GRADE 11 Biology Internal Assessment

Investigation Report: Factors Affecting Plant Growth

Due Date: 16th March 2020
Name: Martha Prawiradirdja 11HR3

Research Question
How do different types of fertilizers affect red chili plant growth measured by the size of the
plant (height) and its leaves, the amount of sugar-acidity contained in the fruit, and the size of
the chili (in grams and centimeter)?

Background Information
Capsicum frutescens Lim or also known as chili pepper is a common fruit used in dishes to
add the taste of spiciness. Known for its unique taste, the pepper is a “hot-tasting tropical
berry” (eresources.nld.gov.sg) belonging to the Solanaceae family. Its pungent flavor made
the fruit an inseparable ingredient in Asian dishes, especially in Indonesia. Aside from its
pungent flavor, the chili fruit is a good source of Vitamin C, Vitamins B1 and B2, beta
carotene, protein, calcium, and phosphorus. As it has 26 different species, its most
commercially used species is Capsicum annuum. In Indonesia, it is not difficult to find this
type of chili which is known as "cabai rawit” in the markets. As an Indonesian, the conductor
has chosen Capsicum annuum as the subject of the experiment for it is commonly used in
Indonesian households and it is supposedly easy to grow as compared to other plants.
Although chili does not require adept to grow, chilies are known for its expensive price in the
market due to external factors such as the extreme drought that affects the growth of the
plants. Therefore in this experiment, the conductor will be using different types of fertilizer to
support the growth of chili plants.

Fertilizer, commonly used to enhance the growth of plants with provided nutrients is a natural
or artificial substance that contains chemical elements that can enhance the growth and
fertility of a plant (Britannica.com). It enhances the fertility of the soil as well by replacing
the chemical elements taken from the soil by the previous crop. As fertilizers are classified
into organic and non-organic (chemical) both have the same purpose of enhancing plant
growth. Regardless of the type, all fertilizers contain three major components, nitrogen (N),
phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), also known as NPK. The NPK ratio of fertilizer will vary
depending on the brand used. In addition, fertilizers also contain sulfur, magnesium, and
calcium as a secondary importance element.

Organic fertilizer which is composed directly of nature has been around as almost as old as
agriculture. This type of fertilizer is a traditional method of gardening as it doesn’t require
specific skills nor advance technologies. It is derived from organic matter such as animal
manure, sewage sludge, and food waste that are decomposed using anaerobic digestion
(sciencedirect.com). Some examples of organic fertilizers are bone meal, feather meal, fish
meal, soybean meal, seaweed, etc. most of the organic fertilizers come from animal waste or
plant waste as it is natural and contains high nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium.

Different than organic fertilizer, non-organic or chemical fertilizer are known as the modern-
day of gardening for it needs modern-day technologies. Unlike organic fertilizers, the
nutrients in chemical fertilizers are synthetic. By means, the NPK ratio or the nutrients in the
fertilizer is controlled. Since it is synthetic and made using technology, chemical fertilizer
may come in different forms such as gas, liquid, or solid. Whereas organic fertilizer mostly
comes in a solid form.

Hypothesis
For this experiment, the conductor will be using five different types of fertilizers as the
increment. Three of them being an organic fertilizer and two of them being a chemical
fertilizer. All five fertilizers will consist of different ratios with suspected the most balanced
ratio (e.g. 16-16-16) will produce the best plant as an outcome as it contains a balanced
nutrient.

Variables
Independent Variable: Types of Fertilizers

Description
Soybean Meal
 NPK Ratio = 7-2-0
 7% of Nitrogen, 2% of Phosphorus, and 0% of Potassium
 A high nitrogen fertilizer also contains a low amount of phosphorus and calcium.
Commonly used as a long-term soil conditioner (epicgardening.com)
Bone Meal
 NPK Ratio = 4-20-0
 4% of Nitrogen, 20% of Phosphorus, and 0% of Potassium
 Made up from the ground up cow-bones which is high in phosphorus but also contains a
low amount of nitrogen. Enhances flower production and root growth. Mostly used as a
solid amendment for spots with high nitrogen where plants keep getting burned.
Fish Meal
 NPK Ratio = 5-2-2
 5% of Nitrogen, 2% of Phosphorus and Potassium
 It contains a high level of nitrogen which acts as a fairly fast-acting fertilizer. It also
contains a balanced amount of phosphorus and potassium. Commonly used for corn crops.
Feather Meal
 NPK Ratio = 12-0-0
 12% of Nitrogen, 0% of Phosphorus and Potassium
 Very high in nitrogen, thus it is usually used before planting to boost the quality of the soil.
 The conductor of the experiment will be using this as a backup if one of the fertilizers
above can't be found.
NPK Fertilizer
 The conductor will be using two NPK fertilizers with two different ratios, 16-16-16 and 9-
25-25. By mean the first NPK fertilizer will contain a balanced amount (16%) of Nitrogen,
Phosphorus, and Potassium, while the other NPK fertilizer will contain 9% of Nitrogen and
25% of Phosphorus and Potassium.
Dependent Variable: Plant Growth
Description
Plant growth of the chili is highly dependent on the number of nutrients the plant absorbed. Since
the nutrients depend on the fertilizer used for the plants, different types of nutrients will be
absorbed. Thus, each plant will have a different growth rate.
Method to Control Variables
Variable Method of Control Impact (if not controlled)
If the subject of the experiment
Use the same type of chili (red is not controlled, the DV might
Type of chili chili) throughout the be affected, thus measuring the
experiment plant growth cannot be
determined precisely
The amount of fertilizer used
If amount of fertilizer used is
throughout the experiment will
not controlled it will affect the
vary depending on the size of
Amount of fertilizer used amount of intake of nutrients,
the plant, but all crops will be
thus growth plant might not be
receiving the same amount of
accurate
fertilizer
The specific time of the plant
being watered does not
necessarily affect the plant
growth but the amount of times
The plant will be watered twice the plant being watered does.
Times of plant being watered
times a day, 6 AM, and 6 PM Therefore, the conductor will
water the plants around two
times a day to prevent any
drought or flood experienced
by the roots.
Water is an essential in terms
As the plants are watered every
of plant growth, it helps with
day, the amount of water being
photosynthesis and is a part of
used will vary depending on
the nutrition needed for the
Amount of water used the size of the plant throughout
plant, thus controlling the
the experiment, but each plant
amount of water used will ease
will receive the same amount
the measuring of the growth
of water.
rate
Sunlight is a crucial part in
The plants will receive sunlight
photosynthesis therefore
for at least five hours a day (if
controlling the amount of
possible). All plants will
Amount of sunlight sunlight received will also
receive the same amount of
control the duration of
sunlight as it will be placed in
photosynthesis that will
the same area
happen.
Amount of seeds in a pot Planting the same amount of The amount of seeds planted
seeds in each pot will affect the growth rate of
each individuals as the
interaction between plants will
support or oppose the growth.
If it is not controlled, growth
rate for plants in each pot will
vary, by means systematical
error might affect the overall
 result
As soil contains earthy
minerals that supports the
growth of plants, the amount of
soil used might contribute to
Measuring the amount of soil
the amount of minerals that
Amount of soil in a pot placed in the pot before
will support the plant growth.
planting the chilies
Thus it will be better if the
amount of soil is controlled to
limit random errors possibly
caused by the soil.

Material and Apparatus:

Materials Units Uncertainty

Plant pots 5 -
Fertilizers 5 different ones 25% of the amount of soil
Red chili seeds 15 seeds per pot -
Garden shovel 1 -
Gloves 1 pair -
* The size of the pot will vary along the line of the plant size
* The amount of water to water the plants will also vary along the line of the plant size

Risk Assessment and Ethical Issues:

Risk Assessment Prevention method

1. As soil contains mineral that
To prevent this from happening, gloves are
supports plant growth, it may also
needed in this experiment to limit direct
contain germs and bacteria that may
interaction with the soil
threaten our overall health
To prevent this from happening, gloves are
2. Similar to soil, fertilizers might
needed in this experiment to limit direct
support plant growth. However, it
interaction with the fertilizer. In addition,
may contain some chemicals that
the conductor can also use mask to prevent
may possess a threat to human’s
the risk of accidentally inhaling small
health
particles of the fertilizer.
3. As plant pots comes in different
forms and materials. Some pots are
To limit the risk of getting stabbed by
made out of ceramic that is known
ceramic pots, it is suggested that the
for being fragile. If the conductor
conductor uses plastic pots rather than
uses ceramic pots and accidentally
ceramic ones.
breaks it, the sharp fractures may
accidentally harm someone.
Bibliography

“Chilli Pepper.” How to Grow Chilli Pepper / RHS Gardening, www.rhs.org.uk/advice/grow-

your-own/vegetables/chilli-pepper.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Fertilizer.” Encyclopædia Britannica,

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 28 Nov. 2019, www.britannica.com/topic/fertilizer.

EspirituFounder, Kevin. “21+ Organic Fertilizers and How To Use Them In Your
Garden.” Epic Gardening, 6 Jan. 2020, www.epicgardening.com/organic-fertilizers/.

“Fertilizers: All About Numbers & Ratios, Synthetic vs Organic, and NPK.” Sunset
Magazine, 16 Jan. 2020, www.sunset.com/garden/garden-basics/crash-course-
fertilizers.

Ford, Tony. “Pepper Fertilizer Guide.” Chile Pepper Fertilizer,

www.thechileman.org/guide_fertilizer.php.

Timothy, and Naidu Ratnala. “Chilli.” Infopedia, National Library Board Singapore, 2 Feb.
1999, eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_203_2005-01-11.html.