Abstract:
Estrogens do effect the growth of Ryegrass plants. 24 plants from an experimental group were exposed to estrogens daily and then were measured. 24 plants were randomly picked from the 26 that grew in the control group and then measured. From the measurements and from my calculations I fail to reject my null hypothesis.
I thought that estrogens would have no effect on the ryegrass plants. In studying estrogen, I found that it is a reproductive hormone. Since it is a reproductive hormone, which is supposed to have little or no effect on growth, I thought it would not have any affect on my plants.
SUBJECTS
I planted sixty ryegrass seeds randomly in two groups. 30 were planted in a control group and 30 were planted in an experimental group. All the ryegrass plants were given equal treatment in every way possible. 24 of the 30 plants sprouted and grew in the experimental group. 26 of the 30 plants sprouted and grew in the control group.
APPARATUS
One orange juice cardboard container was cut in half and used for two equal sized containers for planting the ryegrass in. Schultz Professional Potting Soil Plus was used for soil for the plants to grow in. Two plastic Bilo grocery bags were used to wrap the containers in until they sprouted. Estratab Esterfied Estrogens Tablets, USP were used as my independent variable. Brookville water was given to the plants to drink. A regular 12" ruler was used to measure the plants.
PROCEDURES
One cardboard orange juice container was cut equally in half. The open ends were then stapled so no soil could fall out. They were then filled with Schultz Professional Potting Soil and placed in 2" of Brookville water. Once the containers had been thoroughly dampened I removed them from the water. I then planted fifty ryegrass seeds in each container. I marked one "Experimental" and the other "Control". I then placed each container in a plastic Bilo shopping bag and tied the ends shut. The two containers were then placed in a window sill. Each day they were alternated in their positions on the window sill. On the fifth day of my experiment my plants started to sprout. I removed them from the bags and then again placed them on the window sill. I then crushed one estrogen tablet (.625 mg) and sprinkled in over my experimental group. Everyday there after I alternated the position of my plants on the window sill. On the seventh and the ninth days I gave both my experimental and control groups 1/4 cup water. Each day I crushed one Estrogen tablet (.625mg) and sprinkled it in my experimental group. On the eleventh day I cut and measured 24 plants from my experimental group. I also randomly cut 24 plants from my control group and measured them. All plants were measured in centimeters on a regular 12 inch ruler. The plants from my experimental group were placed in an envelop marked experimental . The plants from my control group were placed in an envelop marked control. Both envelops were then sealed and I punched a whole threw each one.
I found the average height of my experimental group to be 11.54 centimeters and the average height of my control group to be 12.87 centimeters(These are shown in Figure 1). I used the Mann Whitney U test. I found my U obtained to be 203.5 and my U critical to be .0409. Since my Ucrit is equal to or smaller than my Uobt I fail to reject my null hypothesis.
My experimental hypothesis was that estrogen would not have any effect of the growth of Ryegrass. I used the Mann Whitney U test to figure out that I should fail to reject my null hypothesis. I found that estrogen does enhance the growth of ryegrass.