Hudson Logan

Abstract:

For years, people have been looking for a safer, and more ecosystem friendly alternative to chemical fertilizers. We know chemical fertilizers are dangerous for the environment and are being used in large quantities. They are hurting our ecosystem in negative ways, and something needs to change. Over 6 million tonnes of used coffee grounds are sent to landfills each year.Coffee grounds could benefit the health of a plant due to the coffee grounds microorganisms. This led me to the interest of wanting to study the effect of used coffee grounds on not only the growth of a plant, but also the speed at which a seed can germinate. I hypothesized that by adding used coffee grounds to a single radish plant's soil, I will then see healthier plant growth and a faster germination rate than a plant with no coffee grounds. I tested this in two different groups, “Unfertilized Soil” and “Used Coffee Grounds Mix”. I used a simple testing process of recording daily data, at plant height, leaf color, and other observations that may lead to further studies. The results I got were that used coffee grounds had the most beneficial effect on acidic loving plants. The most beneficial way to do this was by adding coffee grounds ever so often. After a while, the coffee grounds begin to decompose and tend to lose their effectiveness. This experiment suggests that instead of wasting a by-product, you should use it to benefit yourself, your plants, and the environment.

Awards Won: Albany Molecular Research Award