New Data About Plant Growth
Let’s continue thinking about what might be going on with the soil in the restoration project area by comparing soil that is rich in nutrients and soil that does not have as many nutrients.
Only decomposers, not nutrients are made of matter.
Soil is the same everywhere.
Which of the following grows by changing food molecules into body molecules that can build their bodies?
Which of the following uses some food molecules to release energy for movement and growth.
When decomposers break down dead organisms, where do they put the nutrients that are released?
You are doing an experiment for science class to test the argument that plants need sunlight to grow. You have two identical plants, identical pots, the same amount of soil, and the same amount of water.
Which of the following set-ups would help test your question?
New Data About Plant Growth
Let’s continue thinking about what might be going on with the soil in the restoration project area by comparing soil that is rich in nutrients and soil that does not have as many nutrients.
Plant Growth in Different Soils
The pictures below show the scientist’s data. Type in the chart - what do you notice about the plant grown in nutrient-rich soil compared to the plant grown in nutrient-poor soil?
The plants in the nutrient rich soil ______________________
The plants in the nutrient poor soil ______________________
This picture shows photos of plants that were grown without enough nutrients.
Based on the pictures, what happens to plants without enough nutrients?
The plants without enough nutrients __________________
What is different about the body matter of a plant growing in nutrient-rich soil compared to a plant growing in nutrient-poor soil?
The plant growing in nutrient rich soil _____________
Investigating Plant Growth in the Simulation
Now that we have seen the difference in plant growth between nutrient-rich soil and nutrient-poor soil, let’s investigate further to figure out How do nutrients in the soil help plants grow?
Directions: How Do Nutrients in the Soil Help Plants Grow?
Login to the Sim by clicking the link below
https://apps.learning.amplify.com/ecosystemrestoration/#/
Change the ecosystem so the nutrients disappear from the soil. (Think what adds nutrients to the soil…)
Observe what happens to the plants in the ecosystem.
Answer the questions below, based on your observations.
How did you remove nutrients from the soil in the ecosystem?
Observe what happens to the plants when there are no nutrients. What did you observe?
Add the nutrients back into the soil. What do you observe about the plants?
What do you notice about the food matter that plants make when they are healthy? How is that different from when they are unhealthy?
In the Simulation ecosystem, what is the connection between the plants and the mushrooms?
Explain what’s happening in Picture A compared to Picture B. Why is that happening?
In picture A, plants ______________ because ______________
In picture B, plants ______________ because ______________
What do nutrients do for plants?
How do nutrients affect an ecosystem?