EFFECT OF COMMERCIAL FERTILIZER AND NATURAL
FERTILIZER TO THE HEIGHT OF PECHAY PLANT
A Research Paper
Presented to the Faculty of the Mathematics Department
Ilocos Sur National High School
Vigan City
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
For the Subject Research in Mathematics
Christine Mae A. Lazo
Diana Jane P. Paz
Princess Trisha May A. Quirit
Vince Lery M. Tadena
Catherine M. Ventura
2016-2017
2
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Christine, Diana, Princess Trisha May, Vince Lery and Catherine would like
to extend and express their profoundest gratitude to everyone who helped and gave
contributions for the fulfilment and success of this study.
Mrs. Leila R. Rabo, the researchers’ teacher, who is ever supportive, for her
unstoppable and unending patience, moral support, and who helped the researchers to
improve the study.
To the parents of the researchers, who have gave their moral support and
understanding when the researchers were doing the study, for their support financially for
the success of the study.
And lastly to God Almighty, for His blessings, enlightenment, guidance given to
the researchers, without which, everything would have been impossible
3
ABSTRACT
This study was conducted to determine the effect of commercial fertilizer and
natural fertilizer to pechay plant. Moreover it aimed to compare which fertilizer grows
the pechay plant faster.
This study focused on the height of the pechay plant using commercial fertilizer
and natural fertilizer.
This research study employed the descriptive comparative design wherein 6
pechay plants were chosen as samples for this study. The samples were observed for 12
days.
This research was conducted at Malingeb, Bantay, Ilocos Sur. Pechay plants were
planted and the plants were watered every day with 200 ml water, and 2 tablespoon urea
fertilizer were put on the 3 plant samples, while the other 3 plant samples were mixed
with loam soil and cow’s manure. The height of the plant was observed every 3 days. The
height of the pechay plants were measured by the use of ruler every week. The plants
were put in an open area. The plants were watered every day with 200 ml of water.
The findings of the study revealed that there was a significant difference on the
height of the pechay plants that has commercial fertilizer and natural fertilizer.
4
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i
Acknowledgement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii
Abstract . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iii
Table of Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
List of Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vi
List of Figures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
I. INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Background of the Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Statement of the Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Scope and Delimitation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Conceptual Framework . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Hypothesis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Significance of the Study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Operational Definition of Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
II. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
III. METHODOLOGY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Research Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Population and Sample . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Data Gathering Instrument . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Data Gathering Procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
5
IV. PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS, AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA . . . . . . 9
V. FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Findings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
BIBLIOGRAPHY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
DOCUMENTATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
CURRICULUM VITAE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
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LIST OF TABLES
Page
Table 1. Observation of the height of the pechay plants with natural fertilizer every three
days . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
...9
Table 2. Observation of the height of the pechay plants with commercial fertilizer every
three days. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 10
Table 3. Mean Height of the samples with commercial fertilizer and natural fertilizer
including the number of samples and standard deviation . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . .11
LIST OF FIGURE
Page
Figure 1 : Research Paradigm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 3
7
Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Plants need to be fertilized because most soil does not provide the essential
nutrients required for optimum growth. Even if you are lucky enough to start with great
garden soil, as your plants grow, they absorb nutrients and leave the soil less fertile.
Remember those tasty tomatoes and beautiful roses you grew last year? It took nutrients
from the soil to build those plant tissues. By fertilizing your garden, you replenish lost
nutrients and ensure that this year's plants have the food they need to flourish.
Fertilizer is any material of natural or synthetic origin (other than liming
materials) that is applied to soils or to plant tissues (usually leaves) to supply one or more
plant nutrients essential to the growth of plants.
Natural fertilizer comes from an organic source such as manure, blood meal,
cottonseed meal, feather meal, crab meal, or others, as opposed to synthetic sources.
There are also some natural fertilizers that are not organic, such as Greensand, which
contains potassium, iron, calcium, and other nutrients.
Commercial Fertilizers are substance containing one or more recognized plant
nutrients and that is used for its plant nutrient content or that is designated for use or
claimed to have value in promoting plant growth. Commercial fertilizers also include
lime, gypsum, and manipulated animal and vegetable manures.
Chemical fertilizers are rich equally in three essential nutrients that are needed for
crops and always ready for immediate supply of nutrients to plants if situation demands.
8
And some several chemical fertilizers have high acid content. They have the
ability to burn the skin. Changes soil fertility, but immediate supply or slow release.
Chemical fertilizers turn out to be cheaper because they pack more nutrients per pound of
weight.
On the other hand, natural fertilizers adds natural nutrients to soil, increases soil
organic matter, improves soil structure and tilth, improves water holding capacity,
reduces soil crusting problems, reduces erosion from wind and water, slow and consistent
release of nutrients, have slow release capability; distribution of nutrients in organic
fertilizers is not equal.
It is by this reason the researchers would like to conduct this study to provide a
solution to a problem to help growers decide which type of fertilizer is better when it
comes to the growth of plants.
Height is the measure of vertical distance, either how "tall" something is, or how
"high up" it is. Organic fertilizer may be cheaper per pound but works out to be more
expensive over all because more of it is needed for the same level of nutrients.
Statement of the Problem
This study aimed to compare the effect of commercial fertilizer and natural
fertilizer to the height of pechay plant. Specifically, this study sought to answer the
following questions:
1. What is the average height of the pechay plant using commercial fertilizer?
2. What is the average height of the pechay plant using natural fertilizer?
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3. Is there a significant difference between the height of the pechay plant with
commercial fertilizer and those with natural fertilizer?
Scope and Delimitation
This study focused on the height of the pechay plant using commercial fertilizer
and natural fertilizer. The study was conducted on January 21, 2017 – February 2, 2017.
The researchers used 6 samples, where 3 samples used natural fertilizer, and 3 samples
for commercial fertilizer.
Conceptual Framework
a. Commercial Fertilizer
Height of Pechay Plant
b. Natural Fertilizer
Figure 1: Research Paradigm
The figure above shows the effect of the commercial and the natural fertilizer on the
height of the pechay plant.
Hypothesis
There is no significant difference between the height of the pechay plant using
commercial fertilizer and the height of the pechay plant using natural fertilizer.
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Significance of the Study
This study is equally significant for pechay plant growers who are looking for
better fertilizer to grow the plant. With this, the better fertilizer can be easily identified.
Operational Definition of Terms
Height. It is a measurement on how tall the pechay plant.
Fertilizer. It is a substance (such as manure or a special chemical) that is added to soil to
help the growth of the plant
Pechay plant. It is the oldest green vegetable and used as the subject of the study.
Chemical fertilizer. This refers to the urea used as fertilizer in this study.
Organic fertilizers. This refers to the cow manure used as fertilizer.
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Chapter II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
So many people are in such a hurry to success that they eagerly take any shortcuts
that come across their way. So as plant growers, who would not like plants that grow
fast?
So the researchers decided to observe which fertilizer can grow the pechay plant
faster. Is it the commercial fertilizer? Or the natural fertilizer?
To make plants grow faster, what you need to do is supply the elements that the
plants need in readily available forms. That is the goal of fertilizer. Most fertilizers
supply just nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium because the other chemicals are needed
in much lower quantities and are generally available in most soils. Nitrogen, phosphorus
and potassium availability is the big limit to growth.
The purpose of fertilizers are to supplement the natural supply of soil nutrient,
build up soil fertility in order to satisfy the demand of crops with a high yield potential
and to compensate for the nutrients taken by harvested products or lost by unavoidable
leakages to the environment, in order to maintain good soil conditions for cropping.
Fertilizers enhance the growth of plants. This goal is met in two ways, the
traditional one being additives that provide nutrients. The second mode by which some
fertilizers act is to enhance the effectiveness of the soil by modifying its water retention
and aeration.
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Pechay plany is a low maintenance vegetable and could be planted any day, most
anywhere there is full sun and practically any kind of soil. They are annuals, meaning,
after harvest, they will die. Pechay is an annual biennial herb. Its leaves are smooth, 30
cm long, broad at the tip narrowing gradually at the base extending downward to the
upper end of its elongated, thick and whitish stalks. The leaves are erect, flowers are pale
yellow.
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Chapter III
METHODOLOGY
Research Design
The researchers used the descriptive comparative design.
Population and Sample
The subjects of the study were 3 pechay plants for commercial fertilizer and
another 3 for natural fertilizer.
Materials used in the study
The instruments used in the study were pot, loam soil, ruler, dipper, commercial
fertilizer, natural fertilizer, and writing materials. The pot was used to hold the pechay
plant. The loam soil was the type of soil that is used. The ruler was used to measure the
height of pechay plant. The dipper was used to water the plant. The fertilizers to grow the
pechay plant, and writing materials to list the data gathered.
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Data Gathering Procedure
The researchers conducted the study at Malingeb, Bantay, Ilocos Sur. Pechay
plants were planted. The researchers planted 6 pechay seeds on the pots. The plants were
watered every day with 200 ml water, and 2 tablespoons of commercial fertilizer were
put on the 3 plant samples, and the other 3 plants samples were loam soil mixed with
cow’s manure as a fertilizer. The height of the plant was observed every 3 days. The
results of the observation were jotted down in a table. The study lasted for 12 days.
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Chapter IV
PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA
This chapter presents the results and discusses the interpretation of the researchers
about this study. The data were presented in tabular and textual form.
Table 1. Observation every 3 days of the height of the pechay plants with natural
fertilizer.
SAMPLE 1 SAMPLE 2 SAMPLE 3
DAY
HEIGHT(millimeter)
3 13 16 18
6 24 23 25
9 37 32 33
12 42 45 43
Average height of the samples = 43.33 mm
The table above presents the height of each plant with organic fertilizer in each
observation time. The results showed that the height of the three samples used, don’t have
the same height yet they are close to each other. On the 12 th day, the average height of the
three samples is 43.44 mm
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Table 2. Observation every three days of the height of the pechay plants with commercial
fertilizer.
SAMPLE 1 SAMPLE 2 SAMPLE 3
DAY
HEIGHT(millimeter)
3 28 33 27
6 63 65 62
9 72 76 75
12 83 83 86
Average height of the samples = 84 mm
The table above presents the height of each plant with commercial fertilizer in
each observation time. The results showed that the height of the three samples used, don’t
have the same height yet they are close to each other. On the 12 th day, the average height
of the three samples is 84 mm.
17
Table 3. Mean Height of the samples with commercial fertilizer and natural fertilizer
including the number of samples and standard deviation
COMMERCIAL
CRITERIA NATURAL FERTILIZER
FERTILIZER
Number of Samples 3 3
Mean Height 84 43.33
Sd 1.7321 1.5275
t-value 30.50
Critical value ±2.776
Decision Reject Ho
The table above presents the mean height of the samples with commercial
fertilizer and natural fertilizer including the number of samples and standard deviation.
On the other hand, the computed critical value was ±2.776 The computed value of
30.50 is greater than the positive critical value of 2.776. Thus, it is within the rejection
region. This connotes that the null hypothesis is rejected. So there is a significant
difference between the height of the pechay plant given with two kinds of fertilizers.
Thus, the commercial fertilizer is better than the natural fertilizer when it comes to the
growth of pechay plants.
This may be the reason why more and more farmers use commercial fertilizer.
Chapter V
FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
18
This chapter presents the summary of the findings, conclusion and
recommendations of this study.
Findings
The following are the salient findings on the study:
1.) The mean height of the samples with commercial fertilizer was 84 mm. On the
other hand, the mean height of the samples with natural fertilizer was 43.33 mm.
2.) The computed value of 30.500 was higher than the critical value of 2.776. This
suggests that the null hypothesis was rejected.
Conclusion
Based on the findings of the study, the following conclusions were drawn:
1.) The pechay plants with commercial fertilizer are taller than the pechay plants
with natural fertilizer.
2.) There is a significant difference between the height of the pechay plant which
used commercial fertilizer and natural fertilizer. The pechay plants grow faster
with the use of commercial fertilizer than the natural fertilizer.
Recommendations
From the findings and conclusions drawn in this study, the researchers
recommended the following:
19
1.) Plant growers should use commercial fertilizer if they want their plant to grow
faster.
2.) The containers and the variety of plants should also be considered to come up
to a successful gardening
3.) Longer time must be spent for the observation and the conduct of study for a
more reliable result.
4.) Further must be conducted considering the different types of commercial
fertilizer and natural fertilizer in growing plants.
20
BIBLIOGRAPHY
INTERNET SOURCES
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fertilizer
http://www.fertilizer.org/AboutFertilizers
http://home.howstuffworks.com/question181.htm
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APPENDIX
DOCUMENTATION
Day 3 Day 6
Day 9
22
Day 12
Day 15
23
CURRICULUM VITAE
Name: Christine Mae A. Lazo
Address: Fuerte, Caoayan, Ilocos Sur
Place of Birth: Caoayan, Ilocos Sur
Date of Birth: August 28, 2001
Name of Mother: Ida Mae A. Lazo
Name of Father: Roger S. Lazo
Educational Attainment
Elementary: Fuerte Elementary School
Secondary: Ilocos Sur National High School
24
CURRICULUM VITAE
Name: Diana Jane P. Paz
Address: Capangdanan, Bantay, Ilocos Sur
Place of Birth: Vigan City, Ilocos Sur
Date of Birth: August 16, 2000
Name of Mother: Ludivina P. Paz
Name of Father: Eufemio V. Paz
Educational Attainment
Elementary: Capangdanan Elementary School
Secondary: Ilocos Sur National High School
25
CURRICULUM VITAE
Name: Princess Trisha May A. Quirit
Address: Pantay Laud Vigan City
Place of Birth: Pantay Laud, Vigan City, Ilocos
Sur
Date of Birth: September 23, 2000
Name of Father: Charles A. Quirit
Name of Mother: Genalyn E. Quirit
Educational Attainment
Elementary: Anonang-Naguillan Community School
Secondary: Ilocos Sur National High School
26
CURRICULUM VITAE
Name: Vince Lery M. Tadena
Address: Vacunero, Sto. Domingo, Ilocos Sur
Place of Birth: Manila
Date of Birth: August 9, 2001
Name of Mother: Leny M. Tadena
Name of Father: Reynaldo A. Tadena
Educational Attainment
Elementary: Sto. Domingo South Central School
Secondary: Ilocos Sur National High School
27
CURRICULUM VITAE
Name: Catherine M. Ventura
Address: Malingeb, Bantay, Ilocos Sur
Place of Birth: Vigan City, Ilocos Sur
Date of Birth: January 21, 2001
Name of Mother: Honorata Elena M. Ventura
Name of Father: Bello V. Ventura
Educational Attainment
Elementary: Malingeb Elementary School
Secondary: Ilocos Sur National High School
