A student investigated the effect of root space on plant growth. The student grew two groups of plants of the same variety. Both groups received the same amount of water and sunlight and grew in the same type of soil. The plants in Group A were grown in cube-shaped containers that were 3 centimeters deep. The plants in Group B were grown in cube-shaped containers that were 10 centimeters deep. The table shows the student's observations.

Based on the student's investigation, it can be concluded that the depth of the root space has a significant effect on plant growth. The data presented in the table shows that plants in Group B, which were grown in containers that are 10 centimeters deep, generally grew taller than those in Group A, grown in 3-centimeter deep containers.

Data Summary:

1. Group A (3 cm deep):

   • Week 1: 2 cm
   • Week 2: 3 cm
   • Week 3: 5 cm
   • Week 4: 7 cm
   • Week 5: 8 cm
   • Week 6: 10 cm

2. Group B (10 cm deep):

   • Week 1: 3 cm
   • Week 2: 6 cm
   • Week 3: 8 cm
   • Week 4: 10 cm
   • Week 5: 14 cm
   • Week 6: 18 cm

Observations:

• Group A Growth: The average height after 6 weeks is 10 cm.
• Group B Growth: The average height after 6 weeks is 18 cm.

The plants in Group B are consistently taller than those in Group A. By week 6, Group B plants reached an average height of 18 cm, compared to only 10 cm for Group A. This difference indicates that the deeper root space allowed Group B plants to grow more effectively.

Conclusion:

The effect of root space is clearly illustrated by the data: deeper containers (Group B) support greater plant growth compared to shallower containers (Group A). This suggests that deeper root zones provide a better environment for the plants, allowing for potentially greater access to nutrients and water, and possibly contributing to a more robust root system.

Environmental vs. Genetic Factors:

To determine whether the differences observed were due to environmental or genetic factors, one approach would be to replicate the experiment using other plants of the same variety, ensuring that both groups continue to receive the same environmental conditions (e.g., water, sunlight, soil type). If the difference in growth persists across multiple trials with the same plant variety and environmental conditions, it would further support the notion that root space significantly affects plant growth, rather than genetic factors.

Conversely, if the growth rates were similar regardless of root space in subsequent trials with different varieties of plants, this might suggest that genetic factors also play a significant role in plant growth. Hence, controlled experiments would be critical in isolating and understanding the specific influences of root space versus inherent genetic traits.

Based on the student's investigation, it can be concluded that the depth of root space significantly affects plant growth. Observations from the data show that plants in Group B, grown in 10-centimeter deep containers, consistently outperformed those in Group A, which were grown in 3-centimeter deep containers. By week 6, the average height of Group B plants reached 18 cm, while Group A plants only reached 10 cm, indicating that deeper root zones allowed Group B plants to grow more effectively. This suggests that deeper containers provide better access to nutrients and water, leading to more robust growth. To determine whether these differences were due to environmental factors or genetic traits, replicating the experiment with other plants of the same variety under identical environmental conditions would be essential. If the growth disparity persists across multiple trials, it would further support the assertion that root space is a critical factor in plant development, rather than genetic influence. Conversely, similar growth rates in plants of different varieties would indicate that genetic factors may also play a substantial role in influencing plant growth.