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NAME:NOKUTHABA

SURNAME:NYATHI

CANDIDATE NO:3080

CENTRE NUMBER:100420

AGRICULTURE PROJECT-2024

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TOPIC

A comparative investigation on the effects of compound D and cow dung manure on field
beans,in relation to germination rate,growth rate in terms of stem height and final yields from the
planting day 11th of February 2024 to the harvesting day 6th of May 2024.

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OBJECTIVES

1.To compare the germination percentage of field beans with cow dung manure with those with
compound D fertilizer by counting emerged seedlings after a week of planting.

2.To compare stem size of beans with compound D and cow dung by measuring the stem height
of few selected plants weekly from emergence to harvesting time.

3.To compare the final yields of field beans by weighing using a scale.

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INTRODUCTION

WHERE

I did my project at Townsend high school,it is located in Bulawayo which is in region 4 in a

surbub called Ilanda.I carried out my project on the Townsend high school garden.The garden is
located behind our science block next to the fish pond.

WHEN

I started my project on the 11th of february 2024 and harvested on 6th of May 2024.I did weekly
checkups from the germination day until the harvesting day.

WHAT

I carried out my project to compare germination rate,stem size and final yields between
compound D and cow dung manure,to see which one is most suitable for bean plantation.

HOW

I prepared two beds of equal size in the school garden and measured 3m by 1,5m and named the
two beds bed A and bed B.

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WHY

I carried out this project to advise learners and farmers on which one is most suitable for the
plantation of beans.

PROCEDURE(how each objective will be achieved)

1.To determine germination rate a week after planting by counting the number of emerged
seedlings and calculating to get the average percentage.

2.To determine stem size of both beds in terms of height weekly after planting

3.To determine yield in both beds,one containing compound D and one containing cow dung
manure at harvesting in terms of kilograms and grams.

For the yield i will compare the number of yield collected from each bed using a scale.

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METHODOLOGY

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Objective: To compare the effects of cow dung manure and compound D fertilizer on the
germination, stem growth, and final yield of bean plants.

Materials and tools used:

 Bean seeds

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 cow dung manure

 compound D manure

 watering can

 measuring tape measure

 Scale

BED PREPARATION

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 I first marked some space where i was going to create my two beds using a string.

 I then weeded using a hoe to clear the land,i used a digger to remove small tree stumps so
they would not grow back.I removed the grass and some unwanted plants using a hoe and
hands.

 I then loosened the soil using a shovel,i then the soil to an approximate depth of 15cm.I
then destroyed the large lumps of the soil using a hoe and a spade.

 I then leveled the soil using a rake ,to make the soil level.

 I then measured a length of 3m and a width of 1m for the first bed and made ridges,i then
did the same for the other bed.

 I named my two beds, bed A and bed B.

 I then applied compound D on bed A.I evenly spread the compound D on the soil
surface.I then incorporated the fertilizer on the top 15cm of the soil surface using a hoe
and a rake.

 On bed B i applied cow dung manure,i evenly spread the matured manure.I applied 9kgs
of cow dung manure.I then incorporated the manure on the top 15cm of the soil using a
rake.

 I then watered both beds to allow the manure and fertilizer to settle and to start the
nutrients absorption.

 I then waited 1 week to let the nutrients integrate with soil and to minimize the burning of
young plants.

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How I planted.

After one week of waiting for the manure and fertilizer to settle into the soil i figured it was time
for planting the bean seeds so this is what i did:

I chose high quality beans that are high yielders and are good disease tolerant

 I planted the seeds in a depth of 25mm.

 I then used a ruler to measure a spacing of 30cm.

 As i was planting i created 2 rows with 6 seedlings each,Therefore i planted 12 seedlings

in total on both beds.

 I applied mulch on both beds

 I then thoroughly watered both beds .

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How each objective will be achieved

1.To compare germination percentage both beds to enhance soil moisture of beans with cow
dung manure with those with compound D fertilizer.

 I continuously watered throughout the week whilst waiting for the seeds to emerge.

 I will count the number of emerged seedlings and divide by the total number of seeds
planted.

Then compare the germination percentage of the 2 beds and then record.

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2. To compare the stem size of beans with compound D and cow dung by measuring the
stem height

 I will select a few plants and measure their height weekly from emergence to harvest time
and then compare.

3.To compare the final yields

 I will compare the final yields by measuring the beans harvested from each bed using a
scale then record.

Literature review

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The choice of fertilizer is crucial for optimizing crop growth and yield in agriculture.
Cow dung manure and compound D fertilizer are two common fertilizers used to enhance
soil fertility and plant growth. This literature review aims to support the use of cow dung
manure over compound D fertilizer for bean plant cultivation by examining their nutrient
content, effects on soil health, plant growth, environmental impact, and economic
considerations.
During my project,I found out that organic manure is much reliable than inorganic
fertilizers on the plantation of field beans as Bed B which contained cow dung manure
produced more beans than compared to Bed A.In bed B more seedlings emerged than
compared to bed A.Cow dung manure has been observed to improve germination rates
and early seedling emergence. This is attributed to the enhanced soil structure and
moisture retention capabilities, which create a favorable environment for seed
germination and root development than compared to compound D. My research indicates
that plants grown with cow dung manure produce greater stem height, leaf size, and
overall yield compared to those grown with compound D fertilizer. The steady nutrient
release and improved soil health contribute to more healthier plant growth .

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Data collection

After 1 week,the seedlings finally germinated,unfortunately not all seedlings emerged:

BED A

On bed A ,bed A contains compound D fertilizer,only 10 germinated out of the 12 that

were planted.

Here is the calculated germination percentage of bed A

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(10÷12)×100

Germination Rate (%)=83.33%

BED B

12÷12×100

In bed b which had cow dung manure,all 12 seedlings germinated therefore the project was
100% successful.

12÷12×100=100%

Bed A germination % Bed B germination %

83.33% 100%

After one weeks of germination,my plants were now measurable in terms of stem height,I started
measuring weekly to until harvesting.Therefore i selected 5 plants from each bed.

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STEM HEIGHT OF BED B WITH COW DUNG MANURE

Average stem height =34.3+35.5+28.5+29.2+30.1÷5

week Plant 1 Plant 2 Plant 3 Plant 4 Plant 5

Cm cm cm cm cm
2 3.0 5.0 3.5 4.1 5.5
3 5.0 7.0 5.1 6.0 7.0
4 7.0 9.5 7.2 8.5 9.3
5 9.0 11.0 9.3 10.2 11.5
6 11.5 13.4 12.0 12.0 13.0
7 13.3 15.0 14.2 14.3 15.0
8 15.5 17.0 16.3 17.2 18.0
9 18.5 19.0 19.0 19.0 20.2
10 22.0 23.0 22.2 21.0 22.2
11 26.5 27.4 24.4 24.5 26.3
12 29.5 30.2 26.2 26.0 28.2
13 34.3 35.5 28.5 29.2 30.1

=31.52cm

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STEM height of bed A

week Plant 1 Plant 2 Plant 3 Plant 4 Plant 5

cm cm

2 2.2 5.0 4.4 3.5 3.0

3 3.0 7.0 5.5 5.0 4.5

4 5.0 9.2 7.2 6.2 6.0

5 6.2 11.1 9.0 8.0 7.5

6 7.4 13.2 11.0 10.5 10.2

7 8.5 16.0 13.2 12.0 11.5

8 10.2 18.5 15.2 14.5 13.3

9 11.2 20.0 18.0 17.5 16.0

10 12.4 23.0 21.5 19.3 19.0

11 14.0 27.0 24.5 24.0 23.0

12 17.0 30.5 29.5 27.0 26.0

Average stem height=17.0+30.5+29.5+27.0+26.0 divided by 5

=26,0cm

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DATA ANALYSIS

Comments

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During my study,i observed that bed b which had cow dung manure had a higher
germination percentage than compared to bed A with compound D.

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Comments

During my research i observed that plants in bed B exhibited big stems than compared to plants
in bed A.

FINAL YIELD COMPARISON

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Yield Comparison Field studies comparing cow dung manure and compound D fertilizer have
consistently shown higher yields in crops treated with cow dung manure. The organic matter in
cow dung not only provides essential nutrients but also enhances soil fertility and structure,
leading to improved water and nutrient uptake by plants. This results in higher bean yields and
better quality
produce .

Total weight in kgs Yield per kg

bed

Bed A 2 0.2

Bed B 3 0.25

Comments

Final yields,the table above shows that the plants in bed B performed much better than those in
bed A.

SUMMARY/CONCLUSION

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In my bean plant experiment, i compared the performance of two beds: Bed A and Bed B. Bed A
had 10 seedlings emerge and yielded a total of 2 kg of beans, with each plant producing 0.2 kg of
beans. In contrast, Bed B had 12 seedlings emerge and produced a total of 3 kg of beans, with
each plant yielding 0.25 kg of beans. These results show that Bed B not only produced more
beans overall but also had a higher yield per plant compared to Bed A.
Overall, the project was a success as it effectively demonstrated the differences in productivity
between the two beds. However, several obstacles were faced during the project. These included
managing the variations in seedling emergence rates and ensuring consistent growing conditions
for accurate comparisons. Despite these challenges, the findings provide valuable insights into
the effectiveness of different growing conditions for bean plants.

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RECOMMENDATIONS

I highly recommend farmers and students to use organic manure,specifically cow dung manure
when planting field beans because during my study i observed that plants with cow dung manure
had high germination,high stem height and high yield and it produced healthy beans.

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I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Yolanda, Maud, and Sibusiso for their invaluable
support throughout this bean plant project. Yolanda’s assistance with planting and
monitoring, Maud’s help with data collection, and Sibusiso’s expertise in analyzing results
were crucial to the success of the experiment. Your dedication and hard work were essential
in achieving our project goals. I would also like to thank my Maths teacher Mr Maketo for
helping me with the calculations. Thank you for your commitment and contributions!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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Bhardwaj, V., Yadav, A., & Sharma, S.K. (2010). Comparative effects of organic manures and
inorganic fertilizers on soil fertility, yield and quality of beans.

REFERENCE

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William Lockeretz:
1. Book: Organic Farming: An International History (2007)
2. What He Said: Lockeretz discusses the role of organic fertilizers, including cow dung, in
sustainable agriculture. He notes that cow dung improves soil fertility and plant growth in
terms of stem size, which can benefit crops like field beans by providing essential
nutrients and improving soil structure.

Francisco J. Villalba:
1. Book: Principles of Agronomy for Sustainable Agriculture (2008)
2. What He Said: Villalba discusses the benefits of organic fertilizers, including cow dung,
for improving crop production. He notes that cow dung enhances soil structure and
exhibits high germination rate and nutrient content, which is advantageous for crops like
field beans.

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