Danger of batteries buried in the ground

Students: Ena Stanić i Nadalina Jerčić, GLOBE group

Elementary school Josip Pupačić Omiš

Mentor: Tamara Banović, prof.

2020 GLOBE Virtual Regional Meeting for Eur

Izvor slike: www.cdz.pixabay.com

2021 GLOBE Virtual Meeting for Europe and Euroasia

October, 5. – 7. 2021.

Aim:

Investigate how batteries deposied in the soil affect the composition and properties of the soil and how contamination by discarded batteries affects the germination and growth of the bean plant.

Hypotheses:

• Batteries depositet in the soil will not change its structure and texture.

• Batteries depositet in the soil will reduce the pH of the soil, while other soil properties will not change (soil color, temperature and pemeability).

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• In a container with discarded batteries, less bean seeds will germinate than in a container without batteries.

• Bean plants growing in a pot with discarded batteries will have lower stem growth compared to bean plants growing without battereies.

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Research time:

from September to December 2020.

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Part 1 of the research: in the school garden

Part 2 of the research: in the school laboratory

Research methods

Research in the school garden:�the influence of batteries on the structure, texture and properties of the soil

Soil properties

Figure 1 Textuarl triangle (Soil Survey Staff, 1951., prilagodio Alduk, 2017)

Research in the school laboratory: the influence of batteries in the soil on the germination and growth of the bean plant

Results of measuring the structure, texture and properties of soil in a school garden

*before disposing of the batteries in ground

First measurement: September 10, 2020

**60 days after disposing of the batteries in the ground

Second measurement: November 10, 2020

Results and discussion

Results of the influence of substances from batteries in the soil on the germination of bean seeds

Results of the influence of substances from batteries on the growth of the bean plant�(First sample)

Results of the influence of substances from batteries on the growth of the bean plant�(Second sample)

• Substances from batteries in the soil do not change the structure and texture of the soil.
• Substances from batteries in the soil do not affect its color, temperature and water permeability.
• Substances from batteries deposited in the soil increaese its acidity.
• Bean plants grow in a soil where batteries are deposited will have lower germination compaired to beans that grow in a soil without batteries and are exposed to the same germination conditions.
• Bean plants grow in a soil where there are batteries will have a slower growth compared to beans that grow in a soil without batteries and are exposed to the same germination conditions. Such plants do not develop a flower or fruit because during development thay begin to dry out and decay.

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Conclusions