What Are the Effects of Petroleum Oil on Plant Life?

Overview

Objectives/Goals Objectives and goals for this project were to investigate and fin the effects that petroleum oil have on plant life. Methods/Materials In this investigation 4 Antirrhinum Majus or Snapdragon flowers of the same age and type were taken and given 704mL of water and 118mL of Hydro Organic Plant Nutrient with a low concentration of petroleum oil (6mL). Another 4 plants were taken and given the same amount of water and mineral nutrients with medium concentration of petroleum oil (10mL). A third group was taken and given the same amount of water and mineral nutrients but was given a high concentration of petroleum oil (16mL). And then 4 plants also of the same age were taken and given 704 ml of water and 118ml of Hydro Organic Plant Nutrients with no concentrations of petroleum oil. These 4 plants were used as the control group. During a 5 week period the plants physical characteristics as well as growth and flower loss was monitored and recorded. Results After the 5 week period the data showed that the plants given the smaller doses of petroleum oil (6ml) had more growth, less flower loss and indicated signs of malnourishment later into the five week process when compared to the Antirrhinum Majus given 10ml or 16ml of petroleum oil. The plants given the medium doses of petroleum oil (10ml) experienced a small amount of stinted growth, an increase in flower loss and indicated signs of malnourishment soon into the five week process when compared to the Antirrhinum Majus given 6ml of petroleum oil. Antirrhinum Majus given large doses of petroleum oil experienced a more severe amount of stinted growth , a significant amount of flower loss and indicated signs of malnourishment almost immediately into the five week process when compared to the Antirrhinum Majus given 6ml or 10ml of petroleum oil. Overall however, all plants when compared to the control group which wasn#t given any doses of petroleum oil experienced a significant deterioration of health and appeared unhealthy and malnourished. Conclusions/Discussion The results indicated that petroleum no matter the amount has a negative affect on plant life. It stints growth, causes flower and leaf loss as well as deterioration of the plants physical appearance. These affects appear to be caused by the inability by the plant to suck up nutrients or water from the soil due to clogged stems thus causing the plants to die.

Competition history

• CSEF 2013 Environmental Science · Entry S1194

Resources

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