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 2 tablespoons Epsom salt

3 kg fish internal organs

tap water

3 kg complete inorganic (7-7-7)

fertilizer
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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 TRAY 1 TRAY 2

Variables
KIND OF PLANT Pechay Pechay
NUMBER OF PLANTS 15 15
AMOUNT OF SUNLIGHT 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
TIME OF PLANTING Same time with Tray 2 plants Same time with Tray 1 plants
LOCATION OF PLANTING Researcher’s house Researcher’s house

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 ANOVA

was used to determine if there is any significant difference between the three

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

(𝑋𝑖 – 𝑋)2
s = √∑𝑛𝑖=1 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

(𝑋−𝑌)
t=
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 Tray 2
Organic fish internal Complete Inorganic
organs emulsion fertilizer (7-7-7) Fertilizer

Figure 3. Flow Chart of the General Procedures