A student manual for a plant biology curriculum project investigating the effect of environmental pH on switchgrass seed germination.
This document serves as a student manual for a curriculum development project in plant biology, specifically focusing on biofuel production using switchgrass. It provides background information on biofuels, switchgrass seed biology, and the chemistry of acid rain. The manual guides students through a laboratory experiment designed to investigate how environmental pH levels affect the germination rates of switchgrass seeds.
The lab allows students to investigate how environmental factors such as pH affect the percent germination of Switchgrass.
Studies have shown that pH values lower than three and greater than eight can inhibit germination.
Students must provide 150 mL beakers, water, masking tape, a permanent marker, and pH solutions 5, 6, 7, and 8.