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Cavite State University – Bacoor Campus
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Phase II, Soldiers Hills IV, Molino VI, City of Bacoor, Cavite

The Effects of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers on Pechay (Brassica rapa L.) Under Drought Stress Condition

Research Project on General Biology
Presented by:
Lozanta, Rose Ann E.
Villaflor, Jemeul M.
BSE 1 – 1 E

Submitted to:
Ms. Carol Tamayo
Biology Instructor
Abstract
The assessment of the effects of vermicompost as organic fertilizer and urea as inorganic fertilizer on pechay (Brassica rapa L.) under drought stress condition was obtained through experimental method using fertilization technique. This study will help to determine if the two fertilizers can extend the life of the pechay during drought. The study was conducted under two trials with the same technique using three set ups. The two set ups were put with the respective fertilizer while the other one have no fertilizer and will be watered regularly to serve as control variable. To evaluate the effects, changes were measured in terms of plant height, leaf area length, number of leaves per plant, texture, color and size of stem. The result of variance analysis showed that putting fertilizers on pechay under drought stress condition had significantly affected its growth and can lead into death of the plants. It strongly shows that using fertilizer on plants during drought is not advisable.

Table of Contents

Page
Title Page 1
Abstract 2
Table of Contents 3
Introduction 4
Methodology 6
Results and Discussions 10
Conclusions 12
Bibliography 13
Appendices 16
Appendix A 17
Appendix B 18

Introduction
Pechay (Brassica rapa L.) is a popular vegetable in the Philippines. Also known as snow cabbage, Chinese chard or Chinese white cabbage is consumed both as raw and cooked. Ideally, it is eaten raw to prevent possible loss of its nutritional value when heated. It is an excellent source of income and a hobby even for limited space adopting the very popular vertical gardening with the use of recycled containers as potting media (Prado, et. al., 2013). Pechay (Brassica rapa L.) is a major vegetable crop, rich in vitamin C and contains significant amounts of nitrogen compounds known as indoles, as well as fiber - both of which appear to lower the risk of various forms of cancer (Murray, 2005). However, environmental stress affects the plant life. Drought is one of the most important abiotic stress factors which affect almost every aspects of plant growth. Drought or more generally, limited water availability is the main factor limiting crop production (Seghatoleslami, et. al., 2008).
This type of stress can strongly affect the pechay (Brassica rapa L.) production since it needs good irrigation. Organic (vermicompost) and inorganic (urea) fertilizers will use to test the growth of potted pechay (Brassica rapa L.) during drought.
Fertilizers supplement the soil with macronutrients needed in large amounts: nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. However, organic and inorganic fertilizers contain different ingredients and supply these nutrients in different ways. Organic fertilizers contain only plant- or animal-based materials that are either a byproduct or end product of naturally occurring processes. Inorganic fertilizer is comprised of synthetic artificial ingredients manufactured and ready to use on plants. Chemical and mineral deposits often comprise the properties of this fertilizer.
In a perfect world, your garden’s soil would provide all the nutrients plants need but because of different environmental stress, soil’s capacity to supply the nutrients is affected. The combined effects of drought stress and fertilization on pechay (Brassica rapa L.) are important for the development of its cultivation. It is necessary to conduct this study to find out if the two fertilizers can help the pechay (Brassica rapa L.) survive under drought stress condition.

Methodology I. Research Design
The experimental method of research was used in this study to test the combined effects of fertilization and drought stress on the growth of pechay (Brassica rapa L.).
Good defined the experimental method of research as a method or procedure involving the control or manipulation of conditions for the purpose of studying the relative effects of various treatments applied to members of a sample or of the same treatment applied to members of different samples. (Good, p.216) II. Experimental Set Up The materials used in the experiment are vermicompost and urea fertilizers, three potted soils and pechay. Figure 1. Materials Pechay seeds were allowed to germinate from December 22-26, 2014.The pechay seeds were put on a potted soil and placed in an area that receives enough sunlight (Figure 2). Figure 2. Germination of Pechay Seedlings The study was conducted under two trials with the same technique using three set ups. The two set ups were put with the respective fertilizer while the other one have no fertilizer and will be watered regularly to serve as control variable. The first trial was put under a three week observation. The experiment used three potted pechay plants and was conducted from December 22, 2014 to January 9, 2015. The Plant A has no fertilizer and being watered regularly to serve as control variable; Plant B was put with vermicompost and the Plant C with urea fertilizer (Figure 3).

Figure 3. The Three Set Ups The initial measurement (Figure 4) of the three set ups were recorded in terms of plant height, leaf area length, number of leaves per plant, texture, color and size of stem before the application of vermicompost and urea fertilizers on January 7, 2015 for experiment observation during drought condition. Figure 4. Initial Findings
During the experimentation, the measurement of the plants on the three set ups were taken once using ruler. This information is needed to observe if there will be changes happen in putting fertilizers on pechay under drought stress condition. One tablespoon of urea was put and 25% mixture of soil and vermicompost added.

Figure 5. Results of First Trial

After two days observation under drought condition, the Plant B with vermicompost and Plant C with urea died while the Plant A that has no fertilizer and being watered regularly was continuous in growing (Figure 5).
The second trial (Figure 6) was conducted two weeks from January 9-23, 2015 has the same result of the first trial.

Figure 6. Results of Second Trials
Results and Discussions
The growth characteristics of the pechay (Brassica rapa L.) were put under two trials observation during drought condition. The study showed the following results regarding the pechay growth.
Table 1. First Trial: Initial Findings of the Three Set Ups Before the Experiment January 7, 2015, 5:30 pm Plant | No. of Leaves | Size of Leaves | Height of Plants | Size of Stem | Color of Leaves | Texture | | | | | | | | A | 2 seed leaves | 1 cm | 7cm | Small | Green | Smooth | B | 2 seed leaves | 0.7 cm | 3 cm | Small | Green | Smooth | C | 2 seed leaves | 0.9 cm | 5 cm | Small | Green | Smooth |

Table 2. First Trial: Results after the Experiment January 9, 2015, 3:00 pm Plant | No. of Leaves | Size of Leaves | Height of Plants | Size of Stem | Color of Leaves | Texture | | | | | | | | A (without fertilizer) | 2 seed leaves | 1 cm | 7cm | Small | Green | Smooth | Died
B (with vermicompost) | | | | | | | C (with urea) | | | | | | |

During the first trial (Table 1), the findings were show the growth of pechay plants without any fertilizers. In Table 2, it shows the changes of the result of applying fertilizers which led into death of the Plants B and C.
Table 3. Second Trial: Initial Findings of the Three Set Ups Before the Experiment January 21, 2015, 4:00 pm Plant | No. of Leaves | Size of Leaves | Height of Plants | Size of Stem | Color of Leaves | Texture | | | | | | | | A | 2 seed leaves | 0.5 cm | 3 cm | Small | Green | Smooth | B | 2 seed leaves | 0.3 cm | 3 cm | Small | Green | Smooth | C | 2 seed leaves | 0.4 cm | 1 cm | Small | Green | Smooth |

Table 4. Second Trial: Results after the Experiment January 23, 2015, 6:00 pm Plant | No. of Leaves | Size of Leaves | Height of Plants | Size of Stem | Color of Leaves | Texture | | | | | | | | A (without fertilizer) | 2 seed leaves | 0.5 cm | 3 cm | Small | Green | Smooth | Died
B (with vermicompost) | | | | | | | C (with urea) | | | | | | |

During the second trial (Table 3), the findings were show the growth of pechay plants without any fertilizers. In Table 3, it shows the changes of the result of applying fertilizers which led into death of the Plants B and C. The result is the same with the first trial.
The result of the experiment revealed that fertilizers should not be applied during drought as this will lead to burning of the roots and eventually plant will die. The plants to be fed should be watered abundantly well before fertilizer is applied and watering continued afterwards.
Conclusions
Farmers and landowners need to be aware of the effects of any fertilizers to the growth of plants during limited water availability to avoid wrong production and agriculture treatment. It was showed from the study that even the organic fertilizer cannot help the plant to prolong its life during drought because its nutrients are partly tied up in organic compounds that have to be mineralized first before to be available to plants which will take time before plants can use. Likewise, the inorganic fertilizer which contains other chemicals and salts is also can damage the plant. Adding too much of the inorganic fertilizer also burns or kills the plants and their roots and can make soil toxic after continuous use which can create chemical imbalances.
Fertilizer should be applied after drought has ended and soils are recharged by rainfall. Applying fertilizers during drought will have impact on plant growth because water is the limiting factor.

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Bibliography
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Appendices

Appendix A
Pictures of Plants with Fertilizers

Appendix B