Investigating Plant Macronutrients Using Hydroponics
In this essential life science activity, students supply plants with different amounts of key macronutrients and observe how the presence or absence of these chemicals affects plant growth. The Lab-Aids Mini Greenhouse was designed for small, controlled investigations and this easy-to use apparatus allows students to readily observe plant physiology, particularly root development. Additional experiments can be designed to investigate, observe, and gather data on variables such as aeration and temperature.
Details at a Glance
- 1 Day | 1 ~50 minute class period
- 1 Activity
- Accommodates 1 class, with 6 groups of 4 students
- Consumables service 24 students
- Meets our criteria for supporting literacy
- Includes digital resources
- Requires a water source
Scientific Concepts
• Healthy plant growth requires the uptake of significant amounts of six elements, called macronutrients: nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, and sulfur.
• Healthy plant growth requires the uptake of trace, or minor, amounts of the elements iron, manganese, boron, copper, zinc, molybdenum, chlorine, and titanium.
• Raising plants in a non-soil medium can allow for a more efficient use of water and nutrients and can maximize rates of plant growth and planting density.
Key Vocabulary: hydroponics, macronutrients, trace (or minor) elements
Guides & Student Sheets
Our kits and modules provide you with everything you need so you can open, review, and teach the material confidently the next day.
- Full downloadable Teacher Guide with background information, detailed instruction, example data and answers
- Downloadable Student Sheets with age appropriate background information, full procedure(s), and analysis questions
- All materials necessary to carry out the investigation
- Safety Data Sheets
Kit Components
- 42 Germinating plugs
- 6 Lab-Aids® Mini Greenhouse top
- 6 Lab-Aids® Mini Greenhouse base
- 6 Foam germinating floats
- 6 cardboard light shield
- 1 Bottle of Iron Chelate solution
- 1 Bottle of Trace Element Solution
- 1 30-mL bottle of Ca(NO3)2 Solution
- 1 30-mL bottle of CaCl2 Solution
- 1 30-mL bottle of KCl Solution
- 1 30-mL bottle of KNO3 Solution
- 1 30-mL bottle of MgSO4 and KH2PO4 Solution
- 28 Student Worksheet and Guides
- 1 Teacher’s Guide
- 1 SDS packet
- 1 7-mL bottle Trace Element solution
- 1 7-mL bottle Iron Chelate solution
- 1 tomato seed packet
- 1 carnation seed packet
- 1 corn seed packet
- 1 marigold seed packet
- 1 pea seed packet
- Not included and needed for instruction: Paper towels, roll(s) of masking tape, marker(s), supply of deionized water, large-bulb pipette(s).
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