FFA Agriscience Fair CDE Written by Dr. Teri Hamlin Georgia Agricultural Education March 2001 Georgia Ag Ed Curriculum

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FFA Agriscience FairCDEWritten by Dr. Teri
HamlinGeorgia Agricultural EducationMarch
2001Georgia Ag Ed Curriculum
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What is the Agriscience Fair?

• Middle High School FFA members demonstrate and
  display agriscience projects that are extensions
  of their agriscience courses

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Purpose Agriscience Fair

• Encourage students to use scientific process
  reinforce skills principles learned in the
  classroom
• Provide recognition, recruiting promotional
  opportunities for FFA program

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Researched Based Project

• Categories include
• Biochemistry/Microbiology/Food Science
• Environmental Science
• Zoology
• Botany (Plant Soil Science)
• Engineering (Mechanical/Agricultural Engineering
  Science)
• Divisions
• Division I individual students 7th - 9th
• Division II individual students 10th - 12th
• Division III teams of two members 7th - 9th
• Division IV teams of two members 10th - 12th

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Rules

• Enter only one project (team or individual)
• Team 2 members working on same project
• Projects must reflect students own work
  completed during the current year
• Prohibited in display
• Live animals Chemicals
• Syringe Needles Human/Animal Cultures
• Lasers Combustible materials
• Open Flame
• Crystals other than sucrose sodium chloride
• Exhibits requiring voltages above 120AC
• refer to CDE guide for other restrictions

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Display

• May consist of one or more panels
• Must be stable free standing
• Max size
• 48 wide x 30 deep x 108 high from the floor
• Upper right hand corner must have
• Name of student(s)
• Chapter Name
• Title of Category
• Division (I - IV)

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Competition

• State FFA Convention, April 26 - 28th
• Display, Log Book, Project Report Interview
• 100 possible points
• Scores 1 to 10 given in 10 areas
• Knowledge Gained Scientific Approach
• Experimental Research Individual/Team Work
• Thoroughness Information
• Conclusions Written Report
• Interview Visual Display

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Project Must Use Scientific Method

• Observation- Select a topic.
• Question- Ask a question about what you observe.
• Hypothesis- Predict an answer to your question.
• Method - Decide on a way to test the hypothesis.
  The outcome must be measurable.
• Result- Conduct experiment using defined method
  and record the results. Always repeat research
  to confirm results.
• Conclusion- State whether your prediction was
  confirmed or not and try to explain your results.

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Getting Started

• Selecting a Research Topic
• Choose a topic of interest
• Realistic
• (student abilities, knowledge, resources and
  time)
• Select topic matches closely to SAE
• Seek a topic that can be expanded
• National winning projects (long term 2-3 year
  with performed replications more data
  collection)

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Selecting a Topic

• Get Ideas Resources
• Websites search
• Current newspaper, magazines, Educational TV
  programs
• Librarians, Federal, State, County and Local
  agencies
• Visit a university and speak to professors or
  graduate students involved in topic
• Contact industrial firms doing research in topic
  area

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Present Research

• Effect of Colored Mulch on Tomato Root Growth

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• Don't hesitate to ask. If you are interested,
  most people will assist you.
• It is very important to keep a complete
  bibliography of all material found and a list of
  people who helped.

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Question After you decide on a topic, you need a
question
Narrow down your field of research. It is
important to focus on one question. Some
Guidelines What have you always wanted to know
in that area? Choose a question that can be
answered with a YES or a NO. What are
researchers asking in that area?
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Rememberthe first requirement of a scientist is
curiosity

• If a world-class physicist can spend hours
  figuring out the way curve balls work and the
  speed at which they work best, don't assume any
  question you come up with is too lowly to
  investigate.

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Construct Theory Base

• Search for items that will enable you to build an
  argument that the proposed research project is
  necessary and will make a contribution to the
  body of knowledge that already exists
• Internet
• Books
• Magazines
• College of Agriculture
• Experiment Stations
• Extension Service
• Agribusiness

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Students Research Proposal

• Statement of the problem
• Purpose and objectives of research
• Summary of previous research
• Method How experiment will be set up in order
  to solve the problem
• Data collection Procedures for collecting and
  analyzing data
• Assumptions what is your best guess hypothesis
  concerning the outcome of the experiment
• Limitations Define any limitations that might
  impact outcome
• Definition of Terms for person reading paper
  with no previous knowledge of subject area
• Bibliography

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Hypothesis

• What do you think may be the answer to your
  question, how the project will turn out?
• The hypothesis is the possible answer you will
  try to prove or disprove.
• There is no right or wrong answer here.
• As the project progresses, try to determine if
  hypothesis is true.

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Decide on a procedure method How will you go
about doing the experiment?

• Method will be the process by which the
  hypothesis is proved or disproved.
• Compile a list of all the materials needed to
  conduct investigation. Keep track of costs.
• While doing experiment, keep very accurate
  records of all steps tests performed.
• Record failures as well as successes.

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Record your results

• Use a notebook to record all information or data.
• Make charts and graphs, draw pictures or use
  videotape to show results.
• Give facts, not opinions.
• If experiment uses measurements, then give those
  exact measurements.
• Do not use terms like about, more or less, close
  to, etc.

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Record the Results

• What was the result of the experiment?
• Have you eliminated all variables?
• (conditions which could affect the answer but for
  which you are not testing)
• Repeat experiment to ensure accuracy validity.
• It is recommend that experiment be repeated a
  minimum of 8 times to validate.

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Conclusion Write a final report summarizing your
question, research methods and conclusion.

• The conclusion is the answer to your question.
• Should be clear, concise and stick to the point.
• Resist the temptation to jump to conclusions.
• What did your project teach you?

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Conclusionaddress these questions

• If you were to do your experiment again, would
  you get the same results?
• Can there be differences? Why?
• What happened when you tested your hypothesis.
• Even if the experiment proved your hypothesis
  wasn't true, you've learned something. What is
  your project's importance?
• What have you learned?

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• Prepare a winning display

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Display
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Winning Display

• Prepare a display to give your audience a quick
  overview of
• the question you asked, the method you used, the
  result you got, and the conclusion you came to
• Draw charts, diagrams or illustrations to explain
  your question, methods and results
• A neat and organized poster will obviously
  communicate your work better than a sloppy,
  disorganized one.

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Include within Display

• Notebook
• Includes the nitty-gritty details of the
  experiment
• Make sure it is complete the information in it
  clear
• Demonstration Materials
• Items that illustrate a scientific principle,
  equipment or materials used, or enable others to
  retrace your steps
• Hands-on" will make an exhibit more interesting
  and help others understand your discovery
• Use photographs to illustrate your work if your
  experiment involves valuable equipment or animals
  dangerous chemicals that are not allowed

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Horticulture Related Agriscience Projects
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Botany (Plant/Soil Science)

• Study of plant life, agronomy, horticulture,
  forestry, plant taxonomy, plant physiology,
  pathology, genetics, hydroponics, algae, etc.

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Web Sites
http//www.ffa.org/activities/agscifair/index.html
http//www.uswcl.ars.ag.gov/exper/exper.htm http
//www.florence.ars.usda.gov/kidsonly/middle/mulch5
.html http//members.aol.com/ScienzFair/botany.htm
http//www.acessexcellence.com http//www.ipl.org
/youth/projectguide/ http//www.scifair.org http/
/www.stemnet.nf.ca/jbarron/scifair.html http//do
acs.state.fl.us/marketing/planetag/ideas.htm http
//www.oxnard.org/project.html http//schoolnet.con
nectok.com/science/dr/ http//www.quantumlynx.com/
AlexanderScienceProjects/ http//www.bay.k12.fl.us
/schools/bms/hotbot_science.htm http//www.tyler.n
et/ruskhslib/sci_fair.htm http//www.ipl.org/youth
/projectguide/ http//sciencefairproject.virtuala
ve.net/ http//www.ars.usda.gov/is/kids/fair/ideas
frame.htm
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Books

• Biology of Plants. 5th Ed. Raven, Peter. New
  York, NY Worth Publishers, 1992. 791p. College
  or advanced high school level. Covers viruses,
  bacteria, fungi, photosynthetic molds and algae
  and plants.
• Biotechnology Projects for Young Scientists.
  Rainis, Kenneth G and George Nassis. New York,
  NY Franklin Watts, 1998 160p. Gives
  instructions from the simple to the more complex.
  
• Botany 49 More Science Fair Projects. Bonnet,
  Robert L. and Dan Keen. Blue Ridge Summit, PA
  TAB Books, 1990. 144p. A collection of
  experiments and projects in botany for grades
  6-12. Includes germination, vegetable
  reproduction, hydroponics, photosynthesis, and
  plant stimulation.
• Botany High School Science Fair Experiments.
  Dashefsky, H. Steve. Blue Ridge Summit, PA TAB
  Books, 1995. 158p.

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Books

• Experiment With Plants. Byles, Monica and
  others. Minneapolis, MN Lerner Publications,
  1994. 32p. Basic information on plants and simple
  experiments that demonstrate some of their
  characteristics.
• Exploring The World Of Plants and Soils. National
  4-H Plant and Soil Science Program Development
  Committee. Members' Manual, Unit II B. 1990.
  20p. Document Available from National 4-H
  Council, Educational Aids, 17100 Connecticut
  Ave., NW, Washington, DC, 20015. Junior High
  science projects. Plant responses to fertilizers,
  water holding capacity and other experiments.
• Janice VanCleave's Plants Mind-Boggling
  Experiments You Can Turn Into Science Fair
  Projects. VanCleave, Janice. Pratt New York,
  NY Wiley, 1997 90p.

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Books

• Make a Plant and Soil Science Exhibit. Dozier,
  T. Leaflet YANR No. 107. Auburn, AL Auburn
  University, Alabama Cooperative Extension
  Service, Mar. 1989. 4p.
• Science Fair Handbook for High School Teachers.
  .Instructional Materials Service, F.E. Box 2588,
  College Station, TX 77843-2588. Texas AM
  University, Telephone [phone].
• Science for Kids 39 Easy Plant Biology
  Experiments. Wood, Robert W. Blue Ridge Summit,
  PA TAB Books, 1991.

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Books

• Science Project Ideas about Trees. Science
  Project Ideas. Gardner, Robert. Springfield,
  NJ Enslow Publisher, 1999 96p. Projects
  involving the processes that take place in plants
  and trees.
• Science Workbook Student Research Projects in
  Food, Agriculture, Natural Resources. Ohio
  Agriculture Education Curriculum Materials
  Service Rm 254, 2120 Fyffe Rd, The Ohio State
  University, Columbus, OH 43210-1067. Telephone
  614-292-4848
• The Great Seed Mystery for Kids. Henry, Peggy.
• NK Lawn Garden Step-by-Step Visual Guide.
• New York, NY Avon Books, 1992 79p. Projects and
  experiments demonstrate the significance of
  seeds, how and why they grow and how to plant and
  care for a garden.

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Examples of Horticulture Topics

• I. New Plant from Old
• Seed germination at varying depths
• Temperature effects on seed germination
• Soil Types on seed germination
• Seed soaking effects on germination (vary length
  of time or types of solutions)
• Dormancy time can dormancy periods be
  artificially shortened
• Factors that effect plant cloning
• Factors that effect rooting of asexual cuttings
• Germination and Seedling Growth under water
  stress
• Use of a warm germination and cold vigor test to
  determine germination and vigor of damage and
  undamaged seeds

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• I. New Plant from Old (cont.)
• Different light spectrums effect on seed
  germination
• Are there really lunar influences on seed
  germination?
• How do different treatments change how fast seeds
  sprout?
• What effect does seed size have on how well a
  crop like oats or wheat grows?
• What are the effects of gravity on seed
  sprouting?
• Does electric or magnetic fields affect seed
  sprouting or plant growth?
• Would microwaves have an effect on seed
  germination?
• Does tobacco or alcohol affect germination rates?
• Does moisture pH affect sprouting of grass seeds?

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• II. Photosynthesis, Plant Physiology Growth
• How covering plants or parts of plants affects a
  plants ability to produce vegetative growth
• Plant growth by different light wavelengths
• Chlorophyll measurement
• Carbon dioxide deprivation
• Carbon dioxide enhancement
• Using paper chromatography to separate pigments
  in leaves
• Light its effect on amount of starch (food) in
  leaf tissue
• Genetic factors (genes) that control the
  inheritance of simple physiological
  characteristics in plants
• Nutrient Deficiencies in Plants
• Nitrogen Fixation
• Measuring Photosynthesis Rate by Measuring Oxygen
  Production

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• II. Photosynthesis, Plant Physiology Growth
  (cont.)
• Biological clocks in plants
• Amount of water lost by a plant due to
  transpiration
• Determine the ideal relative humidity for a
  particular plant
• Can you produce new varieties by
  cross-pollinating flowers of forced bulbs?
• Can you speed up the process of cloning by
  changing the formulation of the nutrient mix?
• Can you grow clone mutants that tolerate harsh
  environmental conditions (think of the industry
  significance)?
• Does crowding affect plants?
• Does colored mulch affect the growth rate of a
  plant?
• Does the respiration rate indicate the rate of
  plant growth?
• Do plants grow better with tap water or distilled
  water?
• Does photosynthesis take place in the absence of
  light?
• Does light intensity affect the rate of
  photosynthesis?

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• II. Photosynthesis, Plant Physiology Growth
  (cont.)
• Determine if a certain flowering plant is a long,
  short, or neutral day plant. Does CO2
  concentration affect the rate of photosynthesis?
• Is the amount and rate of plant photosynthesis
  variable?
• Which type of vegetable has the highest
  concentration of chlorophyll?
• Is there a relationship between a leaf's starch
  and chlorophyll?
• Can you paint images on plant leaves using light?
• How would leaf harvesting affect a plant's health
  at different growth stages?
• What factors affect how plants reproduce?
• Examine whether or not the shape/angle of the
  stalk cut has any effect on the life of cut
  flowers.
• What is the effect of temperature on the rate of
  photosynthesis?

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• III. Growing Media Soil
• Test plant growth in different types of media
• Loosened and compact soil
• Making a nutrient solution from soil
• Root size with hydroponics
• Composting kitchen refuse its affect on house
  plants
• Break down of construction materials ( stone,
  brick, cinder block other building materials)
  its affect on plants
• Making nutrient-rich topsoil
• Comparing the thickness of soil to the dominant
  plant species
• Nitrogen content in soil where carnivorous plants
  live
• The grabbing ability of sand, silt and clay
• Evaluating the nutrient content of ant hills

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• III. Growing Media Soil (cont.)
• Factors that increase decomposition rate of
  leaves
• Container type water loss
• Are the claims made for hydroponics true?
• Are there fewer insects problems?
• Is less fertilizer needed?
• Are there greater yields?
• What is the effect of lowering/raising the pH on
  a plant's growth?
• What physiological functions are related to a
  plants biological clock?
• Breeding a new iris plant
• How do different conditions affect the speed at
  which fruit and vegetables ripen?
• How does soil pH affect the pH of water that
  touches the soil?

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• III. Growing Media Soil (cont.)
• Decomposition of common materials
• Decomposition above and below the ground
• Does soil type change how well crops grow?
• How are different soil types affected by water
  running over them? (soil erosion)
• What happens to the way plants grow if there are
  no microorganisms in the soil?
• Are different plants affected in different ways
  by specific microorganisms?
• Does colored mulch affect soil temperature?

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• IV. Stimulation
• Phototropism
• Natural weed killer
• Chemotropism
• Geotropism
• Thermotropism
• Touch stimulation
• Sound stimulation
• Reduction of stimulation
• Effect of stimuli on plant development and fruit
  production
• Effect of Electromagnetic fields on fruit
  production or growth
• Effect of blue light vs red light
• Effect of Ultraviolet Radiation on different
  plants
• Effect of Ultraviolet Light on Plant Growth

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• IV. Stimulation (cont)
• Allelopathy What happens when you grow sweet
  potatoes next to other plants?
• To determine if brightness of light will alter
  the growth rate of a plant.
• Is leaf size related to the amount of light
  received by a plant?
• V. Transport
• (projects in food, water, and waste movement
  within plant cells)
• Transpiration in plant leaves
• Determining root size by leaf size
• Food storage time
• Capillary action

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• VI. Fungi and Simple Plants
• Other host for bread molds
• Gathering airborne mold spores
• Testing algae as a nutrient
• Symbiosis with lichens
• Temperature affect on the production of carbon
  dioxide by yeast
• What is the best environment in which to grow
  mushrooms?
• What are the steps in the lifecycle of a
  mushroom?
• What environment is needed for moss to grow and
  flourish?

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• VII. Environment Health
• Shrubs as natural sound barriers
• Water purification
• Compare plant growth air pollutants
• Plant sensitivity to sulfur dioxide
• Plant sensitivity to nitrogen dioxide
• What is the effect of acid rain upon the growth
  of roots?
• What are the ecosystem effects of replacing
  native wildflowers with foreign varieties of
  flowers? Effect of acid rain on the germination
  of bean seeds?
• Determine the pH of local water sources
• What climatic changes causes pH fluctuation?
• Do different varieties of the same fruit have the
  same level of vitamin C?
• What effect does cigarette smoke have on plant
  transpiration?

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• VII. Environment Health (cont.)
• Does nicotine affect plant growth?
• How does cigarette smoke affect plant growth?
• Does caffeine affect plant growth?
• Does the use of insecticides affect the growth of
  vegetables?
• What is the effect of Tobacco Mosaic Virus on
  common vegetables?
• What effect does ozone have on plant growth?
• Which type of grass is the most drought
  resistant?
• Why is ethylene gas important in the fresh fruit
  and vegetable industries?

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• VIII. Chemicals
• Influence of hormones on plant cell development
• Changes in plant growth caused by application of
  growth hormone
• Can chemical hormone treatment replace cooling
  for bulbs?
• Liquid fertilizer affects on flowering of bulbs
• At what concentration will 2, 4-D fail to kill
  weeds?
• What is the highest concentration of 2, 4-D that
  will stimulate plant growth? Lowest
  concentration?
• Compare the effects on plant growth of a natural
  auxin and a synthetic hormone
• What effect do auxins have on algae cells that
  live in water?
• What happens to cuttings if you add various
  auxins, natural synthetic in combination with a
  cytokinin (another type of plant growth
  substance)?

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• VIII. Chemicals (cont.)
• Some known effects of auxins include causing
  leaves to fall and preventing potatoes from
  rotting. Can you discover any new effects that
  auxins have on plants?
• How do organic pesticides compare in
  effectiveness with synthetic chemical pesticides?
• What effect do pesticides have on earthworms?
• Creating organic fertilizers
• Comparing lawn care methods (synthetic vs
  organic)
• How do different types of fertilizers affect
  plant growth?
• How close does a pesticide have to be to protect
  a plant?
• What is the effect of MSG, sodium, and glutamate
  on plant growth?
• What is the effect of different nitrogen
  concentrations on plant growth?

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• VIII. Chemicals (cont.)
• Which brand of chemical fertilizer produces the
  greatest growth?
• Which is the best medium for new cuttings - plain
  water, water with synthetic auxin added or water
  with fertilizer added?
• Is food waste (tea bags, coffee grounds, orange
  rinds, banana peels, etc.) a good fertilizer for
  plants or does it harm their growth?
• Would it help plant growth to add vitamins (A, E,
  C) to the soil?
• Will fruit extract help bean cuttings re-grow
  root cells?