Anastasia Davi

Mrs. Stevens

Physical Science

12 December 2018

Does Having the Shell of a Sunflower Seed On/Off Affect Its Growth?

Whenever we eat sunflower seeds, we always spit out the shell of the seed and go about

our day without even thinking about it. Is there really a purpose to a sunflower shell? I wanted to

base my project around this question. For my science fair project, I decided to test if keeping the

shell of a sunflower on or off would affect its growth. I recorded the growth of sunflowers with

the shell on and with the shell off over the course of two weeks. I thought that if I plant

sunflower seeds with the shell on and with the shell off, then the sunflowers with the shell on will

take longer to germinate than the sunflowers with the shell off.

What Is the Purpose of a Sunflower Shell?

One of the purposes of a sunflower shell is to protect the fruit/seed(Byrd). Without the

shell, the sunflower could easily dry out(Byrd). The shell also releases chemicals to prevent other

plants from growing near the sunflower, such as weeds(Byrd). Not only does the shell of a

sunflower have a purpose for the plant itself, but it benefits the environment in some ways too. A

sunflower shell produces biodiesel fuel, and environmentally safe resource(Allonsy). It also

produces Dakota Buel, an environmentally friendly alternative wood instead of other wood that

are not a sustainable products(Allonsy). Lastly, it is used as animal feed which is high in fiber

and carbohydrates(Allonsy)

Why Do Some Plants Grow Faster than Others?

The way plants adjust to their surroundings makes them grow faster than other types of
plants(Why). Plants adapt in order to survive in their surroundings more efficiently(Why). Some

other factors that affect why some plants grow faster than others are light, water, temperature,

and nutrients(Grunert). The amount of sunlight a plant is getting depends on the season(Grunert).

Changing a plant’s light condition can disrupt or flourish its growth(Grunert). Water is essential

to keeping a plant alive(Grunert). It nourishes and hydrates the plant(Grunert). Not enough water

can lead to a plant being stressed, and die(Grunert). To keep a plant healthy and cause it to thrive,

warm temperature is the best temperature(Grunert). Plants need nutrients to survive(Grunert).

Some nutrition is found in the ground while other nutrition is found in the air surrounding the

plant(Grunert).

What Factors Can Cause Sunflowers to Grow Slowly Or Not at All?

If the sunflower is not warm enough, it may not grow(Byrd). Not enough sunlight or

water may result in a sunflower growing slowly or dying(Byrd). Also, too much moisture can

result in seeds rotting(Byrd). If the soil is not healthy enough, the sunflower might not

thrive(Byrd). Another factor that can affect if a sunflower grows slowly or not at all is how it’s

planted. If it is planted too deep, it will not grow, or if it is not planted deep enough, it wont stay

moist(Byrd).

What Type of Conditions Do Sunflowers Need to Grow Well in the Winter?

Sunflowers need to be planted indoor, preferably in peat pots, to grow well in the

winter(Growing). Plants require a lot of water. Therefore, if you plant them indoors, you should

cover the pots with plastic wrap to keep moisture in until the sunflower starts to

sprout(Growing). You should plant the sunflower ½ inch deep in the soil(Growing). Weeds

should be controlled(Growing). The sunflowers should be placed in a sunny window seal in

order to obtain the sunlight they need(Byrd). Finally, the soil has to be 55-65 degrees F (Byrd).
 How Do You Accurately Measure Plant Growth?

In order to accurately measure plant growth, measure from the border of the pot to the top

of the plant’s stem(Measuring). You should also count the number of leaves(Measuring). It is

also important that you count the number of flowers, including buds(Measuring). You should

consider the percentage of how many seeds actually germinated(Measuring). Another thing that

you could do to accurately measure plant growth is to look at the number of days until sprouting

begins(Byrd). Lastly, you should measure the final height of the plant (Byrd).

How Do Allelopathic Plant Parts Work?

Allelopathic plant parts allow the plant to send out chemicals to prevent nothing else

from growing(Byrd). Allelopathic plant parts decrease the rivalry of other plants(Tilley). It also

eliminates weeds(Tilley). Most plants store allelopathic chemicals in their leaves(Tilley). Some

plants release chemicals through their roots(Tilley). Sunflower allelopathic plant parts are in the

leaves and shell(Byrd).

I thought that if I plant sunflower seeds with the shell on and with the shell off, then the

sunflowers with the shell on will take longer to germinate than the sunflowers with the shell off,

and I found out that my hypothesis was correct. In the end, the sunflower seeds with the shell off

germinated faster and had a higher average height. The average height of the sunflower seeds

with the shell on was approximately eleven centimeters. The average height of the sunflower

seeds with the shell off was approximately thirteen centimeters. Based on the data I collected,

having the shell of a sunflower seed on or off affects its growth.

 Works Cited

Allonsy, Amelia. “Uses for Sunflower Seed Shells.” Hunker.com, Hunker, 19 Aug. 2011,

www.hunker.com/12588918/uses-for-sunflower-seed-shells.

Byrd, Joanne. “Does The Shell of a Sunflower Seed On/Off Affect Its Growth?” 29 Nov.

2018.

“Growing Sunflowers: Plant & Harvest Sunflowers .” Gilmour, 8 Nov. 2018,

gilmour.com/growing-sunflowers.

Grunert, Jeanne. “Plant Growth Factors.” LoveToKnow, LoveToKnow Corp, 2018,

garden.lovetoknow.com/garden-basics/plant-growth-factors.

“Measuring Plant Growth.” Science Buddies, www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-

projects/references/measuring-plant-growth.

Tilley, Nikki. “Allelopathy In Plants: What Plants Suppress Other Plants.” Gardening

Know How, 27 June 2016, www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-

to/info/allelopathic-plants.htm

“Why Do Some Plants Grow Faster than Others?” Study.com, Study.com, 2018,

study.com/academy/answer/why-do-some-plants-grow-faster-than-

others.html#/relatedLessons