How do different fertilizers and

different fertilizer concentrations affect

plant growth?
An investigation into the use of biofertilizers to reduce nitrous oxide
emissions.

Background research

Through this investigation we wanted to find a fertilizer than can be eco-sustainable and doesn’t affect
climate change. The reason for this is because usual NPK or nitrogen fertilizers are incredibly useful in
helping farmers boost their crop production as it provides nutrients not available in the soil, but crops
only take up about half of the nutrients they get from those fertilizers. Much of the applied fertilizer
runs off into waterways, or gets broken down by microbes in the soil, releasing the lusty greenhouse gas
nitrous oxide into the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases are the main cause of global warming and the
many changes to the world’s climate and ecosystems. Even though nitrous oxide accounts for only about
6% of all global greenhouse gas emissions, pound for pound, nitrous oxide warms the planet 300 times
as much as carbon dioxide.

Nitrous gas emissions could be reduced by simply using less fertilizer but doing so would produce lower
crop yields. We wanted to find a better solution so we researched different types of fertilizers than can
be eco sustainable but still produce high crop yields and we found biofertilizers, which are biological
products containing living microorganisms that enhance plant nutrient uptake by colonizing
the rhizosphere which promotes growth by increasing the supply or availability of primary nutrients to
the host plant.

Aim: To determine the correlation between fertilizer concentration and plant growth. To determine
any difference in plant growth with different kinds of fertilizer. To encourage the use of a more eco
sustainable fertilizer.

Objective: Introduce a more eco sustainable fertilizer than doesn’t sacrifice crop yields throughout
Indonesia and the rest of the world, with the purpose to help local farmers move away from fertilizers
that are not eco sustainable and could ruin the environment. It is also crucial to ensure that this idea
is accessible to all people and is somewhat affordable to the general public.

Research questions: How different fertilizer concentration affect plant growth? How different
fertilizer concentrations affect plant growth?
Hypothesis: The higher the concentration of fertilizer, the higher the rate of plant growth until it
reaches a certain point and the highest concentration (0.1 g/ml) of fertilizer will have the highest rate
of plant growth. Biofertilizers will increase the rate of plant growth more than the NPK fertilizer.

Variables:

Independent Different type of fertilizer:

1. 16-16-16 NPK fertilizer
2. Biofertilizer
Different concentrations of those fertilizers
The concentration of each fertilizer will differ by adding 2g, 1g, 0.5g, and
0g of both fertilizers in 20 ml of water. (The concentration is measured in
g/ml)
 0,1 g/ml dilute NPK fertilizer
 0,1 g/ml dilute biofertilizer
 0,05 g/ml dilute NPK fertilizer
 0,05 g/ml dilute biofertilizer
 0,025 g/ml dilute NPK fertilizer
 0,025 g/ml biofertilizer
 20 ml of water (Control)

Dependen The growth of the spinach plant on each pot

t The growth of the plant will be calculated by measuring:
 The height of the plant (The reading of the ruler should
begin at ground level and end in its highest point)
 The weight of the leaf
 The number of leaves
 The length of the roots (The roots should be measured
lastly, after completely done with the other
observations)
 The weight of the root
Controlled 1. Mass of strawberry seedlings
2. Length of seedlings
3. Time for the strawberry to grow
4. Environment in which the pots are placed
5. Size of pots
6. Material of pots
7. Type of strawberry seedling
8. Amount of water
9. Type of water
10. Amount of light
11. Amount of soil
12. Type of soil

Materials & Equipment used:

  7 individual strawberry seedlings
 7 pots
 Soil-husk mix (1.3kg per pot)
To make the soil-husk mix for each pot, mix in 975g of soil and 325g of husk. The
ratio of soil : husk for every pot
- 3:1
 Water
 Ruler
 16-16-16 NPK fertilizer (Depending on the state of your soil)
 Biofertilizer
 Measuring cylinder
 Weight scale
 Labelling stickers
 Marker
 Handheld shovel
 Root shovel
 2 bowls/cups (unused)

Method:

1. First, collect all the materials and equipments needed

2. Second, Separate the pots into 3 groups of two and 1 group of 1. Meaning 3 groups for each
concentration and the last group being the control using only water. 2 pots in the group of 3’s
because one will be using diluted NPK fertilizer and the other using diluted biofertilizer.
a. 2 pots for 0,1 g/ml diluted biofertilizer and diluted NPK fertilizer
b. 2 pots for 0.05 g/ml diluted biofertilizer and diluted NPK fertilizer
c. 2 pots for 0.025 g/ml diluted biofertilizer and diluted NPK fertilizer
d. 1 pot for control using 20 ml of water
3. Label each pot based on their concentration category and the type of fertilizer used using
labelling stickers
4. Place in 1.3 kg soil in each pot then add in 1 seedling for each pot gently using the shovel.
5. Mix in the fertilizer and water based on the concentrations set before, inside the cup.
6. Label each cup based on the fertilizer being mixed using labelling stickers
7. Pour over all of the the fertilizer-water mix for each plant and pour in all the water for the
control
8. Move all pots next to a sunny window to take advantage of natural light. Aim to provide your
seedlings 12-16 hours of light per day, either using natural light or grow lights. (If using
fluorescent grow lights, adjust the height of your lights as your seeds grow. You want your
lights to be about 4 inches (10 cm) above your seedlings.)

Taking care of the plant:

1. Every 4 days, pour the same amount and concentration of each fertilizer-water mix for each
plant and pour the same amount of water for the control.
2. In between those days, pour 20 ml of water to each plant
 3. Record the growth of the plant everyday by measuring the height of each plant and the
number of leaves on each plant
4. On the last day, record the weight of each leaf, length of each plant’s root and weight of each
plant’s root

Safety and Ethical considerations:

1. Be careful while handling with seedlings

 Treat seedlings as living things and act gentle on them
2. Wash and clean all materials thoroughly with soap and water before use
 Make sure too wash your containers, any garden tools, and your hands before you
handle your seedlings as seeds are sensitive and unclean tools could result in
contamination
3. Handle sharp tools with caution
 Always wear gloves and use tools only for their intended purpose. Store sharp
tools safely and out of reach when not being used.
4. Label clearly
 Make sure all of the apparatus used that may be harmful are labeled clearly
with proper warnings.
5. Wash hands
 After working with plants, especially if you've been handling soil, wash your
hands thoroughly to remove dirt and potential pathogens.
6. Lift safely
 When lifting heavy pots or bags of soil and fertilizer, use proper lifting
techniques (bend your knees, not your back) to avoid strains and injuries.

Raw data
Day 0:

Concentration Height of plant No. of leaves

20 ml water (Control) 5.8 cm 10
0.1 g/ml diluted biofertilizer 6.2 cm 20
0.1 g/ml diluted NPK 4.8 cm 16
0.05 g/ml diluted biofertilizer 7.5 cm 18
0.05 g/ml diluted NPK 8 cm 15
0.025 g/ml diluted biofertilizer 6.9 cm 16
0.025 g/ml diluted NPK 7.9 cm 18
 Day 4:

Concentration Height of plant No. of leaves

20 ml water (Control) 5.9 cm 14

0.1 g/ml diluted biofertilizer 7.6 cm 22

0.1 g/ml diluted NPK 4 cm 16

0.05 g/ml diluted biofertilizer 7.6 cm 26

0.05 g/ml diluted NPK 4 cm 12

0.025 g/ml diluted biofertilizer 6.7 cm 19

0.025 g/ml diluted NPK 7.7 cm 20

Day 8:

Concentration Height of plant No. of leaves

20 ml water (Control) 6 cm 14
0.1 g/ml diluted biofertilizer 7.6 cm 21
0.1 g/ml diluted NPK 3.8 cm 15
0.05 g/ml diluted biofertilizer 7.7 cm 26
0.05 g/ml diluted NPK 4.6 cm 12
0.025 g/ml diluted biofertilizer 6 cm 21
0.025 g/ml diluted NPK 6.2 cm 14

Day 12:

Concentration Height of plant No. of leaves

20 ml water (Control) 6 cm 16
0.1 g/ml diluted biofertilizer 6 cm 21
0.1 g/ml diluted NPK 4 cm 14
0.05 g/ml diluted biofertilizer 7.7 cm 31
0.05 g/ml diluted NPK 4.5 cm 12
0.025 g/ml diluted biofertilizer 6 cm 24
0.025 g/ml diluted NPK 5.8 cm 17
 Height of Plant
9.00
8.00
7.00
6.00
5.00
4.00
3.00
2.00
1.00
0.00
Day 0 Day 4 Day 8 Day 12

20 ml water 0.1 g/ml diluted biofertilizer 0.1 g/ml diluted NPK

0.05 g/ml diluted biofertilizer 0.05 g/ml diluted NPK 0.025 g/ml diluted biofertilizer
0.025 g/ml diluted NPK

Number of Leaves
35

30

25

20

15

10

0
Day 0 Day 4 Day 8 Day 12

20 ml water 0.1 g/ml diluted biofertilizer 0.1 g/ml diluted NPK

0.05 g/ml diluted biofertilizer 0.05 g/ml diluted NPK 0.025 g/ml diluted biofertilizer
0.025 g/ml diluted NPK