Germination Rates of Grass Seed With Ice-Melting Solution Applications
Presentation Type
Oral and/or Visual Presentation
Presenter Major(s)
Natural Resource Management
Mentor Information
C. "Griff" Griffin
Department
Biology
Location
Kirkhof Center 1142
Start Date
11-4-2012 4:00 PM
Keywords
Environment
Abstract
Sodium chloride is often used as an ice-melting agent in the winter on roads, driveways and sidewalks. This can have damaging effects on plant life. Potassium acetate and Magnesium chloride are two alternatives to sodium chloride that could be less harmful. To determine if these alternatives are safer for plants, the germination rate and growth height of grass seed was tested with Potassium acetate, Magnesium chloride and Sodium chloride. Grass seed was chosen because it is commonly used in landscapes and is the plant most likely to come in contact with ice melting chemicals. It is predicted that the Sodium chloride will show the least amount of seed germination and that the Magnesium chloride will show the largest seed germination rate.
Germination Rates of Grass Seed With Ice-Melting Solution Applications
Kirkhof Center 1142
Sodium chloride is often used as an ice-melting agent in the winter on roads, driveways and sidewalks. This can have damaging effects on plant life. Potassium acetate and Magnesium chloride are two alternatives to sodium chloride that could be less harmful. To determine if these alternatives are safer for plants, the germination rate and growth height of grass seed was tested with Potassium acetate, Magnesium chloride and Sodium chloride. Grass seed was chosen because it is commonly used in landscapes and is the plant most likely to come in contact with ice melting chemicals. It is predicted that the Sodium chloride will show the least amount of seed germination and that the Magnesium chloride will show the largest seed germination rate.