Final answer:
Possible hypotheses for a student's experiment on the effect of compost on plant growth could include increased production by weight of tomatoes and taller bean plants due to the nutrients and improved soil structure provided by the compost. Controlled variables and a control group are essential for the experiment's validity.
Step-by-step explanation:
When studying the effects of compost on plant growth, the students could formulate the following hypotheses:
- Plants grown with composted plant and animal waste will produce more tomatoes by weight compared to plants grown without compost due to the added nutrients from the compost.
- The addition of compost to the soil will result in taller bean plants compared to those grown in soil without compost due to the improved soil structure and nutrient availability.
The focal point of such an experiment would involve measuring the growth of plants (e.g., weight of tomatoes or height of bean plants) and comparing the results between those grown in compost-amended soil and those in regular soil. It is crucial that the experiment controls for variables such as light, water, and soil type, apart from the compost. This would entail having a control group for a proper experimental design.