Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Organic fertilizer is a fertilizer that is extracted from a natural source.

Organic fertilizers can range from natural compost to cow manure, but they must

be extracted from all-natural source for compost. Chicken droppings from an

organic farm can be considered an organic fertilizer. Additional examples of

organic fertilizer sources include kelp, guano, bone and blood meals, molasses,

and fish emulsions. Cow manure from a standard farm that uses commercial

fertilizers and pesticides wouldn't be considered.

Organic fertilizer is a lot differ from chemical fertilizers in that they feed

your plants while building healthy soil. They are considered a better option. Soils

with much of organic material remain loose and light, retain more moisture and

nutrients, and foster the growth rate of soil micro-organisms that promote

healthier plants and root development. If a lot of artificial chemicals are added to

a soil, it eventually loses its natural matter percentage and micro-biotic activity,

which leads to unhealthy soil. As organic material is used up, the soil structure

degenerates; it becomes harder and less able to hold water and nutrients.

Pulverized mussels can be used as fertilizer in organic/natural farming of

plants, particularly on less supplied farms, which need exterior nutrients but have

limited access to fertilizer productions. Mussels are filter feeders and gather

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nutrients bound in, e.g., phytoplankton/microscopic plant. This study assessed

their environmental impact of mussel farming on the Swedish coast of the Baltic

Sea for ensuing use as agricultural fertilizer. The useful unit was related to the

value of the mussels, including plant-available nitrogen effect, phosphorus, and

liming effect. Flowing of the cadmium chemical to soil was also assessed. In one

outline of the mussels were created as fertilizer and in another, they were stored

to avoid nitrogen loss and other emissions from stored nutrients. Used of

mussels on agricultural land fulfills three functions: fertilization, liming and lessen

in excessive richness in bodies of water. The results showed the significance of

integrated assessment of these three functions. Due to significant nitrogen losses

from the composting process, the compost creation gave a high impact in terms

of acidification and global warming. Other techniques to composting for executing

mussels should thus be developed, for example, direct use of the mussels as

fertilizer without prior storage, or inert storage. Energy use was strongly related

to the production of materials for mussel cultivation, so choice and life length of

materials is important when introducing mussel farming. The cadmium content of

mussels is relatively high, but they often supply less cadmium to the field than

the fertilizer and liming products they replace. Reducing eutrophication by

cultivating mussels for fertilizer proved more energy-efficient than reducing

eutrophication in waste water treatment plants.

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 The researchers aim to learn the different effects of pulverized mussel

shell, soybean meal, and mixture of the two fertilizers to tomato plant (Solanum

lycopersicum). The result of this study will serve as basis for farmers, and

knowledge about the effect of the fertilizers.

Statement of Problem

1. Does the mixed [pulverized mussel shell and whey milk (mixed with

water)] fertilizer affect the growth of tomato in terms of height, number of

leaves and number of fruits?

2. Does the pulverized mussel shell fertilizer affect the growth of tomato in

terms of height, number of leaves and number of fruits?

3. Does the whey milk (mixed with water) fertilizer affect the growth of tomato

in terms of height, number of leaves and number of fruits?

4. Which of the following fertilizers - whey milk (mixed with water), pulverized

mussel shell [pulverized mussel shell and whey milk (mixed with water)]

fertilizer - is more effective in terms of height, number of leaves and

number of fruits of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) ?

Objectives of the Study

General Objective

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 1. To compare which of the following treatment – whey milk (mixed with

water), pulverized mussel shell and mixed fertilizer of shellfish and whey

milk (mixed with water) – is more productive fertilizer in terms of height,

number of leaves and number of fruits of tomato plant.

Specific Objective

1. To identify the effects of pulverized mussel shell, whey milk mixed with

water, and mixed fertilizer of shellfish and whey milk (mixed with water) in

terms of height of the tomato plant.

2. To know the effects of pulverized mussel shell, whey milk (mixed with

water), and mixed fertilizer of shellfish and whey milk (mixed with water) in

terms of number of leaves of tomato plant.

3. To determine the effects of pulverized mussel shell, whey milk (mixed with

water), and mixed fertilizer of shellfish and whey milk (mixed with water) in

terms of number of fruits of tomato plant.

Hypothesis

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Ho: There is no significant difference between the three types of fertilizer in

growing tomatoes in terms of number of leaves, and height.

Ha: There is a significant difference between the three types of fertilizer in

growing tomatoes in terms of number of leaves and height.

Scope and Limitations

This study is limited to the differentiation of pulverized mussel shell,

soybean, and mixed [pulverized mussel shell and whey milk (mixed with water)]

as an alternative fertilizer in terms of height, number of leaves and number of

fruits of tomato plant. The study will not investigate the effects of pulverized

mussel shell, soybean, and mixed [pulverized mussel shell and whey milk (mixed

with water)] in other varieties of plant.

Significance of the Study

Farmers: This research will help farmers to use a new alternative fertilizer in

their tomato plant.

Students: The study will give them knowledge to know the effect of pulverized

mussel shell, soybean, and mixed (pulverized mussel shell and soybean) as an

alternative fertilizer.

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Future Researchers: This may help them to conduct another research about

this study and become better than this study.

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Definition of Terms

Tomato - is the edible, often red, berry of the plant (Solanum lycopersicum),

commonly known as a tomato plant. Despite botanically being a fruit, it's

generally eaten and prepared like a vegetable.

Mussel - shell contains calcium carbonate (from 95 per cent to 99 per cent of the

shell weight) and small amounts of nitrogen, sulphur, phosphorus, potassium and

magnesium, all of which are beneficial to the soil and plant life.

Soybean - is an excellent source of slow release Nitrogen for promoting

vegetative growth and early plant development.

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Conceptual Framework

Table 1. Paradigm of the study

Input Process Output

- Pulverized mussel shell 1. Preparation of The comparative study

materials of whey milk (mixed with

-Tomato seed
water), pulverized
2. Planting the tomato
-Whey milk (mixed with
mussel shell and mixed
seeds
water)
fertilizer of pulverized
3. Measuring the mass of
mussel shell and whey
fertilizer
milk (mixed with water)

4. Transferring the as an alternative fertilizer

tomato plant and putting for the of tomato plant

of fertilizer (Solanum lycopersicum).

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 CHAPTER 3

METHODOLOGY

This chapter shows the research design, locale and population, research

materials, research procedure, and statistical treatment.

Research Design

The researchers will use an experiment and quantitative method of

research that includes observation and analysis of data .The researchers use

three fertilizers such as pulverized mussel shell, whey milk (mixed with water),

and mixed [pulverized mussel shell and whey milk (mixed with water)], and soil

as independent variable. The experimental group are composted of mixed

fertilizer pulverized mussel shell, whey milk (mixed with water), and mixed

[pulverized mussel shell and whey milk (mixed with water]).

Locale and Population of the Study

There are six potting mix that consist of two seeds that is divided into 2

groups and treated with different fertilizer/treatments. This study was conducted

at Colegio De Los Baῆos Lopez Ave, Batong Malake Los Baῆos Laguna.

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Research Materials

The researchers put two seedlings for each recycled pot (6) in soil. The

organic fertilizer used are pulverized mussel shell, whey milk (mixed with water),

and mixed [pulverized mussel shell and whey milk (mixed with water)]. The

materials or equipment used are weighing scale to measure the amount of

pulverized mussel shell, whey milk (mixed with water), and mixed [pulverized

mussel shell and whey milk (mixed with water)] and soil.

Research Procedure

The researchers will gather all the materials which are the tomato (seed),

pulverized mussel shell, whey milk (mixed with water), soil, weighing scale to

measure the other materials, and the recycled pot. The seed will be planted in a

natural soil until it sprouted. After it grows as a seedling, it will be transferred in

different potting mix, the first potting mix will have a component of pulverized

mussel shell, while the next one is whey milk (mixed with water), and the other

one is mixed pulverized mussel shell and whey milk (mixed with water). If the

plants grow it will be transferred to the school for the rest of the observation.

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Research Flow

Congregate all the Materials.

Planting the seeds of Tomato plant.

Transferring the seedlings/ sprouts into different

mixes of soil/ potting mixes.

Observing the Tomato plants.

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Statistical Treatment

This study used the mean formula to get the average growth speed and

height in every sample of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plant.

Formula:

Where:

df = degrees of freedom;

MS = mean square;

SS = sum of square;

ni = total of groups;

N = total of all samples;

Xtotal = summation of the total of each group;

Xi = sum of each group; and

k = number of groups.

Reject Ho if the calculated value is greater than the F critical value

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Table 1. One-way ANOVA Table Formula

Source of Square of Squares Degrees of Mean F value F

Variation Freedom Squares critical

(variance) value

SSbetween dfbetween MSbetween

Between ∑ xi2 ∑ xTotal2 K-1 SSbetween

∑( )−( )
ni N dfbetween
Groups

Within SSwithin SS1+SS2+SS3 dfwithin MSwithin

Groups (∑ xi2 ) N-K SSwithin

SS1=∑ x 2 i- ni
dfwithin

STotal SStotal dftotal

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 We will use the One-Way ANOVA because is a hypothesis test that

evaluates two mutually exclusive statements about two or more population

means. Compare the p-value to the significance level to determine whether to

reject or accept null hypothesis. The significance is denoted by the alpha which is

less than 0.05

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