Effects of chemical fertilizer and organic fertilizer made of eggshells and coffee grounds on Solanum

melongena (Talong Tagalog)

[1]Danielle Given L. Acido | [2]Vea Tryxzia Lei C. Alejandrino | [3]Nandi Seraphine M. Borja | [4]Alexei Faye
Custodio | [5]Lynn Abigael B. Romero | [6]Alexis Blythe Tayao | [7]Genevieve Anne N. Galino
[1,2,3,4,5,6] Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Senior High School, De La Salle Araneta University,
Salvador Araneta Campus, Victoneta Avenue, Potrero, Malabon, Philippines
[7] Faculty, College of Arts, Sciences and Technoloy and Senior High School Department, De La Salle Araneta
University, Salvador Araneta Campus, Victoneta Avenue, Potrero, Malabon, Philippines

daniellegivenacido@gmail.com | zyaa06@gmail.com | nadhineborja@gmail.com | alexeifayecustodio@gmail.com |

lynnbromero@gmail.com | alexis21tayao@gmail.com| genevieve.galino@dlsau.edu.ph

Abstract: Chemical fertilizer has been used ever since for commercial farming. Due to its fast-acting
attribute, it is encouraged to use chemical fertilizer in agriculture to ensure a bountiful yield and to avoid
scarcity when it comes to resources even though chemical fertilizer causes a lot of damage in the soil
and, usually, in the plants due to the chances that it may become a source of food poisoning. This study
aims to create an organic fertilizer that can be used for commercial farming. Utilization of eggshells and
used coffee grounds will be done in order to formulate an organic fertilizer and compare it with a
commercially bought chemical fertilizer. Growth parameters of Solanum melongena were measured
after administering the organic and chemical fertilizer respectively. However, the results show that the
said organic fertilizer is not as effective as the chemical fertilizer, but it shows potential pesticidal
properties. As such, extensive study regarding this occurrence is highly recommended.

Key Words: fertilizer, coffee grounds, eggshells, Solanum melongena

many types of fertilizers used in horticulture, and they

I. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the Study
Fertilizer is any material made of natural or
chemical ingredients that is used in horticulture such
as gardening and farming to aid in improving the
structure of soil as well as the quality of fruits,
vegetables, and other agricultural products. There are
are mainly classified as organic fertilizers and
chemical fertilizers. (Scherer, 2000)
Chemical fertilizers are usually made of
synthetic substances that mainly enhance and fortify
the quality of plants. It focuses on improving the
nutrients within plants by combining the synthetic
forms of their primary macronutrients such as
nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. They mainly use
petroleum products and rocks as well as organic
sources as ingredients, then, the nutrients are refined
to their pure state and stripped of the substances that
control their availability and breakdown which rarely
occurs in nature. (Buckler, 2017)
Chemical fertilizers are mainly used in
agriculture and gardening due to its fast-acting effect
and inexpensive nature; however, as these kinds of
fertilizers are primarily made of fossil fuels, they pose
a great danger to the environment. Repetitive use can
result to toxic buildup of chemicals such as arsenic,
cadmium and uranium in the soil and groundwater. It
can also cause over fertilization that can kill plants and
disrupt the entire ecosystem as well as change the pH
level of the soil that can upset the microbial
ecosystems, increase pests and release greenhouse
gases.
Organic fertilizers are types of fertilizer that
are made of organic materials such as formerly living
materials, plants and animals waste and powdered
minerals. Examples of these organic fertilizers are
animal manure like chicken droppings, cottonseed
meal, bones, ground sea shells (crab, oyster, etc.) and
cultivated microorganisms and derivatives.
Use of organic fertilizers are more advised as
they not only improve the quality of plants but also the
structure of the soil. they increase the ability of soil to
hold water and nutrients, resulting to stronger and
healthier plants compared to the results by chemical
fertilizers, and due to it being a slow-release fertilizer,
it is very hard to over fertilize using organic fertilizers,
thus there is little to no risk of toxic buildups of
chemicals and salts, making them environment-
friendly. Nevertheless, all fertilizers can be classified
as NPK fertilizers. (Day, 2008)
NPK fertilizers consists of the most needed
and important nutrients for a plant. It has Nitrogen (N),
Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K) that a plant should
have to survive, without theses, it is possible for a plant
to be infected with different diseases and will have low
possibility to last long.
Powdered eggshells are rich in calcium
carbonate and can help increase the amount of CaCO3
in soils. Eggshells are rich in nitrogen, potassium,
phosphorus, calcium and magnesium, and using
milled eggshells as fertilizers can increase these
nutrients in vegetables and other crops. The water for
boiled eggs also contains the following nutrients:
small amount of sodium which is unlikely to affect the
plant, phosphorus, a small concentration of
magnesium, and 4 milligrams of potassium and
calcium in just one egg. (Gillman & Dirr, 2008)
Coffee as fertilizer can increase crop yield,
stress resistance, overall product and soil quality. It
also supplies both soil and plants with nitrogen,
potassium and magnesium and increase the soil pH
level to slightly neutral. Each plant reacts to coffee
ground differently from each other, few can give
positive effect, and some will have a negative effect.
Coffee has a chemical called allelopathic that can
possibly inhibit the growth of some plant. (Nghia Khoi
Nguyen, 2016)
Using these materials for an organic fertilizer
is highly advisable as the amount of nutrients present
in them won’t exceed the capacity of the plants thus
avoiding over fertilization. The CaCO3 in eggshells as
well as the nitrogen, potassium and magnesium in
coffee can improve soil structure, increasing its
capacity to hold water and nutrients. Also, coffee and
eggshells as fertilizers produce bio-fertilizers as their
by-product, resulting too little to no pollutant for the
soil and groundwater (Kitou & Akuno, 1999).
1.2 Problem Statement
 This research aims to determine the different
effects of NPK chemical fertilizer and organic
fertilizer in terms of plant quality and physical
appearance.
1.3 Limitations
This study is only limited on the effects of the
fertilizer on plants in terms of its growth parameters.
As such, other effects that have no connection with the
effects of the fertilizer but are recorded won’t be
discussed extensively in this research study.
1.4 Objectives
The main objective of the study is to create
an organic fertilizer made of coffee grounds and
eggshells that can produce satisfactory results while
being compared to a chemical fertilizer. Its purpose is
also to produce a cheap organic fertilizer for
commercial farming.
1. Compare the effects of chemical synthetic
fertilizers and organic recycled fertilizers to
plants
2. Know an alternative for chemical fertilizers
in commercial farming.
1.2 Hypothesis
1. Null Hypothesis: There is no significant
difference between the growths of the three
set-ups
2. Alternative Hypothesis: There is a significant
difference in the growths of the three set-ups.
II. MATERIALS AND METHOD
2.1 Set up
This study conducted by the researchers is an
experimental research of the quantitative nature.
The researchers will be having 3 set-ups: a
negative control (Control A) which will not receive
any sort of fertilizer treatment, a positive control
(Control B) which will be receiving a fertilizer
treatment using a 15-5-10 NPK compound fertilizer,
and Set-Up A in which the researchers will be using
the organic fertilizer they made. Along with this, there
will be 2 replicates per set-up in case the original set-
ups wilt.
The researchers' organic fertilizer will be
made using eggshells and used coffee grounds. The
eggshells will be first boiled then milled into small
granules then dried. Then, the milled eggshells will be
mixed to granules of the used coffee grounds in a
50:50 ratios.
The researchers will be using Solanum
melongena (Eggplant or Talong Tagalog) for this
research. The plant has been authenticated by National
Bureau of Plant Industry. The seedlings will be planted
using loam soil combined with cocopeat, chicken
manure, garden soil, vermi compost and ipa, and these
plants will be nurtured in the same environment in the
De La Salle Araneta University and will be arranged
randomly. The plants will be watered once daily if the
weather is cool and twice daily for when the weather
is hot, and the fertilizer treatment will be done twice a
month (every 2 weeks). The amount of water may vary
day by day due to the changes in the temperature in the
environment which will be identified by a brannan
thermometer. A tablespoon of the fertilizer treatment
will be introduced to the set-ups. (Mierzejewski, 2016)
Eggplants are perennial plants but are usually grown
as annual plants. Due to its characteristic as a tropical
plant, eggplants are usually planted between August
and February; however, it can also be planted during
the temperate climates around September and
December as well as during the cooler climates around
October and November if there are no longer frosts.
Eggplants are low maintenance plants. The
plant only needs to be watered once or twice daily
depending on the weather (cooler - once; hot - twice).
It can be placed under the sun or under the shade, and
it can thrive even without fertilizer treatments, but if
the plant is to be subjected to fertilizer treatment, it is
recommended to use 15-5-10 compound fertilizer or
any organic fertilizer that can provide the needs of the
plant. 1 tablespoon of the fertilizer is enough for 15
days. It should be applied around the plant and not so
close to the roots. (Moult, 2015)
2.2 Testing
After the fertilizer treatment for both the
Control B and experimental set-up, the plants will
undergo a quality checklist addressing their growth
parameters.
Here is the sample of the quality checklist for the
plants: (CABI Crop Protection Compendium, 2010)
• Height of the stem (cm)
• Number of leaves
• Length of the leaves (cm)
• Width of the leaves (cm)
2.3 Statistical Testing
Then, the researchers will be using ANOVA
statistical testing to identify the significant differences
between the data to be collected from the quality
checklist.
III. STUDY LOCATION
The researchers conducted the set ups at the
mini green house of De La Salle Araneta University
located in Basic Education Department garden.
IV. STUDY DURATION
The study conducted by the researchers
started from 14th of November to 8th of December in
the year 2018 under the supervision of the assigned
Research adviser, Ms. Genevieve Anne N. Gallino.
V. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
5.1 Results
Solanum melongena, or widely known as
'Talong Tagalog' or simply 'eggplant' (other names
can be 'aubergine' or 'guinea squash'), is a tropical
annual plant, closely related to tomato in the family
of Solanaceae which are mainly grown for their
edible fruits. Eggplants are considered as herbaceous
plants that feature erect bushy and branching stem
that may or may not have spines. The stem of an
eggplant can grow up to 1.5 m (4.9 ft) in length. The
leaves are simple, flat, coarsely lobed and mainly
green in color. It can grow up to 10-20 cm (4-8 in) in
length and 5-10 cm (2-4 in) in width. The flowers of
the plant are mainly a light purple that can grow 3-5
cm (1.2-2.0 in) in diameter. The fruit is a large,
fleshy, ovoid berry which vary in color: white, green,
yellow, purple and black. Talong Tagalog usually has
a white fruit with purple stripes. The fruit has a
glossy smooth skin as well as numerous seeds and
can grow up to 40 cm (15.7 in) in length. (CABI
Crop Protection Compendium, 2010)
As for this study, the researchers have
omitted some of the plant’s growth parameters due to
insufficient time and focused on these three instead:
• Height of the Stem: 1.5 m or 150 cm (4.9 ft)
• Length of the Leaves: 10 - 20 cm (4 - 8 in)
• Width of the Leaves: 5 - 10 cm (2 - 4 in)
 11.42>9.55 thus reject the null hypothesis – there
As such, here are the measurements made by is a difference between the average width of leaves
the researchers regarding the eggplant’s growth: of the set ups

Number of Leaves
These data are then analyzed and compared
Negative Positive Experimental Set
with the use of ANOVA statistical testing. The
Control Control Up
researchers have an alpha value of 0.5 and a critical
3 4 4
value of 9.55 which is used as a baseline to whether
3 4 3
accept or reject the null hypothesis.
Height of the Stem
Here are the results of the statistical testing:
14.5 cm 17.4 cm 16.5 cm
Number of Leaves
17.4 cm 17.8 cm 16.4 cm
Sum of Degrees of Mean
F-value Average Length of Leaves
Squares Freedom Squares
7.1 cm 10 cm 7.8 cm
9 2/3 0.1 11.3
7.3 cm 8.8 cm 7.4 cm
11.3>9.55 thus reject the null hypothesis – there is
Average Width of Leaves
a difference between the number of leaves of the
5.1 cm 7.2 cm 5.4 cm
set ups
5.2 cm 6.5 cm 5.3 cm
Height of Stem
Sum of Degrees of Mean
F-value
Squares Freedom Squares
42.96 2/3 7 11.43
5.1.1 Negative Control
11.43>9.55 thus reject the null hypothesis – there
The negative controls barely grow a leaf
is a difference between the heights of stems of the
during the duration of the research. They have three
set ups
leaves at max, and their growth parameters are barely
Average Length of Leaves
far from the minimum range. Also, the negative
Sum of Degrees of Mean
F-value controls are the most susceptible to pest infestation.
Squares Freedom Squares
As can be seen at the first picture, pests have eaten
37.88 2/3 6.05 11.83
most of the leaves of the set up while the second
11.83>9.55 thus reject the null hypothesis – there
picture shows that one of the leaves of the plant has
is a difference between the average length of
been eaten as well.
leaves of the set ups
Average Width of Leaves
Sum of Degrees of Mean
F-value
Squares Freedom Squares
142.44 2/3 23.45 11.42
 shows no signs of being victims to pest infestation.
The leaves are all intact, and there are no signs of the
plant being eaten in any manner.

Negative Control 1 Negative Control 2

5.1.2 Positive Control

As for the positive controls, there are
obvious changes in the plants. The plants from the
Experimental Set up 1 Experimental Set up 2
positive control have more leaves, taller stems as well
as longer and wider leaves than the negative set ups,
5.2 Discussion
showing that the chemical fertilizer used is fast-
NPK fertilizer is the fertilizer that consists the
acting (this picture is taken a week after the
primary needed nutrients for the plants’ growth. The
treatment); however, the positive controls are also
agriculture industry is relying on the use of NPK
prone to pest infestation though not at the same
Fertilizer to meet the global supply and make sure that
degree as with the negative control. The leaves are
the crops are in their best conditions. Without proper
still intact after the pest infestation but large chunks
giving of the nutrients needed to a plant may cause
of them are eaten.
different reactions such as the plant will not grow to
their best potential, will give less yields, and even be
more prone on infectious diseases. And the most
important nutrients that a plant will be needing are
Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K),
without these three, a plant will not survive at all.
Organic fertilizers come in different
Positive Control 2 specifications and kinds, usually are animal manure.
Positive Control 1
They usually contain plant nutrients in low
5.1.3 Experimental Set Up
concentrations. Many of these nutrients must be
The experimental set ups show little
converted into inorganic forms by soil bacteria and
improvement after the fertilizer treatment. One of the
fungi before plants can use them, so they typically are
set ups has grown another leaf, and the plants are
more slowly released, especially during the cold
noticeably bigger and taller than those of the negative
weather when soil microbes are not as active. They
control; however, they are still considerably smaller
don’t make a crust on the soil as inorganic fertilizers
and shorter than those of the positive control. Another
sometimes do. They improve water movement into the
observation is that while the positive and negative
soil and, in time, add structure to the soil. Organics
controls are infested by pests, the experimental set up
feed beneficial microbes, making the soil easier to
work. (Feeco, Carison, & Capitaine, 2017)
Thus, it has been said that organic farming is
more advantageous compared to conventional
farming, may it be long-term or short-term. Using
organic fertilizer can result to decline in global
warming as they release little to no greenhouse gases
and groundwater pollution. It can also improve soil
quality and structure which improves the microbial
ecosystem within the soil,
prevents toxic chemical buildup in soils and decrease
chemical residue in plants. (Nagavallemma, Wani,
Lacroix, Padmaja, Vineela, Babu Rao, & Sahrawat,
2004 & Oehl, Sieverding, Mader, Dubios, Ineichen,
Boller, & Wiemken, 2004)
Coffee grounds contain 2% nitrogen, 0.3%
Phosphorus, and 3% potassium (Stephen, 1994) as
well as some micronutrients. Different plants respond
differently to the coffee grounds in addition to their
soil. Plants such as lettuce seem to benefit with coffee
grounds but some plants like tomatoes, wheat, and
ryegrass may have negative effect (Kitou & Yoshida,
1997). The negative impact may be caused by
chemicals in the coffee called allelopathic chemicals,
which inhibit the growth of some plant (Kitou &
Akuno, 1999). Nonetheless, some plants may benefit
from the coffee grounds, and as for the eggshells, the
water from boiled eggshells (one egg) contain five
nutrients; small amount sodium that is unlikely to help
or hurt the plants; phosphorus and magnesium that has
low concentrations and 4 milligrams of calcium and
potassium. Overall eggshell provides nutrition for the
plants, but it shouldn’t be the only source of the
fertilizer. (Gillman & Dirr, 2008)
Coffee grounds also contain many trace
minerals aside from nitrogen, phosphorus, and
potassium that has a good effect for some plants.
Plants like beets, cabbage, spinach, and lettuce could
be enhanced. Coffee grounds are more effective if it is
in the liquid form by soaking the coffee grounds in
water for days rather than applying it directly to the
soil because it takes time to break down the
microorganisms. Coffee grounds are often used on
plants that thrive on acidic soil like blueberries,
evergreen, azaleas, avocado; however, used grounds
are not that acidic because most of the acid leaches out
of the cup.
As for the eggshells, it is stated that calcium
carbonate that can be found in eggshells makes plant
cell walls stronger. It also contains nitrogen,
magnesium, phosphorus, boron, copper, iron,
manganese, molybdenum, sulfur, silicon, and zinc.
Eggshells prevent the leaves on bean to be pale-
colored, brown leaf tips on cabbages and kohlrabi, and
blossom end rot on tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant.
(Rajhel, 2014)
There is a similar article that did an
experiment on spent coffee grounds and eggshells as a
fertilizer for Okra which ended with positive results.
Spent coffee grounds and eggshells can be used as an
organic fertilizer directly to okra without the help of a
chemical fertilizer because it helps increase soil
nutrients and okra yield by maintaining the soil pH,
soil organic matter, soil nitrogen, soil bacteria, and
fungi members that can make crops healthier and
tolerant to negative environmental conditions like
nutrient deficiency, plant pests and pathogens.
Overall, their experiment regarding bio mixture of
spent coffee ground and eggshells has a great potential
in the development of organic and sustainable
agriculture. (Nguyen, Nguyen, Do, & Lam, 2016)
At face value, you might think that chemical
fertilizers give farmers more control over their crop
production at the right price. Chemical fertilizers do
allow farmers to produce more and/or high-quality
crops in short term, but this type of treatment may lead
to fewer or poor-quality crops in the long term. This is
because of the intricacies of soil health. It can also
make the topsoil acidic because nitrogen lowers the
pH of the soil. (Buckler, 2017)
The use of chemical fertilizers and organic
fertilizers have both positive and negative effects on
plant growth and the soil. Chemical fertilizers are
relatively inexpensive, have high nutrient contents,
and are rapidly taken up by plants; however, the use of
excess fertilizer can result in several problems, such as
nutrient loss, surface water and groundwater
contamination, soil acidification or basification,
reductions in useful microbial communities, and
increased sensitivity to harmful insects.
Organic fertilizer has a number of
shortcomings as well including low nutrient content,
slow decomposition, and different nutrient
compositions depending on its organic materials
compared to chemical fertilizers; however, organic
fertilizer has multiple benefits due to its balanced
supply of nutrients, including micronutrients,
increased soil nutrient availability due to increased soil
microbial activity, the decomposition of harmful
elements, soil structure improvements and root
development, and increased soil water availability.
In horticulture, a good reason for using
organic fertilizers is that no matter where it is applied
(gardens, lawns and even on greenhouses), it is the
healthiest and best choice of fertilizer for animal,
children and family protection. It is not safe to come
in touch with chemicals without properly protection;
however, organic fertilizers are safer and could bring
in healthier foods in healthier environment for all of
us.
Enwall, Philippot and Hallin (2005),
mentioned that the organic fertilizers are long-term
solutions because their nutrients are slowly released in
the soil in a natural cycle, making them available to
plants for longer time (over months or years).
Moreover, it is a source of many essential elements,
even if each organic fertilizer has a different
concentration of nutrients. Also, the essential
microorganisms which build up in the soil humus
benefit greatly from the utilization of organic
fertilizer. (Alexander, 1980)
Hshuan (2006), reports that the nutrient
supplies in the soil are balanced; however, proportions
of organic fertilizers (animal wastes, compost) can
provide the adequate amount the plant needs in regards
of nutrients such as N, P and K. Organic fertilizers
which are derived from animal sources, plant sources
or compost are an ecological method, the requirement
of carbon dioxide for its production is less than the
production of chemical fertilizer.
The use of organic fertilizers, adding humus
to the soil, has the potential to keep positive charged
cations and negative charged anions which are
available to the plant with the process of exchange
capacity (Alice, 2008).
Rowel and Hadad (2002), stated that organic
fertilizers modify soil’s structure and help improve the
capacity to hold water, the aeration, friability, and
drainage. Moreover, most of the nutrients needed for
optimum plant growth are available on manures.
Humus serves as an effective buffer of soil pH that
regulates the balance between acid and base in the soil
solution (Naramabuye, Haynes, and Modi, 2007).
In agricultural fields, organic manure that is
produced from animal byproducts has been utilized to
overcome environmental contamination and plant
productivity reductions that result from the constant
utilization of chemical fertilizers. Recycling waste
from the livestock industry prevents environmental
contamination and reduces treatment costs. At the
same time, it promotes soil improvements and
agricultural productivity.
Compared to the use of chemical fertilizer
treatment only, mixed chemical fertilizer and organic
manure treatment in farmland rotating sorghum
(Pennisetum glaucum) and wheat (Triticum aestivum),
founded that organic manure increases the soil
concentrations of organic carbon, nitrogen,
phosphorus, and potassium, thus highlighting its
importance in tropical farmland which lacks organic
matter.
A study on tomatoes (Lycopersicon
esculentum) and corn (Zea mays) in acidic soil by
Murmu et al (2013) showed a comparative assessment
of conventional and organic nutrient management on
crop growth and yield and soil fertility in tomato-
sweet corn production system found that organic
manure increases crop productivity, nitrogen
utilization efficiency, and soil health compared to
chemical fertilizer
To meet the growing need for food,
agricultural land per unit area is required to achieve
maximum efficiency and highest quality product. It is
known that the nutrition of the plant is the one of the
most important factors to control agricultural
productivity and quality. Rates of nutrients in the soil
affects the quality of yield.
In the permanent agricultural land, the soil
will be very poor in nutrients, as a result, it will then
become inefficient. Therefore, producers fertilize the
soil, combat pests, conduct irrigation and other
agricultural measures that may aid in making the soil
more efficient for farming. Excessive mindless
fertilization results in changes in soil salinity, heavy
metal accumulation, water eutrophication and
accumulation of nitrates. Such conditions must be
considered in terms of air pollution since nitrogen and
sulfur might accumulate in the atmosphere. This may
give rise to problems such as the greenhouse effect.
Excessive use of chemical fertilizers in
agriculture can result in many environmental problems
because of some fertilizers containing heavy metals
(eg. cadmium and chromium) and high concentrations
of radionuclides. Later these fertilizers’ agro-
ecosystem constitutes the main source of heavy metals
and radionuclides in plants that can results in the
accumulation of inorganic pollutants. Greenhouses
aquaculture, especially large amounts of chemical
fertilizers used during the peak season can
dangerously pollute well water, especially water
resources, crop production quantity and quality of
product deteriorates. (Barlas, 2013)
Based on the individual data itself, there are
significant differences between the set ups, and
through the ANOVA statistical testing, the researchers
can validate that there are significant differences
between the three set ups.
The researchers, as stated before, use the
alpha value 0.5 and a critical value of 9.55 which shall
act as the baseline of the researchers on whether they
should or should not reject the null hypothesis. If the
F-value acquired from the statistical testing is lower
than the critical value, then, the researchers are to
accept the null hypothesis – there are no significant
differences between the three set ups; however, if the
F-value is higher than the critical value, then, the
researchers are to reject the null hypothesis and accept
the alternative hypothesis – there are significant
differences between the three set ups.
Based on the tables above, in all 4
observations, the F-values exceed the critical value of
9.55. The first, the number of leaves, has an F-value of
11.3. The height of the stem has 11.43. The average
length of leaves has 11.83 while the average width of
leaves has 11.42 – all four exceed the critical value. As
such, the null hypothesis is rejected by the researchers.
VI. CONCLUSION
Even with the limited time given, the
researchers are still able to compare the effects of
fertilizers on the plant. Researchers use a positive
control, the one with 15-5-10 NPK compound
fertilizer, a negative control: without any fertilizer, and
the set-up that used an organic fertilizer made of
eggshells and coffee grounds.
Researchers find out that both fertilizers have
good and bad effects on their use. Positive control has
a much bigger leaves and longer stem. Its number of
leaves is more than the negative control and the set up.
The experimental set up almost has the same number
of leaves with the negative control, yet its stem length
and measurement of the leaves are still greater.
One of the most unexpected results of the
researchers is when the negative control is pestered,
and the leaves are eaten. This event happened after the
data gathering of the researchers, where thus few
leaves are left on the negative control, while the
positive control leaves also show signs of being eaten.
The experimental set up has no signs of this kind of
pestering, an indication where the scent of the coffee
grounds can affect the pests and the eggshells as type
of defense due to its sharp texture.
In this research, while the organic fertilizer
yields to favorable results, it still can’t be used as an
alternative for chemical fertilizer in commercial
farming. While it is advisable to use the eggshell
coffee ground organic fertilizer in household
vegetable gardens, it cannot yield the same results as
the chemical fertilizer.
An alternative for the chemical fertilizer
should be able to yield the same or greater results than
it while causing minimal to no damage to the plant. It
should also be able to keep up with the demand for
food of the population, and because the eggshell coffee
ground organic fertilizer isn’t able to show such
results, the researchers can conclude that it cannot be
an alternative for chemical fertilizer.
VII. RECOMMENDATIONS
As for the researchers' recommendations, it is
advised to conduct an NPK testing during the second
part of the study and compare the results between the
set-ups.
Also, an increase in the number of organic
fertilizer treatment is recommended. Instead of doing
it every two weeks, it is advised to do it once a week
to see if it is possible to use it as an alternative for
chemical fertilizer in commercial farming.
Then, it is advised to conduct an extensive
study regarding the pesticide properties of eggshells
and coffee grounds.
VIII. WORKING BIBLIOGRAPHY
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