Investigatory Project On Fertilizers
Investigatory Project On Fertilizers
Investigatory Project On Fertilizers
Abstract
Plants need to be fertilized because most soil does not provide essential nutrients required for optimum growth. Even if
the person is lucky enough to start with great garden soil, as your plants grow, they absorb nutrients and leave the soil
less fertile. Nutrients in the soil also help plants grow strong. Some nutrients that plants need are nitrogen, phosphorus,
potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur.
Introduction
Fertilizers, also known as food elements, are materials produced to supple these elements in a readily available form of
plant use. It helps to make plants grow faster which help some farmers and gardeners for their business. Choosing the
right fertilizer help us to get everything we need from the plants we eat or from the meat of animals that eat plants.
Plants are factories that do all of the work to process the basic elements of life and make them available to us.
Fertilizers help feed the world. The FARO has stated that “after land and water, fertilizers are probably the most
important input leading to increased yields”. It is inherently difficult to estimate the share of fertilizers in increasing
agricultural output since so many factors are involved. It has been estimated that fertilizer contribute about 40% of the
nitrogen in human protein consumption, it follows that nearly one third of this protein depends on fertilizers. Therefore,
it is important for us to know which fertilizers to use for us to sustain properly the needs of every plant.
Increased crop production largely relies on the type of fertilizers used to supplement essential nutrients for plants.
Fertilizer application is required to replace crop land nutrients that have been consumed by previous plant growth with
the ultimate goal of maximizing productivity and economic returns. Now a day, there is increased emphasis on the
impact on soil environment due to continuous use of chemical fertilizers. The impact of chemical fertilizer application on
agricultural land is seen not only in terms of the soil quality but also on the survival of soil organisms dwelling there in.
Chemical fertilizers provide three major plant nutrients; nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium or NPK. However, the ever
increasing cost of commercial fertilizer products driven, in part, by the inevitable depletion of global phosphorus, is
forcing producers to look for alternative sources like bio-fertilizers and other organically-based solutions.
In literature, some researchers have concluded the chemical fertilizers to be harmful for soil organisms but on the
contradictory they have been supported too to be beneficial as far as their food supply is concern. The primary
advantages of using biosolids as a fertilizer alternative are cost efficiencies and the presence of nutrients and organic
matter. Returning these valuable materials back to the soils is a critical element in long-term sustainability.
This research aim to compare 2 different brand of fertilizer: Chemical fertilizer and Citrus Sinensis Peeling (bio-
fertilizers), specifically the researchers sought to answer the following questions:
• Which fertilizer is better and safer to use: Citrus Sinensis Peeling or branded fertilizer
Hypothesis
The researchers will determine the effectivity of the product by testing the effectivity of 2 brand of fertilizer in separate
plants (Plant A and Plant B). After the testing, the researchers will record the result and make a statement about the
research.
2. Environment-
The benefit of this study will help our environment by helping the soil and plants to sustain their needs and provide the
essential nutrients required for optimum growth.
3. Agricultural company-
The benefit of this study will help them to give a good service to their customers by giving them a high and good quality
products (ex: rice, vegetables, and fruits)
4. Community-
The benefit of this study will help the community to sense this as a source of income if made into a business.
Definition of Terms
• Calcium- a soft gray alkaline earth metal, fifth most abundant element by mass in the earth’s crust.
• Citrus Sinensis- the scientific name of sweet oranges. It is what most consumers commonly buy.
Experimentation
The research about the comparison between 2 different brands of fertilizer was aimed to help the community to be
aware of the importance of fertilizers and also to give them the information in which fertilizer to use for their plants.
Books, internet, and other references materials were used as the primary sources of information to strengthen the
researchers’ view on this topic. But these were not enough, so experiments were conducted by the researchers to gain
additional information.
A. Materials:
• Water
• Sunlight
• Branded Fertilizer
• Orange peelings
Procedure:
1. Sow seeds thinly on shallow furrows across the seed pot, and cover lightly with fine topsoil. Do not broadcast seeds
when sowing to avoid thick germination in one place.
2. Water the seed pot daily. Watering and other cultural management practices should be regularly done.
3. Apply liberal amount of fertilizer (Citrus Sensis Peeling for pot A and branded fertilizer for pot B) at the base of the
plants, then cover lightly with soil and water immediately.
4. Water the plant whenever necessary or depending on your own judgment or observation of the plant
5. Always remember to give both pots a presence of sunlight for their process of growing.
Observe
As long as the researchers followed the procedures, success of experimentation will be achieved. Factors such as
sunlight could affect the study. In addition, if this is not available, possible that this study could fail. However,
researchers could try it once more again and again until the study is evaluated.
Analysis of Fertilizers
Elements:
NITROGEN:
Preparation:
Most of nitrogen fertilizers are obtained form synthetic NH3. This chemical compound is used as gas or in water solution
or it is converted to salts.
Nitrogen Deficiencies
Nitrogen in Excess –
PHOSPHORUS:
Major fertilizers containing P:
Preparation:
Most phosphoric fertilizers are obtained by the treatment of calcium phosphate with H2SO4 and phosphoric fertilizers.
Calcium phosphate is mainly derived from phosphate rock and bones. Phosphate rock is found in deposits of
sedimentary origin laid down on beds of ocean floor.
Phosphorus deficiencies –
(a) Pale purple colour on the underside of leaves
Advantages of P:
Phosphorous in excess
POTASSIUM:
Preparation:
It is the seventh most abundant element found in earth’s crust. Potassium chloride which is principal commercial form
of potash and some KNO3 is also used for production of potash fertilizer.
Potassium deficiencies:
Advantages of K:
Potassium in excess
RESULT
RESULT
The given fertilizer has N in elemental form. (The fertilizer detected is urea).
(Urea)
O.C.N + Na NaCN
Ca2+ (aq) + CO32(aq) CaCO3 (s) +2CH3COOH + CaCO3 Ca [CH3COO]2 + H2O +CO2+Ca2+ (aq) +C2O42CaC2O4(s)
References:
1. google.com
2. wikipedia.org
3. vlib.us
4. toppersarena.com
5. jmooneyham.com
6. ianrpubs.unl.edu