The Effect of Temperature and Phosphate Fertilizer Runoff on Chicken Embryology
This research tested the effect that variation in incubation temperature, and exposure to different concentrations of simulated fertilizer runoff had on the incubation period of chicken eggs. An attempt will be made to determine which combination of values yields the shortest hatching time, the predicted quickest hatch time would be the eggs exposed to the least concentration of runoff, and with the lower temperature will hatch first. Poultry accounts for a large portion of the American diet, and it cannot be argued that fertilizer runoff poses a serious problem for the environment. It can be inferred that chickens would be exposed to this run off as well; possibly affecting their productivity in creating more chickens. This research will determine whether such exposure indeed would somehow affect the eggs incubation time by separating the fertilized eggs into three groups, one for each incubator which will vary in temperature. Once separated into the incubators the eggs will again be divided into groups of high, low, and medium exposure concentrations. Then the incubating eggs will be misted daily by the fertilizer solution corresponding to their group. The data collected will be in hours prior or post the accepted hatching time of 21 days. This data will be analyzed by method of a two-factor Design of Experiment (D.O.E) statistical analysis. The research concluded that none of the treatment’s effects were significant in the incubation time, as all were within the range of standards.
Research Done By:
Tom Guzek
Sterling Heights High School
Art Klein
Cousino High School
Devin Rosni
Cousino High School
Warren Consolidated Schools