Re: could u give me some ideas about a science project with beans?

Dry beans from the supermarket are one of the most popular seeds or plants for 
science fairs but not always the best choice because bean plants need high 
light and often get tall and spindly when grown with indoor light levels. They 
often require staking too. There are so many projects that could use beans, far 
too many to describe here. Try to zero in on a project that interests you 
first. Many botany project ideas are listed below. 

Projects that can use beans include:

1. pressure exerted by seed imbibition 
2. sowing depth on seed germination 
3. carbon dioxide production by seeds 
4. effect of coyledon removal on seed germination and seedling growth 
5. phototropism 
6. gravitropism 
7. photosynthesis measurement
8. carbon dioxide deficiency 
9. starch testing in leaves 
10. counting leaf stomata
11. transpiration measurement
12. root pruning in hydroponics 
13. aeration in hydroponics
14. mineral nutrient deficiency or toxicity symptoms in hydroponics
15. plant root effect on hydroponic solution pH 
16. soil pH effects on growth
17. soil salinity effects on growth
18. acid rain
19. irrigation rate or method 
20. type of potting soil
21. fertilizer rate or type
22. light intensity 
23. shaking effects on plants (seismomorphogenesis), etc. 
24. basic genetics, cross pollination
25. plant hormone application
26. nitrogen fixation
27. temperature effects on germination or growth
28. C3 versus C4 photosynthesis (need a second species for C4)
29. herbicides
30. chlorophyll absorption spectrum
31. crown gall disease (plant cancer)
32. air pollution effects
33. plant growth under different types of electric light
34. water quality effects on plant growth
35. testing of garden products such as water-holding gels for soils
36. mineral nutrient uptake by plants
37. apical dominance and auxin
38. seed size effect on germination rate
39. chemical growth retardant effects
40. antitranspirant effects
41. mulch color
42. effects of plant density (plants per unit ground area)
43. grey water for plant irrigation

Some projects for which beans could not be used or would not be the best choice 
include:

1. rooting of cuttings
2. carnivorous plants
3. tissue culture
4. photoperiodism
5. seed scarification
6. seed stratification
7. nastic movements, e.g. sensitive plant
8. fruit and seed dispersal by wind
9. terrariums 
10. plant anthocyanins as a pH indicator
11. CAM photosynthesis
12. bulb forcing
13. vernalization
14. guttation
15. root pressure
16. grafting
17. ethylene promotion of flowering
18. ethylene promotion of fruit ripening 
19. plant juvenility
20. vase life of cut flowers
21. radiation and seed germination
22. clinostat experiments
23. light requirement/light inhibition for seed germination
24. dying flowers
25. sprouting a redwood burl
26. parasitic plants


Some projects that are best avoided by students because they lack a scientific 
basis, cannot easily be done by students or results cannot easily be 
interpreted include:

1. music or sound effects on plants
2. irrigation of plants with human beverages such as soda, coffee, milk, tea, 
etc.
3. light color effects on plant growth 
4. plant allelopathy
5. hydrotropism
6. magnetic field effects on plants

Reference

Hershey, D.R. 1995. Plant Biology Science Projects. New York: Wiley.


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ScienzFair™ Ideas - BOTANY (Plants)