Copper Sulfate's Effects on Lupins

I am a grade 11 student from Truro, Nova Scotia. From an early age I had an interest in science and the environment. I enjoy working with both plants and animals. I am heavily involved in 4H and am currently a student in the International Baccalaureate program at my school.

The inspiration for this project stems from my biology internal assessment (IA) on the effects of copper (II) sulfate on the radicle growth of Vigna radiata (mung bean) sprouts. I found that copper (II) sulfate is used in a variety of agricultural settings and is often improperly disposed of by dumping it into water supplies or by dumping it in fields or other plant habitats. As a result of its root killing properties, it can damage or even kill plant life in relatively low molarities. In this project, I will be attempting to show the effect that copper toxicity has on the early stages of growth in lupins. Lupins were chosen for this project because they are in the same family as beans and they are important sources of pollen for bees.

This project is being conducted as part of the Nova Action Cohort through Coastal Action. You can read more about the project here: https://www.coastalaction.org/coastal-action-youth-leadership.html