Evaluating the Impact of Common Fertilizers on Soil Properties After Planting Tomatoes and Marigolds
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
Major
Environmental Science
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Iin Handayani
Presentation Format
Poster Presentation
Abstract/Description
There are many name brand fertilizers that are used today in gardening in the state of Kentucky. Due to the standardization of name brand fertilizer production in factories, this can cause the fertilizers to compromise the nutrients of soil, while all-natural fertilizers are seen as better quality for the consumers, plants and soils. Alaska, Miracle Grow, Monty’s, Pure Gold, Tiger Bloom are the top five fertilizers sold in the state of Kentucky. This study aims to determine the impact of five top commercial fertilizers on soil quality indicators including organic matter, acidity level and moisture content. These fertilizers were applied to the plots that were cultivated for tomatoes and marigolds for 13 weeks from May 17 to August 11, 2020. There were 36 individual plots measuring 0.1524m by 0.1524m, 18 tomato plants and 18 marigolds with six being control plots, three for tomato plants and three for marigolds. Each fertilizer was placed on three different plants selected randomly based on the directions on the back of the fertilizer container. The results will be discussed during the presentation. The information from this research will help gardeners to select the most useful fertilizers for tomatoes and marigolds as well give the best soil quality. This study shows that even though the same fertilizer was being used on both tomatoes and marigolds. The results for both tomatoes and marigolds were significantly different.
Included in
Evaluating the Impact of Common Fertilizers on Soil Properties After Planting Tomatoes and Marigolds
There are many name brand fertilizers that are used today in gardening in the state of Kentucky. Due to the standardization of name brand fertilizer production in factories, this can cause the fertilizers to compromise the nutrients of soil, while all-natural fertilizers are seen as better quality for the consumers, plants and soils. Alaska, Miracle Grow, Monty’s, Pure Gold, Tiger Bloom are the top five fertilizers sold in the state of Kentucky. This study aims to determine the impact of five top commercial fertilizers on soil quality indicators including organic matter, acidity level and moisture content. These fertilizers were applied to the plots that were cultivated for tomatoes and marigolds for 13 weeks from May 17 to August 11, 2020. There were 36 individual plots measuring 0.1524m by 0.1524m, 18 tomato plants and 18 marigolds with six being control plots, three for tomato plants and three for marigolds. Each fertilizer was placed on three different plants selected randomly based on the directions on the back of the fertilizer container. The results will be discussed during the presentation. The information from this research will help gardeners to select the most useful fertilizers for tomatoes and marigolds as well give the best soil quality. This study shows that even though the same fertilizer was being used on both tomatoes and marigolds. The results for both tomatoes and marigolds were significantly different.