Student Research Reports
The production of bio-pellet fertilizer from discarded shrimp shells coated with a jellose substance derived from tamarind seeds has implications for the growth and yield of rice variety RD79.
Organization(s):Kalasinpittayasan
Country:Thailand
Student(s):Patanin boonyu (Boonyu, P.)
Ploypailin Sanrak (Sanrak, P.)
Lamaiphorn Phuyodploy (Phuyodploy, L.)
Grade Level:Secondary School (grades 9-12, ages 14-18)
GLOBE Educator(s):Chumpon Chareesaen
Contributors:
Report Type(s):International Virtual Science Symposium Report
Protocols:Soil Fertility, Soil pH, Soil Temperature
Presentation Video:
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Language(s):English
Date Submitted:03/03/2025
Plants often lack essential nutrients, necessitating the development
of fertilizers that provide adequate nourishment while allowing for nutrient
adjustments suitable for both soil and crops. This study investigated the
optimal ratio of shrimp shell waste to tamarind seed gelose at 1:1, 2:1, and
3:1, confirming that all ratios could form solid granules. The researchers
selected the 3:1 ratio for experimentation. Using a Scanning Electron
Microscope (SEM) to analyze the fertilizer's composition, key plant
macronutrients were identified: nitrogen (N) at 9.70±2.41%, phosphorus (P)
at 2.44±0.29%, and potassium (K) at 0.92±0.08%. The micronutrients
detected included magnesium (Mg) at 0.60±0.07%, calcium (Ca) at
8.86±1.69%, and silicon (Si) at 0.48±0.13%.
In a controlled study, RD79 rice (Oryza sativa L.) was grown with varying
fertilizer application rates. The rice plants that received 8 grams of the biogranular shrimp shell fertilizer exhibited the best growth at 50 days,
reaching an average height of 70.36±0.80 cm, with a dry weight of
2.31±0.06 g and an average of 11.36±1.12 leaves per plant. Soil fertility
was assessed using an N-scale with three levels: Too Little (N), Ideal (P),
and Too Much (M). The soil treated with 8 grams of the shrimp shell
fertilizer coated with tamarind seed gelose showed the most favorable
chemical properties for plant growth.
When RD79 rice was cultivated in real farming conditions, plant growth
varied. By the third growth stage, rice plants treated with the bio-fertilizer
reached a greater height of 131.70±0.96 cm, with a dry weight of 8.09±0.07
g and an average of 25.00±1.24 leaves per plant. Additionally, yield
analysis revealed differences among treatments. The RD79 rice treated
with the bio-fertilizer at the third growth stage produced grains with an
average 100-grain weight of 3.11±0.13 g, an average of 131.00±2.00
grains per panicle (based on 10 panicles), and an average 100-grain length
of 1.06±0.05 cm.