CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY
A. Research Design
The research employs experimental research design where fish internal organs
were the material used to develop the organic fish internal organs emulsion fertilizer.
The effectiveness of the organic fish internal organs emulsion fertilizer was compared
to the effectiveness of the complete inorganic fertilizer (7-7-7) on pechay (Brassica
chinensis) using the water culture method of hydroponics. All the extraneous
variables like amount of water, sunlight, fertilizer, location and time of the experiment
were controlled. All the samples are mostly homogenous. The random selection of
sprouts to be grown in the hydroponic system was done to give each sample equal
chance of being selected. The plants were grown until harvest time. The height,
number of leaves and weight of the pechay were then measured. The measurement of
the height of pechay was done using a ruler. A simple spring balance was used to
measure the weight of pechay. The means and sample standard deviations of the
height, number leaves was then calculated. The t-test was used to determine the
acceptance or rejection of the hypothesis of the study.
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B. Materials and Equipment
Materials
1 5-gallon bucket with lid
sandy loam soil
½ kg dried grass
4 24”x24” seed boxes
½ kg dried leaves
2 38” wide 1” thick Styrofoam sheet
1 small gardening shovel
1 tablespoon
1 pair of gloves
1 watering can
1/2 kg newspapers
2 12” deep 24” long 36” wide trays
40 pechay seeds
1 medium-sized nail
Equipments
2 aquarium pumps
1 12” ruler
1 blender
1 simple spring balance
1 dropper
Chemicals/Ingredients
½ kg sugar
3 kg fish internal organs
tap water
3 kg complete inorganic (7-7-7)
fertilizer
2 tablespoons Epsom salt
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C. General Procedures
Planting of the pechay seeds
The four seed boxes were drilled with small holes in the bottom using a
medium-sized nail. The seed boxes were checked if it is dry and clean before putting
the sandy loam soil. The sandy loam soil was put into the seed boxes and was
loosened using the small gardening shovel. The pechay seeds were then sown into the
loam soil 3 inches apart from each other on all sides to give enough space for the
seeds’ growth. Water the seeds using the watering can every day.
Preparation of the fish internal organs emulsion fertilizer
All the fish internal organs were put into a blender and mixed with warm
water. The blender was used to emulsify the internal organs gradually. The 5-gallon
bucket’s bottom was filled with ample amounts of dried leaves, dried grass, and
newspaper to cover the bottom part. The emulsified fish internal organs were then
added to the 5-gallon bucket. These dried leaves, dried grass, and newspaper helps to
control the smell and absorb extra nitrogen from the fish internal organs. Five
tablespoons of sugar was added to the fertilizer. This helps to control the fish
emulsion smell and also build up the microbes in order to speed up the process of
decomposition. Two tablespoons of Epsom salt were also added to add needed
magnesium (Mg) and sulphur (S). The fish emulsion was stirred two times per day
and always covered with the lid after stirring. The fish internal organs emulsion
fertilizer was decomposed for two weeks. The fish emulsion fertilizer was then
diluted with water to a 1L : 5L (fertilizer is to water) ratio.
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Preparation of the complete inorganic (7-7-7) fertilizer
The complete inorganic (7-7-7) fertilizer was readied in powdered form. The
fertilizer was diluted with water to a 1L : 5L (fertilizer is to water) ratio. The solution
was stirred to properly dissolve the complete inorganic (7-7-7) fertilizer in water.
Setting up of the hydroponic system
The two trays were half-filled with tap water. The trays were covered with the
Styrofoam sheets which are drilled with 1-inch holes for the transplanting of the
pechay sprouts. The two aquarium pumps were attached to the bottoms of the trays to
aerate the nutrient solution mixed with the tap water for later use. One liter of the
organic fish internal organs emulsion fertilizer was loaded to the first tray and
properly mixed with tap water to distribute the organic fertilizer evenly throughout the
water. The second tray was loaded with the complete inorganic (7-7-7) fertilizer
solution and was also stirred for even distribution of the inorganic fertilizer.
Transplanting of the pechay sprouts
The pechay sprouts were transplanted to the holes in the Styrofoam sheet after
growing the seedlings to sprouts. The roots of the pechay sprouts must be immersed
in the mixture of tap water and fertilizers. There were fifteen sprouts per tray. The
nutrient solution in the tray was aerated often using the aquarium pumps. The
fertilizers and tap water in each tray were changed every week.
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D. Experimental Set-up
Table 1. Experimental Set-up
TRAY 1
TRAY 2
Pechay
Pechay
15
15
Sufficient
Sufficient
AMOUNT OF WATER
Plenty
Plenty
KIND OF FERTILIZER
Organic fertilizer
Inorganic fertilizer
AMOUNT OF FERTILIZER
1 L per 5L water
1 L per 5L water
Same time with Tray 2 plants
Same time with Tray 1 plants
Researcher’s house
Researcher’s house
Tray
Variables
KIND OF PLANT
NUMBER OF PLANTS
AMOUNT OF SUNLIGHT
TIME OF PLANTING
LOCATION OF PLANTING
E. Procedures/Instruments in Data Gathering
The height of each harvested pechay was measured using a ruler. A simple
spring balance was used in measuring the weight of each pechay plant. The number of
leaves was counted manually by the researchers. The quantitative data were recorded
on a paper in tabular form.
F. Statistical Tools for Data Analysis
The means for the height, number of leaves and weight of harvested pechay
plants were calculated separately. The sample standard deviation was also calculated
using the calculated means of the different factors of plant growth rate. The t-test was
used to determine if there is any significant difference between the two treatments’
effects on plant growth rate.
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∑𝑛𝑖=1 𝑓𝑖𝑋𝑖
X=
n
Mean Equation
where X = sample mean
Xi = values in the set
fi = frequencies in the set
n = sample size, total number of values in the set
s = √∑𝑛𝑖=1
(𝑋𝑖 – 𝑋)
2
𝑛−1
Sample Standard Deviation Formula
where s = sample standard deviation
Xi = scores in the sample
X = mean of the sample
n = sample size or total number of scores in the sample
n – 1 = degrees of freedom
t=
(𝑋−𝑌)
𝑠 2 𝑠 2
√ 𝑥 + 𝑁𝑦
𝑁𝑥
𝑦
t-test Formula
where t = t-value
X = sample mean of X group
Y = sample mean of Y group
sx = sample standard deviation of X group
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sy = sample standard deviation of Y group
Nx = size of X sample
Ny = size of Y sample
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Planting of the Pechay Seeds
Preparation of the Fish Internal
Organs Emulsion Fertilizer
Preparation of the Complete
Inorganic (7-7-7) Fertilizer
Setting up of the Hydroponic System
Transplanting of the Pechay Sprouts
Tray 1
Organic fish internal
organs emulsion fertilizer
Tray 2
Complete Inorganic
(7-7-7) Fertilizer
Figure 3. Flow Chart of the General Procedures