Nothing or everything bad happens to plants that are not given applications of fertilizer.
Specifically, plants benefit from fertilizer applications when they are getting established or when soil conditions are not their best. Or they can require fertilizer treatments when times are stressed, such as during extreme pest attack or prolonged drought. But they may not need them when soil is adequately aerated, drained, fertile and moist.
Why must controls (such as plants given water only) be used in the fertilizer experiment
Controls are necessary in the fertilizer experiment to provide a baseline for comparison. By having plants that receive only water, researchers can isolate the effect of the fertilizer being tested. This helps ensure that any observed changes in plant growth or health can be confidently attributed to the fertilizer treatment.
Inorganic Commercial Fertilizer Advantages * Nutrients are immediately available to the plants. * The exact amounts of a given element can be calculated and given to plants. Inorganic Commercial Fertilizer Disadvantages * Commercial fertilizer, especially nitrogen, is easily washed below the level of the plant's root system through the leaching of rain or irrigation. * An application which is too heavy or too close to the roots of the plants may cause "burning" (actually a process of desiccation by the chemical salts in the fertilizer). * Overly heavy applications of commercial fertilizers can build up toxic concentrations of salts in the soil, thus creating chemical imbalances. * Expense.
to have something to compare with the growth of fertilized plants. (; britnee Morgan
to have something to compare with the growth of fertilized plants. (; britnee Morgan
to have something to compare with the growth of fertilized plants. (; britnee Morgan
answer: compare a plant not given fertilizer to a plant given fertilizer..
answer: compare a plant not given fertilizer to a plant given fertilizer..
to elliminate soures of error
to elliminate soures of error
to elliminate soures of error
The patch of soil that is given fertilizer is the experimental group because it is the one receiving the treatment being tested (fertilizer application). The patch of soil that is not given fertilizer serves as the control group, providing a basis for comparison to evaluate the effectiveness of the fertilizer.