Step 1:
Make an Observation.

Different nutritional deficiencies have different affects on plants.

Step 1:
State the Problem.

Do different nutrient deficiencies have different affects on plant development?

Step 2:
Research the Problem.

Each element plays a different role in plant development.  A lack of one element will affect the plant in a different way from another lacking element.

Step 3:
Form a Hypothesis.

Each nutritional deficiency should have a specific and unique adverse affect on plant development.

Step 4:
Test the Hypothesis.

To test this I am going to setup various hydroponic systems with one elemental deficiency in each.

Step 5:
Draw Conclusions from the data.

Hypothesis has yet to be tested.

Test

Group

28 plants

7 sets (4 to a set) will be grown in separate hydroponic systems, each having its own elemental deficiency.

Reference or Control

Group

4 plants

4 plants will be grown in a complete nutrient solution