Scientific Method

Introduction: After noticing the lack of growth in the grass surrounding the driveway, I begin to map the areas that affected. It seems the areas closest to the driveway are the ones experiencing lack of growth, and slowly growing better as it gets further away from the edge of the driveway. However, I cannot know for sure if it was the salt I used to melt snow that is causing the grass to not grow, or if it is other factors. I decide to focus on the salt as the factor I would like to find out more about, and whether or not it is responsible for the lack of growth. Before I set my hypothesis, though, I research into the existing information regarding the use of salt and how it affects the growth of grass. This information will help me determine how to word my hypothesis, and eventually how to design my experiment so that it is as effective as possible.

It is possible for soil to become dehydrated or burnt when it becomes too overloaded with salt. This is because elements such as potassium and chloride make it difficult for water to pass to the roots of the grass, making it hard for it to grow. Although both potassium and chloride are actually needed for the survival of grass, the natural amount of these elements is already in place from the soil, and when combined with man-made salt it becomes toxic and poisonous. Salt and its effect on grass also varies depending on the type of grass, which explains why some places near the ocean's salt water are able to grow grass successfully. Bermuda grass is much more salt-tolerant than Kentucky Blue Grass, which could also explain why these types of grass grow where they do.

Hypothesis: Over the course of winter, with daily use salt inhibits the growth of surrounding grass.

Prediction: If I were to measure salt and it's effect on grass growth by exposing a section of grass to an equal amount of salt each day for 60 days, then the areas exposed will experience inhibited grass growth when compared to a section of grass that was not exposed to salt.

Controlled Experimental Method: In order to test my hypothesis, I design an experiment that will take place over the course of the next winter. For this experiment, I choose three separate square yards of area consisting of half grass, half driveway. One square yard, Section A, will act as the control group in order to compare my results against, and will be left alone with no salt put on the grass or on the driveway next to it. The next square yard, or Section B, will show how much affect the salt can have on the grass if only placed along the driveway and not placed directly upon the grass itself. The third square yard, Section C, will show the direct result of salt being placed upon the grass itself as well as the driveway. I will use the salt on Section B and Section C once a day for 60 days. Once the 60 days is over, I will wait 30 days for the beginning of Spring in order to see how the grass