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Science Fair Topics on Plants

There are more than 250,000 species of plants on the planet. They include everything from mosses to trees and ferns to flowering shrubs. Science projects related to plants can take on a wide variety of forms. Topics for these projects can involve biology, agriculture, chemistry and a host of interdisciplinary categories. They also help define the role plants play in the environment.

Pesticides
- Pesticides are an important aspect of many agricultural company operations. One science fair topic can involve the different types of pesticides -- chemical, natural, etc. -- and the ways they protect plants from pests. Do a controlled experiment that tests various pesticides against plant consumption by pests or destruction by mold, fungi or weeds. Compare your findings with the types of pesticides used by major farms and local farmers to see if the most effective measures are being taken with a farm's specific guidelines.
Medicinal Plants
- More than 3,000 types of plants have been used for medicinal purposes in the United States. Take a closer look at the supposed medicinal properties of certain plants, such as ginseng or black cohosh, and test their ability to treat common ailments. The experiment can also look at the biological makeup of certain medicinal plants to find out what makes them unique and what aspects of the plants are capable of treating ailments.
Ultraviolet Waves
- Plants require sunlight to create energy through a process called photosynthesis. This also means that they come into regular contact with ultraviolet waves. All ultraviolet waves are known to be able to damage plants in one of two ways: damage to the DNA or damage to a physiological process. A science project can be devised to look at the effects ultraviolet rays have on plants in certain situations. Independent variables include the wavelength of the ultraviolet rays, the temperature the plants are kept in and the duration they are exposed to the waves.
Water
- Water is essential for plant growth, and a science project studying the effects water has on plant growth will help demonstrate just how important it is. Perform the experiment with multiple plants of the same species. One plant should grow under normal conditions while the others should have altered water supplies. Give one an excessive amount; give another a small amount. Add minerals or other impurities to the water supply of another. Note the differences in the plants' growth and relate that to the independent variable in each experimental unit.

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