Cyanobacteria Biofertilizer

Investigatory Project Submitted to the Faculty of the

Senior High School Department
University of Cebu – Pri
Cebu City

ALEMIOS, JOHN ARCHILLE

BAYANG, SHIELA MARIE
BEJONA, CARLO
MORA, KEENNEY MARIE
REAS, AKIRA JANE
SAZ, KEITH IVAN

STEM 2A

S.Y. 2018-2019
 ABSTRACT

Over the last decade, industries produced synthetic fertilizer for the development of plant’s
growth. With excessive utilization of chemical products has lead serious problem in the environment and
human society. This study is focused to produce an alternative fertilizer for a safer method of agricultural
production. The cyanobacteria are collected from Tinaan River in the City of Naga, Cebu and then
cultured for pasteurization. The prepared biofertilizer are then treated to different common crops; yellow
corn, okra, and tomato and are grouped into different set-up along with the commercial product for
observation. As based on the general results of the experiment, the plants treated with cyanobacteria
performed the highest development in its growth in relation to its height and weight. However, there were
no significant difference found on the emergence of seed, and both treatments are capable of providing
the optimum range for pH level. The cyanobacteria biofertilizer is proven effective and safe for use in the
environment. Thus farmers may use cyanobacteria as an alternative fertilizer for crop production.

INTRODUCTION developing the agricultural lands to industrial

Rationale
Agriculture supports almost every aspect
in this world. Over the last decade, chemical
industries produced synthetic fertilizer for the
development of the plant’s growth. With
excessive utilization of these chemical products
will lead to a serious problem in human society.
It is also considered that the use of synthetic
fertilizers leads to the output of soil degradation
and also causes water contamination (Xue et al,
2017). Then, the production of rice, wheat and
other crops will eventually decrease in regards to
the destroyed microenvironment in the soil.
Farmers mostly believes that the use of
commercially made fertilizers can help in the
production of crops and increases the fertility of
the soil. However, these alternatives may
contribute to the worsening of the ecological
system. The increase in human population
worldwide is expected to have an environmental
consequence due to its rapid growth. Not to
mention the high dependence on chemical
fertilizers for crops causing a further
environmental and health problems including the
reduction of the soil’s fertility (Mahanty et al,
2016).
In the Philippine context, agriculture
also plays a vital role in the economy but
somehow lost its purpose for the reason of
areas. Although Philippines is blessed with
bodies of water, favorable climate and lands that
are lush and fertile but due to the lack of
support, trainings, and basic skills in agricultural
farming, these beneficiary attributes have gone
to waste (De Guzman, 2018). Moreover, the
Global Climate Risk Index (GCRI) enlisted
Philippines as one of the countries that are most
affected by extreme weather events such as
typhoons and irregular El Niño episodes in
2013 (Flora, 2018). According to the
Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) 50.40
percent of total agricultural output came from
crops production and in contrary, it registered a
0.98 percent drop on its annual basis in 2018,
thus coping up with the demands of the
economy and increasing the production output
of crops must be attended to.
In the region of Visayas, Cebu is
considered as the center of commerce in the
production of goods. As such, it experiences a
high demand on agricultural products that
worsens its current situation of crop
insufficiency (Galolo, 2016). Moreover,
Lorenciana (2018) stated in his article that Cebu
is currently having a trade-reliant economy and
has long been dependent on neighboring regions
for the supply of agricultural products to feed its
rising population.
 Therefore, it is essential to provide a
beneficial approach in supporting the agriculture
sector to boost environmental quality and
provide sufficient amount of crops for the
people. The researchers sought to investigate an
approach in increasing a plants growth through
utilizing biofertilizers. Thus, this study aims to
determine the effectiveness of cyanobacteria as
an alternative fertilizer for a safer and effective
method in agricultural production.
Review of Related Literature and Studies
Related Literatures
Mahanty et. al (2016) claims that a
sustainable practice can help provide the need of
a plant’s growth, as well as raising
environmental quality. Recent investigation
regulates a safer method in agricultural
production from cyanobacterial biomass for bio-
fuels, food supplements and biofertilizers. The
exploitation of microbes as biofertilizers is
considered as an alternative to chemical
fertilizers in agricultural purpose due to their
extensive capability to provide nutrients to
plants.
The oldest oxygen-evolving
microorganisms are cyanobacteria and it has an
impact on shaping our modern biosphere. For
the past 3. 5 billion years the long evolutionary
enabled cyanobacteria to develop strategies for
survival. It plays a great part in producing
geochemical and climatic change. When it
blooms it releases toxins, cause oxygen
depletion and alter food webs, which is the
major threat to drinking and irrigation water
supplies and can also harm marine life.
Cyanobacteria takes advantage of
anthropogenically catalyze nutrient over
enrichment and water reservoir construction
(Paerl& Huisman, 2009).
As of today, the production of crops
contributes much to the need for most people.
Along with the development of today’s
technology, humans continue to provide
innovations to give support to life on earth.
Biofertilizers have a great impact in increasing
the fertility of the soil without harming our
natural habitat and ecosystem at a low cost. A
biofertilizer is a microorganism containing
substance that promotes a plant's growth by
providing a supply of nutrients to its host
(Malusa & Vassilev, 2014). These
microorganisms are also responsible for the
fixation of nitrogen, protein contents, vitamins,
and essential amino acids. These mechanisms
can be found on cyanobacteria and are applied as
bio-inoculants for improving soil fertility.
Furthermore, cyanobacteria are classified to be
beneficial to plants as well as being a harmless
alternative.
Ananya et. al (2014) asserts that
cyanobacteria are known to be the most
primitive organism for creating the oxygenic
atmosphere. In recent years, cyanobacteria have
gained importance in the field of agriculture,
drug discovery, treatments of diseases and
bioremediation. These microorganisms are being
used in agricultural fields due to its capability to
fix nitrogen found in the atmosphere into an
essential nutrient for plants called ammonium
that can promote growth. The microorganisms
found in cyanobacteria algae, Nizobium
Azospirillum and Azotobacter are a major
component in processing nutrients for plants
ensuring a proper developmental growth and
regulation. Moreover, cyanobacteria are
photosynthetic prokaryotes responsible for a
large proportion in fixing carbon dioxide and
nitrogen. They also form symbiotic associations
providing fixed nitrogen to its host for its
progression in growth (Adams & Duggan,
2008).
According to Bhattacharjee and Dey
(2015), the presence of increasing microbial
activity in the soil is due to biofertilizers
containing living microorganisms. A variety of
countries prioritize biofertilizers and is a major
name in the crop industry. Microbes get the job
done and established. Alternate sources namely
organic manure and biofertilizers are major
requirements in meeting the nutrients of crops.
The phosphorus level of the inoculation of
nitrogen fixing bacteria with biofertilizer
increases that influences a proportion of fatty
acids as well as sunflower seed oil content.
Biofertilizers advocate in making adverse
environmental stresses from plainly plant
resistant. The precise application of biofertilizer
not just simply have an improved sustainable
economic development but also give a major
contribution on this agriculture ecosystem and
its holistic well-being.
Bahadur et. al (2014) supports the view
that the effectiveness of microbes plays a major
role in enhancing seed germination and root
growth. Whereas it also plays a considerable
approach in obtaining the decomposition of
organic materials and enrichment of compost.
The sustainability of biofertilizer elevates the
availability of production and its plant nutrients.
This process relatively approves the contribution
of rhizospheric microorganisms so as with
potassium solubilizing bacteria which
effectively justify the productivity of agricultural
crops without disturbing the environment. This
microbial coasortium essentially cost effective
and eco-friendly in deliberately gaining a more
approved sustainable agriculture in contrast of
the availability of chemical fertilizer showing a
major downfall in terms of their side effects on
human and environment.
Related Studies
In the study of Osman et al. (2010)
about the effect of two species of cyanobacteria
as biofertilizers on some metabolic activities,
growth, and yield of pea plant, the impact of
cyanobacteria was discussed. Biofertilizer as
substitute of normally used chemical fertilizer is
composed of Nostocentophytum and Oscillatoria
angustissima a species of cyanobacteria that was
used to test the production of pea plant the
germination percentage, growth parameters, and
photosynthetic pigment fraction of the pea plant
has increased significantly. A mixture of half
chemical fertilizer and half biofertilizer of one
species are applied to the pea seeds. As a result,
the mixture of half Nostocentophytum
biofertilizer and half chemical fertilizer were
more effective and it increases the protein
contents and carbohydrates of produced pea
seeds. The effectiveness of biofertilization
combined with half chemical fertilizer was more
effective than the full rate of chemical fertilizer
application. The blue-green algae (N.
Estophytum) were found out that it produced
more exopolysaccharide, auxin, cytokinin and
fixed more nitrogen than O. angustissima. The
protein profile of the produced seeds shows
appearance and disappearance in respond to
fertilization treatment.
The aforementioned microorganism
Azotobacter in the previous discussion was
evaluated by Nag et. al (2018) wherein 50
isolates was examined for tolerance to pH, high
temperature-tolerance ability. After the
extensive evaluation, 75% of the isolates were
able to tolerate heat for about 60°C for about 30
minutes. In relation to its tolerance for pH level,
these microorganism succeeded in imprinting
their ability to grow from a range of pH of 5.0 to
8.0.
As mentioned by the word of
Microbiology and Immunology (2003),
mesophilic bacteria that are commonly
considered as pathogens and more active from a
ranging temp. of 15˚-40˚C.
The overall discussion points out the
different traits and functions of cyanobacteria in
promoting a plant’s growth. The direction of the
experiment is determined as this can help
identify the effectiveness of cyanobacteria as an
alternative fertilizer considering the situation of
the Philippines of having an unstable weather
condition and a high dependence of chemical
fertilizers.
Statement of the Problem
The study aims to investigate the
effectiveness of cyanobacteria as biofertilizer to
yellow corn, okra and tomato in terms of
emergence of seeds, height of plants, dry weight
and pH level of soil.
Hypothesis Statement
The cyanobacteria biofertilizer is an
effective alternative of commercially produced
fertilizers in terms of emergence of seeds, height
of plants, dry weight and pH level of soil
sample.
METHODOLOGY
Materials
 Cyanobacteria
 Distilled water
 Loam soil
 Compound light microscope
 Digital weighing scale
 Digital pH meter
 Seedlings (yellow corn, tomato, okra)
 Commercial Fertilizer (Plant Vitamin)
 Spoon
 9 plastic pot
 Ruler
 Thermometer
 Gloves
Procedure
In verifying the algae as a
cyanobacteria, the following procedures are
done; 1.) A sample from the algae is taken and
observed under a compound light microscope.
2.) The viewed structure are then compared to
the morphological structure of a cyanobacteria.
3.) The researchers then concluded and
identified as a cyanobacteria.
The procedure in making the
cyanobacteria biofertilizer are the following: 1.)
The cyanobacteria are gathered from the Tinaan
River; 2.) The algae are then washed to remove
excess muds; 3.) A broth was made by adding
2L of water and 300g of cyanobacteria and are
then heated at 60˚C for about 30 minutes; 4.)
Culture the cyanobacteria inside a container
with soil and water for 1 week.
Procedure in Performing the Experiment
1. The materials were gathered (plastic pot,
commercial fertilizer, cyanobacteria and
loam soil).
2. Each plastic pot was labeled as:
Pot 1 = Yellow Corn
(Cyanobacteria)
Pot 2 = Tomato (Cyanobacteria)
Pot 3 = Okra (Cyanobacteria)
Pot 4 = Yellow Corn (Plant
Vitamin)
Pot 5 = Tomato (Plant Vitamin)
Pot 6 = Okra (Plant Vitamin)
Pot 7 = Yellow Corn (Control
Group)
Pot 8 = Tomato (Control Group)
Pot 9 = Okra (Control Group)
3. The loam soil was evenly scattered on
each plastic pot.
4. Cyanobacteria was then mixed to its
designated container.
5. Seeds namely yellow corn, okra and
tomato were then placed to their
assigned plastic pot.
6. The seeds were then watered and the
soil moisture was maintained timely.
7. Observation of the plants were recorded
within 1 week.
Testing Process
The effectiveness of cyanobacteria
biofertilizer is tested in terms of the following
observations; emergence of seeds, height of
plants and weight and pH level of soil. The
control group of this experiment will provide the
standard measurement in each test as
recommended by Mulanax (2005). Any
alteration from the normal level indicates the
change in health.
The emergence of seeds refers to the
occurrence of the first cotyledon. According to
De Luis et. al (2008), seedling emergence is
crucial in plants cycle for survival and growth as
this could optimize its fitness component during
seasonal disturbance.
In measuring the plants height, the
recommendation of Mulanax (2005) is followed
wherein the observation is done for every 2-3
days. According to the study of Dyulgerski
(2014) a plant’s height is strongly influenced by
environmental conditions.
Another determining factor of a plant’s
health is dry weight. According to Vince (2011),
dry weight is the measure of protoplasm and dry
matter eliminating the need of water giving a
more reliable measurement. In testing process
the plants are removed from the soil and then
washed to eliminate loose soil. The plants are
then dried under the heat of the sun. Afterwards
the dried plants are measured in a digital
weighing scale.
To test the acidity level of the soil, a digital
pH meter is immersed for 1 minute on each soil
sample from different groups mixed with 40 mL
of distilled water. According to Lauchli and
Grattan (2016) the pH value of the soil is
considered to have a profound influence on
nutrient availability. Moreover, it was
mentioned in his article that the optimum range
for a normal soil pH is 6.0 to 8.0.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Table 1.0 Time of Seed Emergence

Emergence of Seeds
Seeds
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5
Yellow corn X X X ⁄ -
Control Group Tomato X X X X ⁄
Okra X X X ⁄ -
Yellow corn X X X ⁄ -
Cyanobacteria Tomato X X X X ⁄
Okra X X X ⁄ -
Yellow corn X X X ⁄ -
Commercial Tomato X X X X ⁄
Okra X X X ⁄ -

Table 1.0 shows the time allocated for This indicates that all set-ups have the same
the emergence of seeds. There is no difference optimal condition that allows seeds to arise.
found on the gathered data of the experiment.
Table 2.0 Plant’s Height Distribution

Height of Seedlings (centimeter)

Total
Type of plants
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Average Height Average
Height
Yellow Corn 1.5 7 8.4 5.63
Control Group Tomato 2.5 6 9.2 5.9 6.47
Okra 1.6 9 13 7.87
Yellow Corn 2 8 9.5 6.5
Cyanobacteria Tomato 3.8 6.8 10 6.87 7.36
Okra 1.6 9.5 15 8.7
Yellow Corn 2 7.5 8.9 6.13
Commercial Tomato 1.7 4.5 7.5 4.57 5.79
Okra 1 8.4 10.6 6.67

Of the data gathered, Table 2.0 shows
the height of seeds from different types of plants
in different set-up. The plants treated with
cyanobacteria biofertilizer attained a higher
average height than the control group of 0.89
cm. For the performance of the commercially
produced fertilizer, it resulted a height average
of 5.79 cm wherein it is 0.68 cm lower than the
standard height provided by the control group.

Table 3.0 Comparison of Weight in Plants

Plants’ Weight (milligrams)
Types of Plant
Control Cyanobacteria Commercial
Yellow Corn .3 .4 .4
Okra .2 .3 .3
Tomato .1 .2 .1
Average Weight .2 .3 .27

Table 3 shows the dry weight
measurement of the different set-up wherein
both cyanobacteria biofertilizer and commercial
product attained a higher outcome. The former
accumulated the highest average weight of .3 mg
while the latter obtained an average weight of .2
mg. This indicates that both treatments are
capable of promoting plant’s health in relation to
its biomass.
Table 4.0 pH Level of Different Soil Sample
Control Group
pH level 7.3
As shown in Table 4.0, the pH level of
each soil sample from different set-up arrived to
the same conclusion of passing the accepted pH
range of 6 - 8 by Lauchli and Grattan (2016)
Conclusion
Based on the results, there were no
significant differences found on time taken for
the seeds to emerge. Moreover, it appears that
the plant’s treated with cyanobacteria
biofertilizer showed a higher development in its
growth than the control and commercial product
in terms of height. For the weight of seedlings,
both of the treatment is capable of augmenting
the weight development of plants. Additionally,
the pH level of the soil sample in both
treatments passed the recommended pH range
for a standard soil pH range. Therefore, the
cyanobacteria biofertilizer is proven to be
Cyanobacteria Commercial
6.8 6.6
wherein the control set-up attained the most
basic pH level while soil treated with the
commercial fertilizer has the most acidic pH
value
effective as an alternative fertilizer for safer
usage in the environment and is able to promote
the plant’s growth progression.
Recommendations
Farmers may use the biofertilizer in their
crops because it was proven to be effective in
optimizing growth and are safe for use in the
environment.
The researchers may suggest elongating
the observation time of the plant’s growth for a
wider collection of data.
Future researchers may conduct a
nutrient content test for further verification of its
capacity to maintain the soil’s fertility.

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