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In the case of any two of the following, describe a laboratory or field method: (a) To assess the effect of liming on the growth of oats - Leaving Cert Agricultural Science - Question 4 - 2014
Question 4
In the case of any two of the following, describe a laboratory or field method: (a) To assess the effect of liming on the growth of oats. (b) To investigate the ef... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:In the case of any two of the following, describe a laboratory or field method: (a) To assess the effect of liming on the growth of oats - Leaving Cert Agricultural Science - Question 4 - 2014
Step 1
To assess the effect of liming on the growth of oats.
Answer
To assess the effect of liming on the growth of oats, a field or laboratory experiment can be designed as follows:
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Preparation of Growth Media: Use prepared growth media or select areas of field soil with the same pH level. Select one area to remain unlimed as a control while applying lime to other areas at different rates.
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Experimental Conditions: Ensure all growing conditions such as watering, fertilization, and planting density are consistent across all areas. All seeds should be of the same variety and from similar seedings to minimize variables.
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Measurement of Growth: Monitor the growth of oats over time, measuring various parameters such as height, number of leaves, and overall plant health.
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Data Collection and Analysis: Record the final yields of oats from all limed and unlimed areas and compare the results. Additionally, results related to pH levels should be noted, confirming that the pH of limed areas is higher compared to the control.
Step 2
To investigate the effect of sprouting on the yield of early potatoes.
Answer
To investigate the effect of sprouting on the yield of early potatoes, the following steps can be followed:
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Selection of Seed Potatoes: Choose early variety potatoes and prepare different groups of tubers. Some tubers should be left unsprouted (control) while others should be allowed to sprout for a predetermined amount of time, ensuring they are planted on the same day.
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Planting Conditions: Plant both groups under the same environmental conditions (e.g., soil type, fertilization, watering schedule) to ensure a fair comparison.
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Data Collection: Allow the potatoes to grow for a set period (e.g., two months). At harvest time, dig up the plants carefully and weigh the amount of potatoes yielded from each plot.
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Analysis of Results: Compare the yields of the sprouted and control groups, detailing any differences in using a statistical method to evaluate the significance of your findings.