BIOL 114: The Effect of Ammonium Phosphate on Arabidopsis thaliana Growth and Development
Location
Turner Gymnasium
Access Type
Campus Access Only
Presentation Type
Printed poster
Entry Number
3
Start Date
4-16-2026 12:00 PM
End Date
4-16-2026 1:15 PM
School
School of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Department
Biology
Keywords
Arabidopsis
Abstract
Fertilizers are commonly used in agriculture to help aid in plant growth. Fertilizer supplies plants essential nutrients that the soil might lack for optimal root development, leaf development, and stem growth. Ammonium phosphate is a key nutrient in most fertilizers. Phosphate fertilizers are commonly used to aid plants with essential nutrients for maximum crop yield. While soil does naturally contain many essential nutrients for plants, sometimes the amounts are not always sufficient for plants to flourish. The purpose of this experiment is to see the effects of ammonium phosphate on Arabidopsis thaliana and its growth compared to Arabidopsis thaliana receiving water with no additives. With standard plant protocols, Arabidopsis thaliana were bottom-watered. Control plants were bottom-watered with tap water and experimental plants were bottom-watered with an ammonium phosphate solution (20 grams ammonium phosphate per liter). Each plant was kept in the water or solution for 15 minutes when watered and received the same amount of light. The Ammonium phosphate did not aid in plant growth but instead stalled the growth and ended up killing the plants. Both the wild type and mutant responded similarly. The experimental groups ended in a light brown color with no development since week seven. Ammonium phosphate has been proven to aid plants in leaf and root development and stem growth, but adding too much ammonium phosphate to plants’ nutrient levels can stunt the growth and cause plant death.
Primary Faculty Mentor(s)
Prof. Geier
Primary Faculty Mentor(s) Department
Biology
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BIOL 114: The Effect of Ammonium Phosphate on Arabidopsis thaliana Growth and Development
Turner Gymnasium
Fertilizers are commonly used in agriculture to help aid in plant growth. Fertilizer supplies plants essential nutrients that the soil might lack for optimal root development, leaf development, and stem growth. Ammonium phosphate is a key nutrient in most fertilizers. Phosphate fertilizers are commonly used to aid plants with essential nutrients for maximum crop yield. While soil does naturally contain many essential nutrients for plants, sometimes the amounts are not always sufficient for plants to flourish. The purpose of this experiment is to see the effects of ammonium phosphate on Arabidopsis thaliana and its growth compared to Arabidopsis thaliana receiving water with no additives. With standard plant protocols, Arabidopsis thaliana were bottom-watered. Control plants were bottom-watered with tap water and experimental plants were bottom-watered with an ammonium phosphate solution (20 grams ammonium phosphate per liter). Each plant was kept in the water or solution for 15 minutes when watered and received the same amount of light. The Ammonium phosphate did not aid in plant growth but instead stalled the growth and ended up killing the plants. Both the wild type and mutant responded similarly. The experimental groups ended in a light brown color with no development since week seven. Ammonium phosphate has been proven to aid plants in leaf and root development and stem growth, but adding too much ammonium phosphate to plants’ nutrient levels can stunt the growth and cause plant death.