Question

In an experiment, Reena took few healthy gram seeds and allowed them to germinate in a pot. Then she took three empty vessels and labelled them as $P$,$Q$,$R$ and $S$.
In vessel $P$, she put soil mixed with compost.
In vessel $Q$, she put soil mixed with $NPK$ fertilizer.
In vessel $R$, she put some soil mixed with both compost and $NPK$ fertilizer.
In vessel $S$, she put some soil with no manure or fertilizer mixed with it.
Then she selected equal sized seedlings and planted two seedlings in the soil mixture in each vessel. She watered each vessel regularly.

Based on the experiment, answer the following questions.

1. In which vessel the growth of seedling is fastest and why?
2. What conclusion can be drawn from the experiment?

Answer 1

1. Plantlets in vessel $R$ shows the maximum growth because $NPK$ fertilizer is readily soluble in water and is quick acting. When it is applied to the soil, nitrogen is rapidly changed into ammonia. Later seeds use this ammonia for its growth and development.
   The Plantlets in vessel $P$ and $Q$ shows normal growth but less compared to vessel $C$.
   The growth of the plantlets in vessel $D$ is least because the soil is infertile due to lack of certain soil nutrients.
   
2. From the experiment, it can be concluded that plants require nutrients (manure and fertilizers) for better growth.