ISEF Research Plan Template 2011

Name: Alex Arteaga Grade: 10th grade Category: Environmental Science Project Title: The effect of different composition of crude and refined Biochar on the temperature and water retention of soil. Will this be an individual or team project? Individual A. Research Question or Problem being addressed.

Determine the effects of mixing different compositions of Biochar and soil on water retention and soil temperature. The goal is to determine the best ratio of Biochar to soil and determine its effect on germination time, growth, flower production and seed production of Brassica Rapa and Solanum Iycopersicum.
Hypothesis or Engineering Goals

As the percentage of Biochar increases in the Biochar and soil mixtures, the amount of water and nutrients retained would increase when compared to untreated control samples. The second research hypothesis states that the germination time would decrease and growth, flower production and seed production would increase when compared to an untreated control.
B. Detailed Description of Procedures Experimental Design: IV: Biochar: Homemade, refined Soil temperature with different % Biochar Mixed 0% 5% 10% On top of soil 0% 5% 10% 3 Trials 3 Trials 3 Trials Water retention Mixed 0% 5% 10% On top of soil 0% 5% 10% 3 Trials 3 Trials 3 Trials DV: Temperature of soil(Celsius) Water Retention(Mass) Constants: Amounts of Biochar, amounts of water, weather conditions, amount of soil

15% 15% 3 Trials 15% 15% 3 Trials

Procedure: Materials are gathered soil, biochar, etc. Biochar will have to be produced using home-style crude method and also by university of Georgias biochar machine. Plant pots having the different concentrations of Biochar will be composed either with biochar at the top of soil or mixed into the soil, each having three trials each. Groups will then be added 1|Page

ISEF Research Plan Template 2011

water until they have reached their maximum carrying capacity. Groups will then be exposed to controlled amounts of light simulating daylight every day for a set amount of time. This will be done for the set testing period.

Data Analysis: Data will be recorded from experiment. Temperature will be taken using a temperature probe; water will be measured in mass. Results will be recorded twice a day, analyzed and placed into appropriate graphs.

Bibliography B. Liang, J. L. (2006). Black Carbon Increases Cation Exchange Capacity in Soils. Soil Science Society of America . Chan KY, V. Z. (2007). Agronomic values of greenwaste biochar as a soil amendment. Australian Journal of Soil Research , 45(8) 629-634. . Chan KY, V. Z. (2008). Using poultry litter biochars as soil amendments. Australian Journal of Soil Research , 46, 437-444. FERNANDES, W., & LEHMANN, J. (2006). Black is the new green. SEQUESTRATION NEWS FEATURE , 624-626. LEHMANN, J. (2007). A handful of carbon. nature , 143-144.

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