Environmental Systems and Societies SL Internal Assessment
To what extent does land pollution effect seed germination in soil samples from
commercial, residential and agricultural areas in Punjab Pakistan
Candidate Code:
Session: May 2024
Word Count:
The
Table of Contents
IDENTIFYING THE CONTEXT ....................................................................................................................... 3
PLANNING ........................................................................................................................................................... 3
RESULTS, ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSION .................................................................................................. 5
DISCUSSION AND EVALUATION .................................................................................................................. 6
APPLICATIONS .................................................................................................................................................. 7
BIBLIOGRAPHY ................................................................................................................................................. 7
Identifying the Context
Research Question: To what extent does land pollution effect seed germination in cotton seeds among
soil samples from commercial, residential and agricultural areas in Punjab Pakistan
Identifying the Context:
“ There can be no life without soil and no soil without life; they have evolved together” said Charles
E. Kellogg, 1938 “The soil is the greatest connector of lives the source and destination of all. It is the
healer and restorer and resurrector” said Wendell Barry, 1977 . Wind, Earth, Air and Fire; The 4
classical elements without which the world could not function in the orderly fashion that it does,
These 4 elements work together in perfect harmony in order for nature to flourish. Earth or the soil, is
the foundation of all life on earth, without soil there would be no nutrition. Punjab is Pakistans second
largest province, agricultural hub and also most populated province. Being victim to urbanisation
there has been a rapid increase in soil pollution, which alters soil diversity as well as reducing the
soils capacity to act as a filter and also reduces the organic matter found in soil. Water stored in the
soil and groundwater becomes contaminated and causes an imbalance of soil nutrients which is
damaging to crops and also soil habitant species
The agriculture sector in Pakistan accounts for 18.9% of Pakistans GDP and employs about 42.3% of
the labour force, the spurt in soil pollution will not only result in economic and labour loss but it will
also result in numerous health mishaps. Around 14% of irrigated lands in Pakistan have deteriorated
with salinity and pollution, while 64% yield losses are reported due to both. As a result,
only 23 Mha area is left suitable for agriculture. Improper disposable of industrial waste, excess and
inefficient usage of pesticides and chemical fertilisers and diesel spills all contribute to soil pollution.
The most common contaminants include pesticides, petroleum products, radon, asbestos, chromates
copper arsenate and a number of other metals and plastics. Long term exposure to such soils may
cause a variety of health problems such as skin/eye irritation, damaged vital organs (such as the liver),
nausea, headaches and certain studies have also linked the exposure to polluted soils to cancer. Soil
pollution essentially triggers a chain reaction which includes heath damage, poorer harvests, climate
change, an increase in water as well as air pollution, population displacement and also species
extinction.
Different regions, with contrary populations along with different lifestyles all have contrasting scales
of land pollution and as an extension soil pollution, but this contrast is what intrigues me, how soil
quality differs from sub-region to sub-region and its effects on seed germination. I chose to explore
this for my IA to gain more insight on the different factors that contribute to disparities on seed
germination and by doing so I’ll be able to determine how soil quality and seed germination differs
from system to system.
This IA is linked to the global and local issue of land pollution and its ramifications on soil health as it
investigates numerous different samples withu different levels and types of pollutants among them.
Planning
“It is hypothesized that the cotton seeds will germinate the fastest in the agricultural soil due
to pre-existing organic fertilisers and lack of land pollution as the 2 agriculture samples
originate from less populated rural regions whereas samples from commercial areas will
take longest to germinate due to the abundance of pollution”
Null hypothesis (H0): There will be no difference in seed germination within the 6 different
samples of soil.
Independent variable: Soil type
Dependent variable: Rate of seed germination
Controlled variable:
Variable
Why it needs to be controlled
Seeds used
This would ensure all samples include the same type and amount of seeds in order to get the
most accurate comparison
5 in each sample
Size of paper cups
This would ensure that cups can hold the same mass of soil
Volume of water added to the
cups everyday
Adding too much water to each cup can alter the result.. I added 4 plastic water bottle cap
full of water to each cup respectively everyday.
Intensity/duration of sunlight
All the cups were kept in the same location and received the same amount of sunlight daily.
This was done to ensure that no seedling has an advantage over the others.
Equipment:
 6 Paper cups
 6 Soil samples (2 from agricultural areas, 1 from residential area, 1 from commercial
area, 1 from deserted plot victim to littering and 1 from school district)
 30 cotton seeds
 Weighing scale
 Soil quality checker from school idk what its called will fix later
 Water
 Camera
 Marker
Procedure:
1. Soak cotton seeds 3 hours prior
2. Label all cups
3. Fill all cups with 250 g of respective soil
4. Add 5 cotton seeds to each cup
5. Water all cups with set amount of water (x idk this yet will do it later)
6. Set all cups in sunligfht check twice a day documenting any progress
7. Keep all plants in same location, watering with same amount everyday
8. After 10 days document data
9. Repeat thrice for accuracy
Sampling Strategy:
The data collected was from 30 cotton seeds with 5 seeds in each soil sample. Same
amount of water and sunlight were provided to all with no other contributors. The specific
soil samples consist of 2 from depalpur tehsil (agricultural hub in punjab) with one sample
from soil used from potato crop and one from maize crop. Sample 3 (residential area) was
taken from Phase 5 Lahore (one of lahores most urban areas) Sample 4 (commercial area)
was taken from gulberg Lahore (heavily polluted area) Sample 5(school district) taken from
TNS Beaconhouse and sample 6 (deserted land plot) was taken from near my house also in
Phase 5 Lahore.
Risk assessment:
There isn’t any physical of ethical risks involved with this experiment as it
doesn’t involve bacteria, water diseases, disturbing natural sites or anything of
that nature.
Set up:
Include picture here
Results, Analysis and Conclusion
Discussion and Evaluation

evaluate the conclusion in the context of the environmental issue
• discuss strengths, weaknesses and limitations within the method used
• suggest modifications addressing one or more significant weaknesses with
large effect and further areas of research.
Applications

one potential application and/or solution to the environmental issue
that has been discussed in the context, based on the findings of the study

evaluate relevant strengths, weaknesses and limitations of this solution.
Bibliography