72em, 8.06 cm. Week 2 7.46 cm 8.96 cm 9.66 cm Week 3 7.46 cm 10.66 em 11.52 cm Week 4 7.46. cm, 11.42 cm 14.40 cm Week 5 7.46 cm 11.54 cm 16.90 cm Week 6 7.46 cm 11.54 cm 20.24 cm Week 7 7.46 cm 11.54 cm 23,42 cm Week 8 7.46 cm 11.54 cm. 26.74 cm10 ‘The Standard Deviation (SD) of the data collected from the fifteen plants for the duration of 8 ane fon ‘weeks was calculated with the use of an online tool (Math is fun, 2019). spodauekion ye This will indicate the spread of the weekly length of the plants in each group. The lower the ‘SDy the closer the data is to the mean, indicating that the data is similar. V quer Cortedk process & dato" Table 5. The Standard Deviation of the weekly vertical length of the plants in each pH group |// SD. pH3.5 SD. pH45S SD. pH5.5 Initial length 0.102 oa 0.102 Week 1 0.136 0.038 0.102 Week 2 0.163, 0.258 0.080 Week 3 0.163 0.215 0.160 Week 4 0.163 0.248 0.245 Week 5 0.163 0.206 0.261 Week 6 0.163 0.206 0.745, Week 7 0.163 0.206 1.182 Week 8 0.163 0.206 1.52 st1 500) un Graph 1. Bar diagram of the average final stem length of the plants in each pH group 2 2674 En At :° 2 tstem 0 | & = / ee ° Fina length pl 2.5 Final length pH 43 Fina length pH 58 Graph 2, Trend chart of the average weekly vertical stem growth of the plants in each pH group @ A.H35 @ Am pHAS © Avg.pHSS Vertical stem length (em)Percentage increase of vertical stem length + (Final length - initial length) : 3.5 pH group ~ (7.46 - 7.14) : 7.14 x 100 = .50% increase 45 pH group ~ (11.54 -7.20) : 7.20 x 100 = 60.30% increase oe 7.24 x 100 = 269.34% —_ »” Graph 3. Bar diagram of the percentage increase of vertical stem length of the plants in each 5.5 pH group ~ (26.74-7.24): PH group 269.54% ‘The growth rate of the plant’s vertical stem — (Final length - initial length) : (See 2 35 pH group ~ (7.46-7.14):8=0.04 em/week pt a ASH group ~ (1154-7.20):8=054cmiweek ro 5.5 pH group -> (26.74 -7.24) :8 = 2.44 cm/week13 Graph 4, Bar diagram of the growth rate of the vertical stem of the plants in each pH group 24d emiweek 0.54 cmveek Growth rate of the vertical stem (emu week) 0.04 eevee Conclusion ‘According to the results, it is evident that acidic water does indeed have negative correlation to the vertical stem growth of a Tagetes erecta, As can be seen in graphs 1 and 2, the final vertical stem length of the plants was greater when the acidity level was lower, and lower when the acidity level was higher. This is further confirmed with the calculations done which show that the lower the pH level, the lower the percentage increase of vertical stem length and average growth rate, For instance, the average growth rate of the pH 5.5 group was 2.44 cm/week, ‘whereas the average growth rate of the pH 3.5 group was only 0.04 cmvweek. This makes the ‘growth rate of the pH 5.5 group 61 times greater, with a length percentage increase 59.35 times greater, Due to the Standard Deviation in most cases being very low, it indicates that most of the plants experienced very similar effects when exposed to their conesponding acidic water. Condnicis Wevorkepeals o} oll leant qpartitohive doko. oppreytite owt WE Ioakges he dots. cometiy bower asp uaip below eck jag wil “pewele Hotter undead fo the repat. Commiameshion wilh be -yeradisad Sor it. incomplete. » Aualysis is j + Condwsien is comectty eocked.14 ‘Discussion and evaluation The study clearly shows support for the negative correlation between the level of acidity in water and the decline in vertical stem growth of Tagetes erecta, This is evident as the experiment demonstrated that the plants watered with highly acidic water experienced more decline in vertical stem growth than the plants watered with less acidic water, showing that acid rain may result very harmful to our forests and ecosystems. This suggests that the issue of decline in vertical stem growth of plants could be resolved by reducing the amount of pollutants that contribute to acid rain, The conclusion drawn can be generalized to other plants and ecosystems since the depletion of nutrients from the soil will be the same no matter the type of soil (United States Environmental Protection Agency, n.d). ‘Strengths of the experiment include the effectiveness of the standardized procedure and the possibility of using any type of soil which facilitates the furure replication of this experiment in different parts of the world. On the other hand, despite vinegar being a useful component to replicate acid rain, it may contain some components that acid rain doesn’t, or lack others that acid rain has. This may have caused the effects seen on the plants in this experiment to be slightly different than if they were to have recieved real acid rain, In addition, by only using one plant type, the results may not be as generalizable as thought due to the uncertainty that plants of other sizes will react similarly, despite the soil depletion caused by acid rain being similar for all soils. pele Same meaicalions to Hee: teltics ‘yopssel swore never > nenkicréd, He nead 2 oddding, svete pH coreitions. filed uals note desarylve: Hen sarsive15 In hindsight, it may therefore have been useful to use moré than one plant species in order for the rests to be more precise and —_ y Jing & ° é zs ¥ but on aquatic plants to see if the effects of acid rain are the same on terrestrial plants and s & aquatic plants. This would provide a more complete idea of the effects acid rain Pag and ecosystems. ye? vel” nd enrich ee ee ye) OTe ye OF we For further research, it would be interesting to apply a similar method used in this experiment ie 2 GRE He HO Solutions at 6 wee One solution to prevent the decline in plant growth caused by acid rain is to improve public transport and encourage people to use it. By doing this, automobile use would reduce, hence the emission caused by car engines would significantly decrease. Due to car emissions being one of the main contributors to the formation of acid rain, the decrease in CO2 would improve on the atmospheric conditions which would prevent acid rain, hence the decline in vertical stem growth of plans. a A strength of this solution is that it would be very cltectives as the use of cars is one of the main mn contributors to pollution that causes acid rain. In addition, the decline in pollution by the reduction of car use would improve the air quality of the area, improving the health of the citizens, of On the other hand, a weakness to this solution is that it would be extremely hard to achieve since improving public transport costs a lot of money. In addition, not many people would be willing to give up the comfort of using a car to use public transport, Tf of ee eee Nan Ae, a rif, jetta ote a Prk @ oh ss es” Wwe &wal struchred ard oppnisect, wel presented. CoN=2 Shong teport p wit bead oud 7 . ~ Samphi, SHotegy YshPicodion ~» miplace’ butcolerent, Bibligranhy Pimcligis athe eet ‘re cock graph, Which mokes mote ifPeutt to Peottow in parts. Batema, C. (2019, July 31). How is the Forest Affected by Acid Rain? Retieved from: sliscienci fforest-affected-acid-rain-447! ‘Math is fun. (2019). Standard Deviation Calculator. Retrieved from: Queensland Government: (2019, December 11). Impacts of acid sulfate soils. Retrieved from: wawenvi nd nw sulfate Russo, J. (2017, April 24). PH Level of Rain Water. Retrieved from: United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2020, May. 4). Effects of Acid Rain. Retrieved from: hitps:/www,epa,gov/acidrain/effects-acid-rain pale United States Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d). pH Scale, Retrieved from: hmps-/www3.epa gov/acidrain/education/site_students/phscale him *United States Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d). What Causes Acid Rain? 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