A Comparison of Hydroponic Oxygen Production Systems for Space Travel
The purpose of this project is to determine which group of lettuce will produce the most oxygen. The significance of this project is that we need a renewable supply of oxygen for space that only plants can provide. Hydroponics is the practice of growing plants in a substance other than soil. Plants are grown using a hydroponics nutrient solution, which is essentially water with nutrients added in. This project was intended to determine the amount of oxygen produced in percent using aquaponics, hydroponics, and geoponics. The first hypothesis for this experiment is that the hydroponics group would produce the highest amount of oxygen on average. The second hypothesis was that the aquaponics group would produce the second highest amount of oxygen on average. The third hypothesis was that the soil group would produce the least amount of oxygen on average. The independent variable was the growth method. The dependent variable was the amount of oxygen produced. The procedure was to take 21 Bibb lettuce plants and separate them into three groups of seven. Over 8 days, I measured the amount of oxygen they produced with a BOD meter. The data did not support the first hypothesis. The hypothesis was rejected. The hydroponics group produced 28.7% oxygen on average. The data did not support the second hypothesis. The hypothesis was rejected. The aquaponics group produced 27.9% oxygen on average. The data did not support the third hypothesis. The hypothesis was rejected. The soil group produced 30.5% oxygen on average.
Producing Oxygen for Space Travel: A Comparison of Various Hydroponics Techniques
The purpose of this experiment is to compare the oxygen production of plants grown using different hydroponics systems. This project is significant because astronauts need a renewable supply of oxygen in space as well as a food source. Hydroponically grown vegetation will also be useful for the terraformation of other planets and moons. This project was intended to determine the amount of oxygen produced in percent using different hydroponics techniques. It was hypothesized that the ebb and flow technique would allow Camarosa strawberry plants, Fragaria xananassa, to produce the most amount of oxygen on average. The independent variable was the technique used and the dependent variable was the amount of oxygen produced. The plants were grown in 10-gallon tanks seales off with duct tape. The oxygen was measured in percent of oxygen using a Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) meter. The data from this experiment did not support the researcher's hypothesis. There was not enough of a difference between groups to say one group produced more oxygen than another. Unforeseen variables have been detected in this experiment. The plants began deteriorating after a few days, which may have been caused by high humidity since the tanks were sealed.
The Effects of Microgravity on the Growth and Health of Bibb Lettuce, Lactuca sativa
The purpose of this experiment is to determine the effects of microgravity on the growth and health of Bibb lettuce, Lactuca sativa. It was hypothesized that the microgravity will cause the Bibb lettuce to have a lower number on the color scale and stunted growth. This project is significant because in order to survive in microgravity, it is necessary to know how the microgravity environment will affect the health and growth of plants.
In order to collect data, the researcher needed to create a simulated microgravity environment. Using a clinostat, or rotating wheel with compartments to hold plants, it was possible. The clinostat rotates, and by doing so, disorients the plants making it difficult to detect the direction of gravity. It was also necessary to create a normal, hydroponics environment in which the substrate, lighting, and hydroponics solution are identical to the clinostat chamber. To test the effects of the clinostat, 60 plants were germinated and split into two groups of 30, one group going in the clinostat and one going into the control setting. The data on plant growth, leaf color, and leaf count was measured over three and a half weeks. The results indicated that there is no substantial difference between the clinostat and hydroponics groups. The height, color, and leaf count of each living plant were similar throughout the experiment.
In conclusion, my hypothesis was not supported by my data. The clinostat group's height data was very similar to that of the hydroponics groups as was the coloration.
A Study of the Effects of Pythium on the Growth and Development of Bibb Lettuce, Lactuca sativa, in a Microgravity Environment
The purpose of this experiment is to determine how plant hormones affect the growth and development of Bibb lettuce in a microgravity environment. This project is significant because in order to live in a microgravity environment, it is necessary to understand how microgravity affects plant growth and hormones within the plants.
For this project, two separate environments, hydroponics and microgravity, were set up with 80 plants in each environment. A clinostat, a machine that slowly rotates the plants, was used to simulate microgravity. Both environments contained four subgroups, a control (no hormones) and plants germinated in indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), kinetin, or a mixture of the two. Each subgroup contained 20 plants. Stem length, number of leaves, and the color of the leaves were measured periodically.
It was hypothesized that plants exposed to IAA would have elongated stem growth compared to the control, plants exposed to kinetin would have more leaves than the control, and that plants exposed to both IAA and kinetin would have elongated stem growth and more leaves compared to the control. A z-test conducted after collecting final data. In conclusion, the first hypothesis was accepted for both clinostat and hydroponics groups and the second and third hypotheses were rejected for both groups.
Optimizing the Growth of Bibb Lettuce, Lactuca sativa, in a Microgravity Environment
The purpose of this experiment is to determine how varying levels of light and kinetin affect the growth of Bibb lettuce in a microgravity environment. The project is significant because in order to live long-term in space, it is necessary to understand what effects microgravity has on plants, how to counter negative effects, and to be able to produce healthy and productive plants.
For this project, there are five different kinetin levels being used. The results show the different kinetin levels under a light intensity of 80 milliwatts. Each kinetin group contains 18 plants, for a total of 90 plants. Plants were germinated in mixtures containing 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% kinetin.
The clinostat is a rotating wheel. It rotates slowly and, in doing so, disorients the plants, making it difficult for them to detect the direction of gravity. Stem length, leaf broadness, and leaf color were measured weekly.
It was hypothesized that plants exposed to an elevated level of kinetin will account for a higher leaf color, broader leaves, and less vertical growth. An electronic digital caliper was used to measure stem lengths and leaf broadness. A color chart was created to identify the color of the leaves. A z-test was conducted after collecting final data. In conclusion, the first hypothesis was rejected, the second cannot be determined at the present and the third hypothesis was accepted.
A Study of the Effects of Pythium on the Growth and Development of Bibb Lettuce, Lactuca sativa, in a Microgravity Environment
The purpose of this experiment is to analyze the effects of the fungal disease, Pythium aphanidermatum on Bibb lettuce in a microgravity environment. This project is significant because in order to live long term in space, it is necessary to have an understanding of how crops will respond to diseases in microgravity as well as how to effectively treat them.
It was hypothesized that plants infected with P. aphanidermatum would suffer a decrease in health and number in both environments, treating plants infected with P. aphanidermatum would allow the plants to recover faster than non-treated plants in both environments, treating plants not infected with P. aphanidermatum would cause the plants to suffer a decrease in health and number in both environments, and that introducing plants to microgravity would cause a decrease in health and number in comparison to their hydroponics counterparts.
For this project, two separate environments, hydroponics and microgravity, were set up with 80 plants in each environment. A clinostat, a machine that slowly rotates the plants, was used to simulate microgravity. Both environments contained four subgroups: a control (no Pythium or treatment), plants treated with tea tree oil (no Pythium), plants exposed to Pythium (no treatment), and plants exposed to both Pythium and the tea tree oil. Each subgroup contained 20 plants. Leaf color, number of leaves, leaf width, and stem height were measured weekly.
During experimentation, two drops of pure tea tree extract were applied to each plant in the appropriate groups. It is believed the treatment was too strong as the plants began to die. In future trials, the treatment dosage will be reduced to one drop of a 50% concentration.
Trial one of this experiment has ended. The clinostat control, hydroponics Pythium, and clinostat Pythium were the only experimental groups to reach completion. After performing a z-test, the researcher rejected the first hypothesis as the hydroponics Pythium group actually performed better than the hydroponics control group. She also accepted the fourth hypothesis as the clinostat control showed less overall growth and was in worse health. A second trial of this experiment is currently underway.
