A student investigated the effect of root space on plant growth. The student grew two groups of plants of the same variety. Both groups received the same amount of water and sunlight and grew in the same type of soil. The plants in Group A were grown in cube-shaped containers that were 3 centimeters deep. The plants in Group B were grown in cube-shaped containers that were 10 centimeters deep. The table shows the student's observations
Week Plant Group A (Average Height, cm) Plant Group B (Average Height, cm)
1 2 3
2 3 6
3 5 8
4 7 10
5 8 14
6 10 18
What was the effect of root space on plant growth based on the student's investigation? Use the data from the table to support your answer. Explain how you would know whether this effect was likely due to environmental or genetic factors.
in 4 to 6 senteces
Based on the data from the table, it can be observed that the plants in Group B, which had deeper containers and thus more root space, consistently had greater average heights than the plants in Group A. This suggests that root space has a positive effect on plant growth.
To determine whether this effect is likely due to environmental or genetic factors, additional controls should be implemented in the experiment. For example, using plants of the same variety ensures that any observed differences are not due to genetic variation. Additionally, controlling variables such as water, sunlight, and soil type ensures that any differences in growth are not due to differing environmental conditions.