Tuesday, November 6, 2007

The Effect of the Addition of Dried and Fresh Seaweeds as Fertilizer for Tomato Plants

ABSTRACT

The researcher's main purpose for conducting this research study is to help in reducing the high cost of fertilizer which is a necessity for planting tomato plants that can produce quality fruits and at the same time be able to reduce the high risk of developing diseases like cancer through absorption of hazardous chemicals contained in chemical fertilizers by substituting them with organic fertilizer out of mixed seaweeds that are usually found drifting along seashores. The researcher want to determine if the seaweed fertilizer will have an effect to the tomato plants' growth and determine in what form will it have a better effect to the plants' growth.
The researcher gathered tomato seelings and planted them in a pots with soil and let them germinate for a ferw days. When the plants were almost an inch tall, the researcher then transferred them into their temporary pots made of rolled banana leaves. The plants were given equal amounts of water and sunlight to grow. When the plants were about 2 inches tall, they were transplanted to theie permanent pots. Nine pots were prepared, divided into three set-ups namely set-up A which consisted of plants that were treated with Dried Seaweeds that were gathered from seashores, sundried and pounded into powdered form. Set-up B consists of three plants that were treated with fresh seaweed fertilizer. The last set-up, set-up C, is the control set-up that consists of three plants not treated with any kind of seaweed fertilizer.
Based on results and analysis of data, the researcherstherefore concludes that adding seaweeds as fertilizer for tomato plants enhances the plants’ growth. And that the use fresh seaweed fertilizer in growing tomato plants has greater effect than the dried one.
Since the study is still on-going, the obtained result is not too conclusive. Observations which include up to flowering and fruiting of tomatoes must be done and the final data to be obtained is the amount of tomato harvested per plant per treatment.The said seaweed fertilizers must also be tested with other plants like ornamental plants.This is the reason why the researchers made an on-going back up study entitled “The Effect of Adding Dried and Fresh Seaweeds to Orchids Grown in Paper Medium”
I. CHAPTER
Background of the study
The researchers have observed the use of several seaweeds as fertilizers on several plants such as ornamental plants and solinaceous plants. The researchers therefore want to investigate whether or not there is/ are on effects of adding dried seaweeds as fertilizer for plants and vegetables specifically the eggplant w/c contribute largely to the vegetable industry of the Philippines most specifically in Mindanao.Seaweeds, commonly found on seashores, contains large amount of nitrogen w/c is also known component of fertilizers and is essential for the growth of plants. The researchers will try to find out whether the addition of seaweeds to leave soil would have an effect to the growth of the eggplants.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
1.) Does the addition of dried seaweeds to loam soil fertilizer have an effect to the growth of eggplant .
2.) Compared to commercial fertilizer , are dried seaweeds more effective in the growth of eggplant.
HYPOTHESIS / HYPOTHESES
1.) If dried seaweeds is added to a pot of loam soil w/ seeds of eggplant, the seeds will grow as faster rate compare to the seeds in a pot of soil w/ commercial fertilizer and w/o fertilizer at all. 2.) If dried seaweeds is added to pot of loam soil w/ seeds of eggplant , the seeds will grow at a slower rate compound to seeds in a part of soil w/ commercial fertilizer and w/o fertilizer.
3.) The addition of dried seaweeds to loam soil will not have an effect to the growth of eggplant.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The vegetable industry of the Philippines plays a big part in the agricultural industry of the country. Specially in rural areas where people depend on vegetable farming for their livelihood and also the vendors in our common market and of course , us consumer. We need vegetable in our daily living and in our daily diets. Eggplant can be very helpful to us since they contains large amount of vitamins essential to the development of our bodies and also the enrichment of our health. Also, if eggplant would be growth in an improved way, and it would help many Filipino citizens.
Review of Related Literature
Seaweeds are large algae (macroalgae) that grow in a saltwater or marine environment. Seaweeds are plants, although they lack true stems, roots, and leaves. Like land plants, seaweeds contain photosynthetic pigments (similar to chlorophyll) and use sunlight to produce food and oxygen from carbon dioxide and water. Seaweeds have been harvested for food, fertilizer, and medicine for thousands of years. untapped seaweed (algae) resource has been used to develop a low cost, easy to use liquid fertilizer. This liquid fertilizer is used as a foliar spray and it can be easily manufactured. This technology can boost a new industry on the economically weaker coastal India. The application areas are agricultural. The competitive advantages are: (i) Low cost of production (ii) Seaweeds are available in larger quantity on the coast
SCOPE AND LIMITATION
The researchers only aim to study on the effectivity of dried seaweeds to be used as fertilizer for the solinaceous plant such as eggplant , pepper, tomatoes .We will focus only on the effectivity of the subject variable as will as its qualitative properties compare to commercial fertilizers based on specific parameters.

CHAPTER II
METHODOLOGY
PICTURES

Germinating tomato plants


Transferring of plants to temporary pots



Plants from Set-up A
(plants treated with dried seaweed fertilizer)


Plants from set-up B
(plantas treated with fresh seaweed fertilizer)



Plants from set-up C/control set-up



Weighing of seaweeds
CHAPTER III
Results and Duscussion

In the Philippines, large quantities of seaweeds (Sargassum) have been collected, used wet locally, but also sun dried and transported to other areas. In Puerto Madryd (Argentina), large quantities of green seaweeds are cast ashore every summer and interfere with recreational uses of beaches. Part of this algal mass has been composted and then used in trials for growing tomato plants in various types of soil. In all cases, the addition of the compost increased water holding capacity and plant growth, so composting simultaneously solved environmental pollution problems and produced a useful organic fertilizer.FAO CORPORATEDOCUMENT REPOSITORY
Since it is particularly rich in micronutrients such as iron, copper, zinc, boron and manganese, seaweed offers a natural remedy for soil with a micro-nutrient deficiency. Seaweed also contains large quantities of hormones that stimulate plant growth. Reprint from Nov/Dec 1991 Fine Gardening Magazine
Tomato is a seasonal fruit vegetable grown in almost all parts of the country. However, major tomato producing regions were Ilocos, Northern Mindanao and Southern Tagalog. These regions collectively contributed about 60% of the total tomato production. On the other hand, the highest producing provinces in 2002 were Pangasinan, Bukidnon, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Iloilo, Nueva Ecija, Quezon and Laguna.Tomato is being used as ingredient in various food preparations. This explains the high demand for tomato in the country both in fresh and processed form. The limited local production of tomato and its being seasonal lead to heavy importation.
Tomato Problems
If few flowers form on your tomato plants or the flowers drop before setting fruit, possible causes include:
-Excess nitrogen
-Too little sun
-Nighttime temperatures above 70 degrees F or below 50 degrees F
-Drought stress
Avoid soil amendments with soluble nitrogen, be sure plants get a full day of sunlight and keep the soil evenly moist throughout the season. At planting time, use a balanced, granular fertilizer that's made for tomatoes, such as fertilizer.
Cracks in fruit are generally caused by uneven watering.

After application of the seaweed fertilizer on the tomato plants, a change in height of the plants is observed as shown in table 1.2. This observation was done after the fifth day of observing the plants after application.


ANALYSIS OF DATA

Comparing in height between the data on tables 1.1 and 1.2, a significant increase in change in height can be observed. This implies that the addition of seaweeds, dried and fresh had affected the plants’ growth at some rate. On table 1.3, a comparison of the height changes on the plants is shown. The plants treated with fresh seaweed fertilizer seemed to have a greater difference in height change on the plants than those of the plants that were treated with dried seaweed fertilizer. This suggests that the fresh seaweed fertilizer treatment is more suitable for enhancing the growth of tomato plants.
CONCLUSION
Based on results and analysis of data, the researchers therefore conclude that adding seaweeds as fertilizer for tomato plants enhances the plants’ growth. And that the use fresh seaweed fertilizer in growing tomato plants has greater effect than the dried one.

RECOMMENDATION

Since the study is still on-going, the obtained result is not too conclusive. Observations which include up to flowering and fruiting of tomatoes must be done and the final data to be obtained is the amount of tomato harvested per plant per treatment. The said seaweed fertilizers must also be tested with other plants like ornamental plants. This is the reason why the researchers made an on-going back up study entitled “The Effect of Adding Dried and Fresh Seaweeds to Orchids Grown in Paper Medium”
ACKNOWKLEDGEMENT
The researchers are indebted to thefollowing:Xavier University, College of Agriculture;Agribusiness Sector; Participating Schools; and the MOGCHS Family.To all of you, our salute for you give us anunforgettable learning experience.