ANALYSIS OF 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
bio solids 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.
Statement of The Problem:
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:
• How do the researchers determine the effectively of these
product?
• What are advantages and disadvantages of using these
fertilizers?
• Which fertilizer will make plants grow faster and healthier?
• 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.
Significance of the Study
The study is beneficial to:
1. Farmers and gardeners-
The benefit of this study will help them to improve the quality of
their products, save time with their work, and get a higher profit.
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 product
(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:
The following technical terms are defined in this study.
• Nitrogen- tasteless odorless gaseous chemical element
• Phosphorus- poisonous waxy chemical element
• Potassium- silver white metallic chemical element
• Calcium- a soft gray alkaline earth metal, fifth most abundant
element by mass in the earth’s crust.
• Sulfur- an abundant, multivalent non-metal
• 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:
• Pot A and Pot B
• Good quality of soil
• Seeds to be use (any kind of plant: pechay)
• 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.
6. Every week, measure the height of both plants.
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:
Major fertilizers containing N:
(a) Ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3)
(b) Potassium nitrate (KNO3)
(c) Urea (NH2CONH2)
(d) Ammonium sulphate [(NH4)2SO4]
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
(a) Pale, green, yellow leaves
(b) Stunted growth
Nitrogen in Excess –
(a) Lower disease resistance
(b) Weaken stem
(c) Decay maturity
(d) Lower fruit quality
PHOSPHORUS:
Major fertilizers containing P:
(a)DAP – Diammonium phosphate [(NH4)2PO4]
(b)Ca3(PO4)2 – Calcium phosphate
(c)Triple phosphate and super phosphate
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
(b) Reduced flower, fruits and seed production
Advantages of P:
1. Encourage cell division
2. Hastens maturity, offsetting quick growth caused by N
3. Encourage root growth
4. Increase disease resistance
Phosphorous in excess
1. Causes dehydration of roots
2. Increase soluble salt content of medium
POTASSIUM:
Major fertilizers containining K:
1. Potassium chloride (Potash)
2. Potassium nitrate (KNO3)
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:
1. Leaves appear dry and scorched
2. Irregular yellow areas on the surface
Advantages of K:
1. Increase disease resistance
2. Encourage healthy root and stems
3. Essential for starch formation
4. Efficient use of CO2
Potassium in excess
1. Affects soil acidity
2. Reduced flower, fruit and seed production
RESULT
Fertilizer has Ca2+ as cation. (The fertilizer detected is Vermi
Compost).
RESULT
The given fertilizer has N in elemental form. (The fertilizer
detected is urea).
(Urea)
O.C.N + Na NaCN
FERTILIZER 5(vermi compost)
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
