Biomass Lab Design Research Question: How will the amount of soil added to the pot affect the growth of the plant? Background Information: Plants gain biomass through photosynthesis which sunlight produces energy and converts carbon dioxide along with water to carbohydrates and oxygen. Plant materials such as soil and fertilizer can also be used to produce biomass and produce biofuel from the nutrients. Hypothesis:
If more soil is added to the plants pot, then more biomass will produce in the plant. Explanation:
I predict the more soil the plant has, the more biomass it will have, because if the plant has more soil it will be supplied to more nutrients to absorb. As a plant absorbs more nutrients it will grow with the amount it takes in causing more biomass to be produced. Independent Variables:
The amount of soil Dependent Variables:
The total amount of biomass produced Materials:
● Beaker
● 3 Pots
● Soil
● Basil Seeds
● Water
● An area with accessible light
● Textbook or a heavy book
● Scale
● Pencil
● Paper Towels
● Measuring Cup

Procedures:
1) Gather all materials and buy things as needed from a local store such as Home Depot. You will need a Beaker, a pot, soil, basil seeds, water, an area with accessible sunlight, a textbook or an heavy object, a scale, a pencil, paper towels , and a measuring cup
2) Set up a shelf or empty area in front of a window and display the pot so that the plant will have access to a sufficient amount of sunlight.
3) Fill up the each pot with the designated amount of soil. One pot will have one cup of soil.
Another will have 2 cups of soil, and the third one will have 3 cups of soil.
4) Use the eraser side of a pencil to indent three holes about 1 inch deep in the soil that forms an equilateral triangle.

5) After 3 holes are made in each pot, place a seed in each hole and cover it up with soil making sure the seeds are not noticeable.
6) Water each pot with an equal amount of water (measured with the measuring cup or beaker) each day.
7) After all plants have grown for a minimum of 45 days, take the plants out of the soil and gently remove the excess soil on the roots.
8) Place each plant in between a paper towel and close a heavy book or textbook and let it dry overnight until it is dry to touch
9) Remove the plant and measure the mass of the plant on a scale or a balance. Discard the plant sample
10) Record data and draw conclusions as to whether the amount of soil affect the biomass of the plant Data Table:
The Amount of Biomass in each plant

Two cups of soil

Three cups of soil

Trial 1:

Trial 2:

Trial 3:

One cup of soil