Ace Baldevieso, Ramon Corteza III, Cloud Tupas (March 2009)
Philippine Science High School Western Visayas Campus – Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PSHS WVC), Brgy. Bito-on, Jaro, Iloilo City 5000, Philippines
ABSTRACT
Fertilizers are given to promote growth. Plants require three major nutrients: nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium and some micronutrients. Plants need these elements whether they come from organic or chemical fertilizers.
Chemical hydroponic fertilizers use some dangerous chemicals like potassium nitrate which is an oxidizing agent, Borax which is poisonous, copper sulphate which is corrosive solid, and sulphuric acid which is corrosive to our skin. Urine on the other hand is free and it does not contain those harmful chemicals.
This study used a hydroponics system similar to the one in Garin Farm. The lettuce were grown for six weeks and their height, number of leaves and fresh shoot weight were measured and compared.
Results of the study showed that the lettuce grown in urine were shorter by around 6.48 cm, had lesser leaves and lighter in weight by 7.86 grams. The results have not shown any significant difference in the height, fresh shoot weight, and the number of leaves of the leaf lettuce.