Iloilo City National High School

M.H. Del Pilar St. Molo Iloilo City

Science and Technology for Engineering

“Effectiveness of Raw and Cooked Fish Bones on Cabbage Seeds”

Researcher:

RG Leeh T. Andraje
Grade 10 Newton

Research Teacher:
Ms. Stella Tacuyan
Table of Contents
Chapter I: Introduction 1
Background of the Study 2
Type chapter title (level 3) 3
Type chapter title (level 1) 4
Type chapter title (level 2) 5
Type chapter title (level 3) 6
 CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION

Background of The Study

The outbreak of Covid-19 affected the economy. Fruit and Vegetables production is on the sectors with

the most at stake in light of Covid-19’s threats to the farm labor force. The researcher came up with the idea of

using fish bones as fertilizer. The agricultural industry depends on chemical fertilizers that contain nitrogen,

phosphorus, and potassium which are essential for plant growth. Fish bone waste includes solid waste types

generated from small scale production to large farming. Bone meals organic matter of micro-organisms which

can help improve the soil fertility and structure. Fish bones can be used across a wide variety of plants and is

ideal for fruits, vegetables, flowers, roses, shrubs, and trees. Fish waste is partly destined for the production of

fishmeal, fertilizers, and fish oil with low profitability or utilized as raw material for direct feeding in

aquaculture, and partly thrown away. Sediments of fish bones, which are residues from hydrolysis of fish

remains used to produce fish oil and soluble proteins, are rich in nitrogen and phosphorus. Phosphorus and

potassium in fertilizer is to strengthen roots and stems, and accelerate the formation of roots and leaves.

The researcher decided to use cabbage as its subject. Cabbage require a diluted solution of a balanced

(10-10-10) liquid fertilizer or fish emulsion is needed. Fish emulsion is an organic garden fertilizer that is half

decomposed mixture of finely ground up fish. It is then dried to kill micro-organisms. Although the odor is very

intense and fish, it disappears within one to two days. Fish Emulsion helps plants become stronger, healthier,

and larger, with more vibrant flowers that bloom longer. With proper application fish emulsion can result in

higher crop yields, particularly in cooler climates. This is because fertilizer such as manure break down slowly

in cooler months, whereas fish emulsion fertilizers at a steady rate. It is important to know through that fish

emulsion that is too strong can burn plants, particularly potted plants.

In order to grow plants needs light, carbon dioxide, water, soil, and the macro (nitrogen, phosphorus,

potassium, sulfur, magnesium, and calcium) and micronutrients (Boron, Copper, Iron, chloride, and many

others). During harvesting, these nutrients are being transferred to the crops and leave the plant so by the use of

fertilizers these nutrients are replaced.

Objectives of The Study

General Objectives:

The main objective of the study is to determine the effectiveness of raw fish bones and cooked fish

bones on cabbage seeds

Specific Objectives

Specifically, the study aims to determine the effects of the raw fish bones and cooked fish bones on

cabbage seeds in terms of

size

weight

Hypothesis
Null Hypothesis:

There is no significant effect in soil after the fish bones are applied on cabbage seeds.

Alternative Hypothesis:

There is significant effect in soil after the fish bones are applied on cabbage seeds.

Significance of the Study

 The study must be conducted to find out the effects of fish bones towards cabbage seeds. The result of

this study is beneficial to students, out of school youth, to the parents, teachers, to the community,

farmers, school administrators, researchers and other individuals because this can give information about

the impact of the study to the society.

Statement of the Problem

 Are there any changes on the plant after the fish bone fertilizer is applied?

 Does fish bones are effective as a fertilizer?

 Do the cabbage seeds grow normally when the fertilizer is applied?

CHAPTER II: METHODOLOGY

Materials:

Raw Fish Bones

Soil
Cabbage seeds
Logbook
Flat pan
Pen
Gloves
Tap water
Sunlight
Bowl
Mortar and pestle
Spoon
Small container
 Cooked Fish Bones
Pot

Procedure:
Prepare all the materials. First, disinfect the fish bones by washing it by water. Rinse carefully, add on the flat

pan. Let them expose to the sunlight for 8 hours. Check the fish bones regularly, add notes on the logbook.

After 8 hours, add the fish bones on the mortar and pestle the pound it until its powdered. After pounding, add

the pounded fish bones on the small container. Prepare the soil and cabbage seeds for experimentation. Add 5

grams of fish bone fertilizer to the pot. The cabbage need at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight per day.

Add fertilizer every two weeks. Record the observations everyday on the logbook. Once cabbage plant have

been transplanted into a prepared garden bed, continue applying cabbage fertilizer every 3 to 4 weeks until

heads begin to form.

CHAPTER III: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Fish waste is partly destined for the production of fishmeal, fertilizers, and fish oil with low profitability

or utilized as raw material for direct feeding in aquaculture, and partly thrown away. Moreover, the nutritional

composition of fish waste allows to supply plant nutrients or to enrich a compost. In fact, fish waste is/can be

processed to produce several fertilizers, and currently commercial fish-based fertilizers are used for agricultural

and horticultural crops. In addition, fish waste has high concentration of biodegradable organics which could be

recycled as attractive co-substrate for waste activated sludge, to improve the methane production during

anaerobic co-digestion. Moreover, the nutritional composition of fish waste allows to supply plant nutrients or

to enrich a compost. In fact, fish waste is/can be processed to produce several fertilizers [8], and currently

commercial fish-based fertilizers are used for agricultural and horticultural crops [16]. In addition, fish waste

has high concentration of biodegradable organics which could be recycled as attractive co-substrate for waste

activated sludge, to improve the methane production during anaerobic co-digestion (Ishita Ahuja, Egidijus

Dauksas, Jannicke F. Remme, Roger Richardsen, 2021).

 To cope up with the increasing human population and the increasing demand for food, the use of

fertilizer has also been highly needed. Increasing the demand for fertilizers which helps in the production of

food made it expensive (Hargrove, 2008). Though the use of inorganic fertilizers improves the quality and

quantity of crops, soil pH, and nutrient content and availability (Akande, et al., 2010) it has been one of the

leading causes of environmental degradation. An example is ground water contamination, which has been

associated with gastric cancer, goitre, birth malformations, and hypertension, testicular cancer and stomach

cancer (Wagner, N.D.). This has led to the use of natural fertilizers such as urine.

In order to grow plants needs light, carbon dioxide, water, soil, and the macro (nitrogen, phosphorus,

potassium, Sulphur, magnesium, and calcium) and micronutrients (Boron, Copper, Iron, chloride, and many

others). During harvesting, these nutrients are being transferred to the crops and leave the plant so by the use of

fertilizers these nutrients are replaced (Gensch et. al., 2011). The agricultural industry depends on chemical

fertilizers that contain nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium which are essential for plant growth (Carlson,

N.D.). Such components are also found in urine which made agriculturists from countries like China, Israel,

Finland, and South Africa process urine and use it as fertilizer (Pradhan et al. 2007, 2009; Jonsson, 2004).

The current problem with liquid organic fertilizer made from seaweed is low concentrations of

phosphorus and potassium. Phosphorus and potassium are the main elements in fertilizer that can help

plant growth. The function of phosphorus and potassium in fertilizer is to strengthen roots and stems,

and accelerate the formation of roots and leaves [3]. Seaweed contains low phosphorus and potassium,

it is necessary to add an ingredient that can increase phosphorus and potassium to produce a good

The current problem with liquid organic fertilizer made from seaweed is low concentrations of

phosphorus and potassium. Phosphorus and potassium are the main elements in fertilizer that can help plant

growth. The function of phosphorus and potassium in fertilizer is to strengthen roots and stems, and accelerate

the formation of roots and leaves [3]. Seaweed contains low phosphorus and potassium, it is necessary to add an

ingredient that can increase phosphorus and potassium to produce a good seaweed liquid organic fertilizer

product. One of the ingredients needed to increase the concentration of phosphorus and potassium in seaweed

liquid organic fertilizer is fish bone flour. According to [4], fish bones has 59.7% calcium content and 35.8%

phosphorus content. Fish bone flour added to seaweed liquid organic fertilizer can increase the concentration of

phosphorus and potassium and produce the best seaweed liquid organic fertilizer on the market that can

accelerate plant growth. (P T Bhaskoro, W Tjahjaningsih, A S Mubarak, 2005)

 The researchers believed that bone meal fertilizer is an effective fertilizer but not as effective as

inorganic fertilizer. However further studies with a longer period of time should be conducted to test if bone

meal is an effective fertilizer and show that its results are as comparable as to inorganic fertilizer. Future

researchers should try using different plants as well that is not as resilient as Phaseolus radiatus, like tomatoes

or corn. Another variation could be using the bones of other animals like chickens since this study used solely

fish bones. Future researchers can also perform this experiment in a more controlled environment like a

greenhouse to minimize environmental disturbances in the experiment. By performing different methods, the

future researchers may be able to further validate the findings in this study (Asefa Gail V. Granados, Tiffany

Joy M. Ochoa, Angelica Marie P. Pino, Ernestine A. Villamor, Ma. Lourdes Umlas, 2016)

Fish emulsion is a fertilizer that is a half decomposed mixture of finely ground up fish. It is then dried to

kill micro-organisms. Although the odor is very intense and fishy, it disappears within one to two days. Fish

emulsion contains up to 5 percent nitrogen with several trace elements that help improve soil microbes,

resulting in more plant building blocks. Fish emulsion helps plants become stronger, healthier, and larger, with

more vibrant flowers that bloom longer. With proper application fish emulsion can result in higher crop yields,

particularly in cooler climates. This is because fertilizer such as manure break down slowly in cooler months,

whereas fish emulsion fertilizes at a steady rate. It is important to know though that fish emulsion that is too

strong can burn plants, particularly potted plants.

Organic agriculture aims to be independent of conventional agriculture, and fertilizers derived from

harvesting of natural materials may be a relevant alternative. Catching of wild fish, and collection or cultivation

of seaweeds, result in residual products which contain essential plant nutrients. Sediments of fish bones, which

are residues from hydrolysis of fish remains used to produce fish oil and soluble proteins, are rich in nitrogen

and phosphorus. Residues from seaweeds (algae fibre), after extraction of soluble nutrients sold as a liquid

fertilizer, are rich in potassium and sulfur. However, we do not know much about how such residues affect plant

growth (Shita Ahuja, Anne-Kristin Løes, 2019)

 References

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339485356_The_effect_of_addition_of_fish_bone_meal_on_the_conc
entration_of_nitrogen_N_phosphorus_P_and_potassium_K_in_seaweed_liquid_organic_fertilizer_of_Gracilari
a_sp
https://www.herdin.ph/index.php?view=research&cid=67094
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1755-1315/441/1/012144/pdf
https://orgprints.org/id/eprint/36439/1/NORS%C3%98K%20REPORT_7%20Pottefors%C3%B8k_print
%20version%20korrigert.pdf
https://www.scribd.com/document/385700446/Comparative-Study-of-Quail-Eggshells-and-Fish-Bones
http://ijbm.org/articles/IJBM_8(1_ShC1.pdf