CHEMISTRY

I nv es tiga tor y
Pro jec t

Kamal Singh
th
12 A
K.V. 2 Colaba
Mum ba i
FERTILIZERS
 Certificate
This is hereby to certify that the
original and genuine
investigation work has been
carried out to investigate about
the subject matter and the
related data collection and
investigation has been completed
solely, sincerely and satisfactorily
th
by Kamal Singh a student of class 12
A of Kendriya Vidyalaya 2 Colaba Mumbai ,
regarding his project titled
“Fertilizers” .

EXAMINER SIGNATURE TEACHER SIGNATURE

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

It would be my utmost pleasure to express

my sincere thanks to my Chemistry teacher
Mrs.Shilpa Rana mam in providing a
helping hand in this project. Her valuable
guidance, support and supervision all through
this project are responsible for attaining its
present form. I would also like to thank
my parents and friends as they encouraged me
to put forward my project.
 CONTENTS
 Background of study
 Statement of the problem
 Hypothesis
 Significance of the study
 Score and Limitation
 Definition of terms
 Experimentation and Analysis

Bibliography
 INTRODUCTION
Plants need to be fertilized because most soil does not
provide essential nutrients required for optimum growth. Even if
the person is lucky enough to start with great garden soil, as
your plants grow, they absorb nutrients and leave the soil less
fertile. Nutrients in the soil also help plants grow strong. Some
nutrients that plants need are nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium,
calcium, magnesium, and sulfur.
Fertilizers, also known as food elements, are materials
produced to supple these elements in a readily available form
of plant use. It helps to make plants grow faster which help
some farmers and gardeners for their business. Choosing the
right fertilizer help us to get everything we need from the plants
we eat or from the meat of animals that eat plants. Plants are
factories that do all of the work to process the basic elements of
life and make them available to us.
Fertilizers help feed the world. The FARO has stated that
“after land and water, fertilizers are probably the most
important input leading to increased yields”. It is inherently
difficult to estimate the share of fertilizers in increasing
agricultural output since so many factors are involved. It has
been estimated that fertilizer contribute about 40% of the
nitrogen in human protein consumption, it follows that nearly
one third of this protein depends on fertilizers. Therefore, it is
important for us to know which fertilizers to use for us to
sustain properly the needs of every plant.
Increased crop production largely relies on the type of
fertilizers used to supplement essential nutrients for plants.
Fertilizer application is required to replace crop land nutrients
that have been consumed by previous plant growth with the
ultimate goal of maximizing productivity and economic returns.
Now a day, there is increased emphasis on the impact on soil
environment due to continuous use of chemical fertilizers. The
impact of chemical fertilizer application on agricultural land is
seen not only in terms of the soil quality but also on the
survival of soil organisms dwelling there in. Chemical
fertilizers provide three major plant nutrients; nitrogen,
phosphorus and potassium or NPK. However, the ever
increasing cost of commercial fertilizer products driven, in part,
by the inevitable depletion of global phosphorus, is forcing
producers to look for alternative sources like bio-fertilizers and
other organically-based solutions. In literature, some
researchers have concluded the chemical fertilizers to be
harmful for soil organisms but on the contradictory they have
been supported too to be beneficial as far as their food supply
is concern. The primary advantages of using biosolids as a
fertilizer alternative are cost efficiencies and the presence of
nutrients and organic matter. Returning these valuable
materials back to the soils is a critical element in long-term
sustainability.
 Statement of the
problem
This research aim to compare 2 different brand of fertilizer:
Chemical fertilizer and Citrus Sinensis Peeling (bio-fertilizers),
specifically the researchers sought to answer the following
questions:

 How do the researchers determine the effectively of these

product?
 What are advantages and disadvantages of using these
fertilizers?
 Which fertilizer will make plants grow faster and
healthier?
 Which fertilizer is better and safer to use: Citrus Sinensis
Peeling or branded fertilizer?
 Hypothesis
The researchers will determine the effectivity of the product by
testing the effectivity of 2 brand of fertilizer in separate plants
(Plant A and Plant B). After the testing, the researchers will
record the result and make a statement about the research.
 Significance of the
study
The study is beneficial to:
1. Farmers and gardeners- the benefit of this study will help
them to improve the quality of their products, save time
with their work, and get a higher profit.
2. Environment- the benefit of this study will help our
environment by helping the soil and plants to sustain their
needs and provide the essential nutrients required for
optimum growth.
3. Agricultural company- the benefit of this study will help
them to give a good service to their customers by giving
them a high and good quality products (ex: rice,
vegetables, and fruits)
4. Community- the benefit of this study will help the
community to sense this as a source of income if made into
a business.
 Score and Limitation
The following information of this research will come from
different textbooks, surveys of different researchers, information
stated of the product, and some information in the internet
about the subject which is plants and fertilizers. The factors to
consider covered by this study are to evaluate the effectiveness,
cost, and functionality of the fertilizer.
Through the study shows high feasibility, there are still
boundaries that shall be set to further facilitate the research
process. In the study, there shall be two set-ups; thus set-up A:
plant fertilized with citrus sinensis peelings, set-up B: plant
fertilize with branded fertilizer. The researchers will then
identify its difference.
The following limitations are:
 Sunlight is one of the important materials in doing this
study. Without sunlight, this experiment can’t be
processed.
 Some informations gathered from surveys,
questionnaires and reference materials.
 Cost and availability that will be covered from this
study.
 Time management
Definition of terms
The following technical terms are defined in this
study.
 Nitrogen- tasteless odorless gaseous chemical element
 Phosphorus- poisonous waxy chemical element
 Potassium- silver white metallic chemical element
 Calcium- a soft gray alkaline earth metal, fifth most
abundant element by mass in the earth’s crust.
 Sulfur- an abundant, multivalent non-metal
 Citrus Sinensis- the scientific name of sweet oranges. It
is what most consumers commonly buy.
 Experimentation
The research about the comparison between 2 different brands
of fertilizer was aimed to help the community to be aware of the
importance of fertilizers and also to give them the information
in which fertilizer to use for their plants. Books, internet, and
other references materials were used as the primary sources of
information to strengthen the researchers’ view on this topic. But
these were not enough, so experiments were conducted by the
researchers to gain additional information.
A. Materials:
 Pot A and Pot B
 Good quality of soil
 Seeds to be use (any
kind of plant: pechay)
 Water
 Sunlight
 Branded Fertilizer

 Orange peelings
 Methodology

Procedure:
1. Sow seeds thinly on shallow furrows across the seed pot,
and cover lightly with fine topsoil. Do not broadcast seeds
when sowing to avoid thick germination in one place.
2. Water the seed pot daily. Watering and other cultural
management practices should be regularly done.
3. Apply liberal amount of fertilizer (Citrus Sensis Peeling
for pot A and branded fertilizer for pot B) at the base of
the plants, then cover lightly with soil and water
immediately.
4. Water the plant whenever necessary or depending on your
own judgment or observation of the plant
5. Always remember to give both pots a presence of sunlight
for their process of growing.
6. Every week, measure the height of both plants.
 Observe

As long as the researchers followed the procedures, success

of experimentation will be achieved. Factors such as
sunlight could affect the study. In addition, if this is not
available, possible that this study could fail. However,
researchers could try it once more again and again until
the study is evaluated.
Analysis of fertilizers
Elements:
NITROGEN:
Major fertilizers containing N:

(a) Ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3)

(b) Potassium nitrate (KNO3)
(c) Urea (NH2CONH2)
(d) Ammonium sulphate [(NH4)2SO4]

Preparation:
Most of nitrogen fertilizers are obtained form synthetic NH3.
This chemical compound is used as gas or in water
solution or it is converted to salts.

Nitrogen Deficiencies
(a) Pale, green, yellow leaves
(b) Stunted growth

Nitrogen in Excess –
(a) Lower disease resistance
(b) Weaken stem
(c) Decay maturity
(d) Lower fruit quality
PHOSPHORUS:
Major fertilizers containing P:

(a)DAP – Diammonium phosphate [(NH4)2PO4]

(b)Ca3(PO4)2 – Calcium phosphate
(c)Triple phosphate and super phosphate

Preparation:

Most phosphoric fertilizers are obtained by the treatment of

calcium phosphate with H2SO4 and phosphoric
fertilizers. Calcium phosphate is mainly derived from
phosphate rock and bones. Phosphate rock is found in
deposits of sedimentary origin laid down on beds of ocean
floor.

Phosphorus deficiencies –
(a) Pale purple colour on the underside of leaves
(b) Reduced flower, fruits and seed production

Advantages of P:
1. Encourage cell division
2. Hastens maturity, offsetting quick growth caused by N
3. Encourage root growth
4. Increase disease resistance

Phosphorous in excess
1. Causes dehydration of roots
2. Increase soluble
salt content of medium
POTASSIUM:
Major fertilizers containining K:

1. Potassium chloride (Potash)

2. Potassium nitrate (KNO3)

Preparation:

It is the seventh most abundant element found in earth’s crust.

Potassium chloride which is principal commercial
form of potash and some KNO3 is also used for production of
potash fertilizer.

Potassium deficiencies:
1. Leaves appear dry and scorched
2. Irregular yellow areas on the surface

Advantages of K:
1. Increase disease resistance
2. Encourage healthy root and stems
3. Essential for starch formation
4. Efficient use of CO2

Potassium in excess
1. Affects soil acidity
2. Reduced flower, fruit and seed production
Fertilisers V

Experiment Observation Inference

1. Take a pinch of No reaction Dil. group absent
fertilizer + few
drops of dil.
H2SO4
2. Take a pinch of No reaction Conc. group absent
fertilizer + few
drops of conc.
H2SO4

3. Take 1 ml of No reaction Volatile group

soda extract and absent
acidify it with dil

HCl. Add few

drops of BaCl2
soln. to it.

4. A pinch of No reaction Zero group absent

fertilizer + few
drops of NaOH
soln.
Heat it.

5. Take 1 ml of O.S No reaction 1st group absent

(original solution)
in a solution
and to it add few
drops of dil. HCl
6. Take 1 ml of O.S No reaction 2nd group absent
(original solution)
in a solution,
to it add few drops
of dil. HCl. Warm
the solution,
and pass H2S gas.

7. Take 1 ml of O.S No reaction 3rd group absent

(original solution)
in a solution
and to it add few
drops of dil. HCl
.add few drops
of conc. HNO3.heat
it. Cool it. Add a
pinch of solid
NH4Cl followed by
excess of NH4OH.
8. Take 1 ml of O.S No reaction IV group absent
(original solution)
in a solution
and to it add few
drops of dil. HCl.
Add a pinch of
solid NH4Cl
followed by excess
of NH4OH. Warm
the solution and
pass H2S gas.
9. Take 1 ml of OS White ppt V group present,
+ few drops of dil. may be
HCl + a pinch Ba2+, Kr2+ or
of solid NH4Cl + 1 Ca2+
or 2 ml of
(NH4)2CO3

10. Filter the white White ppt Ca2+ confirmed.

precipitate, take a
part of it, and
dissolve it in
minimum amount of
CH3COOH.
Now add
(NH4)2C2O4

11. Flame test Brick red flame Ca2+ confirmed.

RESULT
Fertilizer has Ca2+ as cation. (The fertilizer detected is Vermi
Compost).
*****
Fertilizer–III

Experiment Observation Inference

1. Take 1 ml of Prussian blue Nitrogen present in

Lassaigne Solution colour elemental
(L.S.)* in a test form.
tube and to it add
few drops of
freshly prepared
ferrous sulphate
solution. Heat it.
Cool it. Add few
drops of conc.
H2SO4

RESULT
The given fertilizer has N in elemental form. (The fertilizer
detected is urea).

(Urea)
O.C.N + Na NaCN

FERTILIZER 5(vermi compost)

Ca2+ (aq) + CO32(aq) CaCO3 (s) +2CH3COOH +
CaCO3 Ca [CH3COO]2 + H2O +CO2+Ca2+ (aq)
+C2O42CaC2O4(s)
 BIBLIOGRAPHY
Following Books and websites were a source for my project.

 Wikipedia
 NCERT Chemistry Textbook for class 12
 ECO CORP.
 Google