Discussion
The nitrate and phosphate levels shown in through my data relates to my hypothesis since it proves that the epigeic earthworms in the soil increased the nutrients in the soil, since the average nitrate and phosphate levels increased from tests 1-3. The results from this experiment showed that the control group increased their phosphate levels more so than the experimental groups, which contained the red wriggler earthworms. This could have been due to high amounts of Ca²⁺ in the water, leading to the Phosphate binding to Calcium, which would have led to less availability of phosphate for the plant (Intelligently). Also this could happen since red wriggler worms are known to be found in manure and in the woods under leaves; they’re …show more content…
To do this I would still put the paper towels in the pots to prevent spaces for the worms to leave, but I would then fill the pot with soil about ¼ inches full, and then put the shredded newspapers in it. Then put ½ inches of potting soil on top of the newspaper and then planting the seeds, and putting another layer of ¼ dirt over top of these seeds. To prevent the overwatering I would check the soil by using a water probe to check the wetness of the soil, to prevent excess calcium and other minerals in the water I would check the pH levels of the water through regular test of the pH throughout the experiment and if it was too high or too low then I would water the plants with a water solution with a pH of 6.0-6.5. Also I would change the kind of earthworm I would use, instead of the red wriggler worms I would use a kind of endogenic worms since they live in the mineral horizon and I the mineral horizon they would increase the minerals. More so than the epigeic worms, which are mostly used in compost and they don’t form any permanent burrows and live on the uppermost mineral layer. I’m sure that the burrows made helped the roots if they grew in them quickly but if theses burrows weren’t permanent then the burrows could be disturbed with the …show more content…
Other data that could have been correlated to the temperatures are that red wriggler worms have optimal growth and reproduction in conditions where the temperature ranges from 15-25⁰C, the moisture content is 43%-90%, and the soil is in the pH ranges from 5-9 (Farms). So in further studies I would have some way of testing the rate of reproduction in the earthworms. With the previous conditions the worms wouldn’t have optimal reproduction I weeks 1 and 2 facing extreme conditions. During week 3-7 the soil was moist and this would lead to earthworm reproduction with the 15-25⁰C which is 59-77⁰F so the worms would have optimal growth during weeks 3-7 more so than week 1 and 2 since there was major fluctuation in the temperatures. For red wriggler worms to reproduce, they require calcium which the soil would have, but with the water extra calcium would be added so even more phosphate would bind to the calcium and the worms would use both to reproduce. I overwatered the plants then the nutrients and minerals could have been washed out and the burrows would lose their minerals, and flooded the worms killing them in the process. During weeks 3-7 they could have increased their population drastically and this could increase the nitrate and phosphate levels, which would then increase the plant root
The nitrate and phosphate levels shown in through my data relates to my hypothesis since it proves that the epigeic earthworms in the soil increased the nutrients in the soil, since the average nitrate and phosphate levels increased from tests 1-3. The results from this experiment showed that the control group increased their phosphate levels more so than the experimental groups, which contained the red wriggler earthworms. This could have been due to high amounts of Ca²⁺ in the water, leading to the Phosphate binding to Calcium, which would have led to less availability of phosphate for the plant (Intelligently). Also this could happen since red wriggler worms are known to be found in manure and in the woods under leaves; they’re …show more content…
To do this I would still put the paper towels in the pots to prevent spaces for the worms to leave, but I would then fill the pot with soil about ¼ inches full, and then put the shredded newspapers in it. Then put ½ inches of potting soil on top of the newspaper and then planting the seeds, and putting another layer of ¼ dirt over top of these seeds. To prevent the overwatering I would check the soil by using a water probe to check the wetness of the soil, to prevent excess calcium and other minerals in the water I would check the pH levels of the water through regular test of the pH throughout the experiment and if it was too high or too low then I would water the plants with a water solution with a pH of 6.0-6.5. Also I would change the kind of earthworm I would use, instead of the red wriggler worms I would use a kind of endogenic worms since they live in the mineral horizon and I the mineral horizon they would increase the minerals. More so than the epigeic worms, which are mostly used in compost and they don’t form any permanent burrows and live on the uppermost mineral layer. I’m sure that the burrows made helped the roots if they grew in them quickly but if theses burrows weren’t permanent then the burrows could be disturbed with the …show more content…
Other data that could have been correlated to the temperatures are that red wriggler worms have optimal growth and reproduction in conditions where the temperature ranges from 15-25⁰C, the moisture content is 43%-90%, and the soil is in the pH ranges from 5-9 (Farms). So in further studies I would have some way of testing the rate of reproduction in the earthworms. With the previous conditions the worms wouldn’t have optimal reproduction I weeks 1 and 2 facing extreme conditions. During week 3-7 the soil was moist and this would lead to earthworm reproduction with the 15-25⁰C which is 59-77⁰F so the worms would have optimal growth during weeks 3-7 more so than week 1 and 2 since there was major fluctuation in the temperatures. For red wriggler worms to reproduce, they require calcium which the soil would have, but with the water extra calcium would be added so even more phosphate would bind to the calcium and the worms would use both to reproduce. I overwatered the plants then the nutrients and minerals could have been washed out and the burrows would lose their minerals, and flooded the worms killing them in the process. During weeks 3-7 they could have increased their population drastically and this could increase the nitrate and phosphate levels, which would then increase the plant root