STEM12-C
THE EFFECTS OF
OYSTER SHELLS AS
AN ORGANIC
FERTILIZER ON
TOMATO PLANT
GROWTH
Reyes, Kendrei Louise
Rosima, Gile Kith
Sayson, Reinald Vitto
Seballos, Xavier Louis
Sorreno, Rhon
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Throughout this pandemic, urban gardening has been rising in communities
in the Philippines. Gardeners are developing these natural fertilizers to serve
as an alternative to these chemical fertilizers. These include the oyster shell
fertilizer,with its calcium content helping balance soil pH levels, improving
nitrate uptake, aiding enzyme formation, and strengthening plant cell walls
(Flad, 2015). As they do, more nutrients are provided directly to each plant
within the garden. Calcium enters the soil within the crushed shells after
each oyster shell breaks down (Bradley, 2018). Plants' pH levels are also
regulated and their fertilizer intake levels are increased. Crushed shells also
aid in the creation of habitat areas for soil bacteria in compost piles, allowing
them to break down the piles more quickly. (Jessimy,2021)
The researchers aimed to prove that oyster shell fertilizers contain the
necessary nutrients to affect the plant’s growth significantly.
Statement of the Problem
Gile Kith Rosima
This study aimed to determine the effects of using crushed oyster shells as
fertilizer on the growth of the plant.
Specifically, the researchers aim to answer the following questions:
1. What are the effects of using the crushed oyster shell as fertilizer on the
growth of tomato plant in terms of:
a. height
b. number of leaves
c. width
2. Is there a significant difference between the effects of using the crushed
oyster shell as fertilizer and commercially-available organic fertilizer in
terms of:
a. height
b. number of leaves
c. width
Hypothesis
Gile Kith Rosima
To guide the researchers in this study, the following hypothesis was
formulated:
There is no significant difference between _____ that use the
crushed oyster shell as fertilizer to commercially-available organic
fertilizer in terms of:
1. Height
2. Number of Leaves
3.Width
Kendrei Louise Reyes
Research Design
The researchers have deemed the experimental research design fit
for this study since the effect of the independent variable which
was the oyster shell fertilizer on the dependent variable which is
tomato plant growth, was analyzed through three treatments.
PROTOTYPE DESIGN
Experimental Set-ups
Three soil-filled plastic pots
planted with tomato seedlings
was
prepared
by
the
researchers. The first pot was
applied with oyster shell
fertilizer. The second pot was
applied with commercially
available chemical fertilizer.
The third pot was applied with
no fertilizer.
Subject of the Study
The researchers aimed to determine whether oyster
shell fertilizers have a positive or negative effect on
the growth of a tomato plant in terms of the height,
number of leaves, and width.
Materials and Equipment
The following materials will be utilized in this study:
(1.5kg) Oyster Shell
(1)Pack of Tomato Plant Seeds
(2)Plastic Pots
(500g) Soil
(1)Hammer
(1)Mesh shifter
(1)Pack of Chemical Fertilizer
(1)Measuring Tape
(1)Yard Stick
(2)Gloves
Data Gathering Procedure
Rhon Sorreno
Statistical Treatment
The following statistical tools was used in this study:
Mean is the sum of all the scores divided by the number of scores. This tool was
used in determining the effects of the oyster shell fertilizers on the tomato plant
growth by using the characteristics of the plant, such as measurements, like
width, height, and the number of leaves.
The ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) test is the first stage in determining which
factors influence a particular data set. This statistical tool is applicable since
there are three treatments, (I) oyster shell fertilizer treatment, (II) chemical
fertilizer treatment, and (III) no fertilizer treatment.
Each of these treatments will provide a substantial amount of means to be
used for this tool since ten seedlings are planted in each treatment.
Results and Discussion
The research was conducted on the effects of the Oyster Shell Fertilizer in
terms of height, width, and the number of its leaves.
The hypothesis was accepted since there were no significant differences
between the Oyster Shell Fertilizer and the ChemicalFertilizer and No fertilizer
treatments in terms of the numbers of leaves and width, having 0.558 and 0.195
p-values respectively.
However, even if there was no significant differences in most results, the Oyster
Shell Fertilizer produced better results than the other two treatments according
to the Post Hoc Test Results.
The hypothesis was acceptable because there was a significant difference in
height development between groups, with a p-value of 0.042, which was less
than the maximum 0.05. Because the oyster shell releases a significant
amount of nutrients into the soil (Bradley,2018), the plant outperformed the
chemical fertilizer in all categories.
However, this study does not prove that Oyster Shell Fertilizer is superior to
Chemical Fertilizer in all categories, as there are no significant differences in
many of them, with the exception of height.
This research found that oyster shell fertilizers contain the necessary
nutrients and vitamins to compete with chemical fertilizers, as oyster shells
contain calcium carbonate, which allows the plant to receive more nutrients
while also developing a much higher organic matter percentage from the
oyster shell meals.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The researchers recommend the data gathered to use in farming, agriculture,
and in future research studies.
The researchers recommend the data gathered in this study be used by
farmers, future researchers, or any organization that may benefit from this
knowledge.
The researchers recommend the following procedures to ensure a
smoother and more accurate research procedure:
Plant the seedlings in advance or use a fully-grown plant, to prevent
wasting recording and experiment time for this study.
Do not apply fertilizer on plants or seedlings under the age of 1 month.
Mix chemical fertilizers with water, to prevent over-application of the
fertilizer, which could lead to the death of the plant.
Use a grinder or power tools in facilities to pulverize the oyster shells
into powder and small bits precisely.
Place the plants in equal amounts of soil, and in areas
where they can receive equal amounts of sunlight. If
planting from seeds, plant multiple
amounts of seeds in each pot, to ensure that there are a
number of plants for the sample size and means needed in
this study.
APPENDICES
Materials and Equipment Used
Extra Materials Used:
1. Tape Measure
2. Yard Stick
3. Gloves