Grant Hackworth

12/9/2014

Symbiosis Experiment
Date

17Nov
19Nov
20Nov

Nitrogen
Deficient +
Clover(cm)
1

Qualitative
(ND+C)

2.8

6 sprouts and
some clovers
8 sprouts and 10
clovers

246.5
Nov
269
Nov
2-Dec 16
4-Dec 16.5
9-Dec 16

few sprouts

Nitrogen
Deficient
(cm)
0.4

Qualitative
(ND)

growth
improving
5 sprouts
growing
well
growing
fast
growing
fast
6-7 sprouts
good height
growth
leveled out
withering

growing fast and 8

plentiful
growing well
10
15 tall pieces
and 10+clover
growth leveled
out
withering

15
16
15.5

slow
growth

Nitrogen
Rich
(cm)
0

0
0

3
6
8

Qualitative
(NR)
1 sprout
slow
growth
slow
growth
2 sprouts
slow
growth
slow
growth
3 sprouts

9.5

growing
well
3 sprouts

withering

Pictures:
November 20th

Nitrogen Deficient + Clover

Nitrogen Deficient

Nitrogen Rich

December 2nd

Nitrogen Deficient + Clover: Bottom, Nitrogen Deficient: Middle, Nitrogen Rich: Top

December 4th

Nitrogen Deficient + Clover: Bottom, Nitrogen Deficient: Middle, Nitrogen Rich: Top

Symbiosis is when two different organisms live within each other and present benefits to one
another. Mutualism is when two separate species work together, both benefiting from their
relationship. Parasitism is the relationship between two different species where one is harmful to
the other. Commensalism is a relationship between two species where one organism benefits
while the other is neither harmed nor benefiting from it.
An example of mutualism is oxpeckers and zebras when the oxpecker eat ticks and other insects
off the zebra. The zebra gets pest removal and the oxpecker gets a food source. An example of
parasitism is a mosquito and a human being, where the mosquito gets its food from the human
and the human gets an irritation bump and possibly disease (malaria). An example of
commensalism is the cattle egret, it lives near cattle because their movement stirs up insects. In
this relationship the birds get a meal and the cows are unaffected by their presence.

Effects of Nitrogen on Plant Growth

Growth Height (cm)

20
15
10
5
0
17-Nov
-5

19-Nov

21-Nov

23-Nov

25-Nov

27-Nov

29-Nov

1-Dec

3-Dec

5-Dec

7-Dec

9-Dec

Day
Nitrogen Deficient + Clover(cm)

Nitrogen Deficient(cm)

Nitrogen Rich(cm)

End Weight of Plants

0.16
0.14

Weight (grams)

0.12

0.1
0.08
0.06
0.04
0.02
0
Nitrogen Deficient + Clover

Nitrogen Deficient

Nitrogen Rich

Plant type

Rhizobia bacteria benefits plant growth by pulling nitrogen from the air and turning it into amino
acids and nucleotides which the plant needs for growth. In return the plant delivers sugars to the
rhizobia bacteria allowing for a mutualistic relationship. This process of nitrogen fixation allows
for the plant to grow faster and more abundantly as the extra nutrient (nitrogen) is added to the
soil. Both the plants roots and the legumes grow much more abundantly than when they are not
present. Our results showed that in both nitrogen deficient pots, the growth was much more rapid
and extensive than in the nitrogen rich soil. The one with clovers also grew more abundantly and
at the end of the experiment had an extensive root structure and much more total mass when
weighed. The nitrogen deficient without the clover was not nearly are heavy and lacked

significant root system below. The nitrogen rich soil was the least impressive by both weight and
root structure.
This symbiotic relationship between plants and the rhizobia bacteria can be beneficial to people
because it reduces the need for purchasing fertilizer therefore saving money to the person. The
agricultural business would benefit from this bacteria being present because their fields would be
lusher and grow quickly while having an intricate network of roots below the surface. This
would help prevent soil erosion as well as deliver nutrients back into the soil. Environmental
reasons to use this practices would be both of the above. Soil erosion is a serious environmental
problem and the network of roots and legumes would be beneficial to preventing that around
river edges and over populated areas where there is not much more than grass growing in people
yards. The other benefit is that fertilizer is not necessary for plentiful growth, fertilizers end up in
rainwater runoff and end up causing algal blooms in local watersheds depleting the dissolved
oxygen and killing fish.