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The pH of Water’s Effect on the Germination of Seeds
Organization(s):Ottawa Hills Jr/Sr High School
Country:United States of America
Student(s):Maeve Mackey
Kendell Skiver
Grade Level:Secondary School (grades 9-12, ages 14-18)
GLOBE Member(s):, Gloria Kreischer Gajewicz
Contributors:
Report Type(s):Virtual Science Symposium Report
Protocols:pH
Presentation Poster:
View Document
Language(s):English
Date Submitted:2026-02-02
This research project investigated how the change in pH of water affects the germination of rapid radish seeds. Seed germination is a critical stage in plant growth and development. The research question guiding this study was: How does the change in pH of water affect the germination rate of rapid radish seeds?
To test this, rapid radish seeds were placed in petri dishes and watered with solutions at pH levels of 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11. Each group contained 17 seeds and was kept under constant light. Seeds were sprayed three times per day for seven days, and the number of seeds that germinated was recorded daily.
The results showed that seeds watered with pH 5 and pH 7 had the highest germination rates, while seeds exposed to very acidic (pH 3) and very basic (pH 11) conditions had much lower germination.
In conclusion, the results demonstrate that water pH has a significant effect on seed germination, with moderate pH levels around a pH of 6 being the most favorable. These findings highlight the importance of water quality in plant growth and agriculture.