Re: Can bean seeds grow with milk?

Rest of question:

I'm doing a science project and I tried watering it with milk. So far, it 
is not growing. It is also beginning to smell. I want to know what is in 
the milk that affects the bean seed. I also did this with sugar water, and 
it has the same effects as the milk. I also want to know what is making it 
smell.           

Reply:

The proteins, fats, and sugars in milk and sugar in sugar water provide a food 
source for microbes, especially bacteria. The bacterial waste products probably 
cause the bad odor. Bacterial waste products may also harm the plant roots. The 
rapidly growing bacteria will also compete with plant roots for mineral 
nutrients supplied by the soil and possibly soil oxygen. They might also alter 
the soil pH in a way adverse to plants. Sugar water, depending on the sugar 
concentration, can also lower the availablity of water for the plants via an 
osmotic effect. Milk may do the same thing to some extent.

Unlike animals, plants do not directly use the proteins, fats or sugars in milk 
or sugar in sugar water. Plants only absorb mineral nutrients and water from 
the soil.