Question

The student has observed that artificial fertilizer makes his plants grow faster and taller than plain soil. He knows that compost is a natural fertilizer. So, he infers that compost will make his plants grow at a faster rate than they grow in plain soil. Make two hypotheses for this question.

1. If plants are treated with artificial fertilizer, they will grow faster and taller than those treated with plain soil.
2. If plants are treated with compost, they will grow at a faster rate than those treated with plain soil.

Answer 1

Compost is a natural fertilizer that can promote plant growth. Although it may not make the plants grow faster than artificial fertilizer, it has other benefits such as improving soil structure and promoting biodiversity.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student's hypothesis is that compost will make plants grow at a faster rate than plain soil. This hypothesis is based on the observation that artificial fertilizer makes plants grow faster and taller. Compost is a natural fertilizer that comes directly from plant or animal sources, and it contains lower concentrations of nutrients than synthetic fertilizers. Organic fertilizer needs to be broken down by decomposers before its nutrients can be used by plants, which limits the speed at which these nutrients become introduced to the environment. However, organic fertilizer helps maintain soil structure, makes the soil more resistant to erosion, and promotes biodiversity in the soil. These factors can ultimately contribute to the plants' growth.