CHEMISTRY

Investigatory
Project

Name: Hemanth. D. Sekar and V.

Vikas
Class: 12 A
Roll No: 17 and 15
School Name: Saraswathi Vidyalaya

Teacher Name
R. Umarani
Analysis of
Fertilizers

AIM
This research aim to compare 2 different brand of
fertilizer: Chemical fertilizer and Citrus Sinensis Peeling
(bio-fertilizers), specifically the researchers sought to
answer the following questions:

 Which fertilizer is better and safer to use: Citrus

Sinensis Peeling or branded fertilizer?
 How do the researchers determine the effectively of
these product?
 What are advantages and disadvantages of using
these fertilizers?
 Which fertilizer will make plants grow faster and
healthier
AIM
Fertilizer analysis is the process of determining the chemical composition and nutrient content of
fertilizers to ensure they are effective, safe, and meet agricultural standards. Fertilizers play a
crucial role in agriculture by replenishing essential nutrients in the soil, such as Nitrogen (N),
Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K)—collectively known as NPK nutrients. These nutrients are
vital for healthy plant growth, higher crop yields, and sustainable farming.

The analysis of fertilizers helps verify the accuracy of labeled nutrient content, such as NPK ratios
(e.g., 20-10-10), and assesses the presence of secondary nutrients (e.g., calcium, magnesium) or
micronutrients (e.g., zinc, iron). It also identifies impurities, such as heavy metals, that could harm
the environment or human health.

This analysis is essential for:

 Quality Control: Ensuring fertilizers meet industry and regulatory standards.

 Environmental Safety: Preventing overuse of fertilizers and controlling nutrient runoff that can
lead to water pollution (e.g., eutrophication).
 Optimal Crop Production: Helping farmers apply the right fertilizers in appropriate amounts based
on soil and crop needs.
 INTRODUCTION
Plants need to be fertilized because most soil does not
provide essential nutrients required for optimum growth.
Even if the person is lucky enough to start with great
garden soil, as your plants grow, they absorb nutrients
and leave the soil less fertile. Nutrients in the soil also help
plants grow strong. Some nutrients that plants need are
nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium,
and sulfur.
Fertilizers, also known as food elements, are materials
produced to supple these elements in a readily available
form of plant use. It helps to make plants grow faster
which help some farmers and gardeners for their business.
Choosing the right fertilizer help us to get everything we
need from the plants we eat or from the meat of animals
that eat plants. Plants are factories that do all of the work
to process the basic elements of life and make them
available to us.
Fertilizers help feed the world. The FARO has stated
that “after land and water, fertilizers are probably the
most important input leading to increased yields”. It is
inherently difficult to estimate the share of fertilizers in
increasing agricultural output since so many factors are
involved. It has been estimated that fertilizer contribute
about 40% of the nitrogen in human protein consumption,
it follows that nearly one third of this protein depends on
fertilizers. Therefore, it is important for us to know which
fertilizers to use for us to sustain properly the needs of
every plant.
Increased crop production largely relies on the type of
fertilizers used to supplement essential nutrients for
plants. Fertilizer application is required to replace crop
land nutrients that have been consumed by previous plant
growth with the ultimate goal of maximizing productivity
and economic returns. Now a day, there is increased
emphasis on the impact on soil environment due to
continuous use of chemical fertilizers. The impact of
chemical fertilizer application on agricultural land is seen
not only in terms of the soil quality but also on the
survival of soil organisms dwelling there in. Chemical
fertilizers provide three major plant nutrients; nitrogen,
phosphorus and potassium or NPK. However, the ever
increasing cost of commercial fertilizer products driven, in
part, by the inevitable depletion of global phosphorus, is
forcing producers to look for alternative sources like bio-
fertilizers and other organically-based solutions. In
literature, some researchers have concluded the chemical
fertilizers to be harmful for soil organisms but on the
contradictory they have been supported too to be
beneficial as far as their food supply is concern. The
primary advantages of using biosolids as a fertilizer
alternative are cost efficiencies and the presence of
nutrients and organic matter. Returning these valuable
materials back to the soils is a critical element in long-
term sustainability.
 theory
The researchers will determine the effectivity of the
product by testing the effectivity of 2 brand of fertilizer in
separate plants (Plant A and Plant B). After the testing,
the researchers will record the result and make a
statement about the research.
 REQUIREMENT

The research about the comparison between 2 different

brands of fertilizer was aimed to help the community to
be aware of the importance of fertilizers and also to give
them the information in which fertilizer to use for their
plants. Books, internet, and other references materials
were used as the primary sources of information to
strengthen the researchers’ view on this topic. But these
were not enough, so experiments were conducted by the
researchers to gain additional information.
A.Materials:
 Pot A and Pot B
 Good quality of soil
 Seeds to be use (any
kind of plant: pechay)
 Water
 Sunlight
 Branded Fertilizer
 Orange peelings
 PRE EXISTING KNOWLEDGE:
· Industrial Analysis:

 Done by manufacturers for quality control.

· Field-Level Testing:

 Quick soil and fertilizer tests (e.g., using portable kits).

· Research-Based Analysis:

 In-depth studies for developing eco-friendly or high-efficiency fertilize

· Chemical Fertilizers:

 · Common fertilizers are labeled based on their NPK content (e.g., 10-20-10 represents 10% nitrogen, 20% phosphorus, and
10% potassium).
 Nitrogen (N): Promotes leaf and stem growth.
 Phosphorus (P): Essential for root development and flowering.
 Potassium (K): Improves plant resistance and overall health.
 May contain micronutrients such as zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), and iron (Fe).

· Bio-fertilizers:

 · Derived from organic materials like compost, manure, or agricultural waste.

 Contain beneficial microorganisms (e.g., nitrogen-fixing bacteria such as Rhizobium, Azospirillum, or Azotobacter) or
decomposed plant material for nutrient enrichment.
 Often slow-releasing but environmentally friendly compared to chemical fertilizers.

 .
Procedure
1. Sow seeds thinly on shallow furrows across the
seed pot, and cover lightly with fine topsoil. Do
not broadcast seeds when sowing to avoid thick
germination in one place.
2. Water the seed pot daily. Watering and other
cultural management practices should be regularly
done.
3. Apply liberal amount of fertilizer (Citrus Sensis
Peeling for pot A and branded fertilizer for pot B) at
the base of the plants, then cover lightly with soil
and
water immediately.
4. Water the plant whenever necessary or depending
on your own judgment or observation of the plant
5. Always remember to give both pots a presence
of sunlight for their process of growing.
OBSERVATION
 As long as the researchers followed the procedures,
success of experimentation will be achieved. Factors
such as sunlight could affect the study. In addition, if
this is not available, possible that this study could fail.
However, researchers could try it once more again
and again until the study is evaluated.

Elements:
NITROGEN:
Major fertilizers containing N:

(a) Ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3)

(b) Potassium nitrate (KNO3)
 (c) Urea (NH2CONH2)
(d) Ammonium sulphate [(NH4)2SO4]

Preparation:
Most of nitrogen fertilizers are obtained form synthetic
NH3. This chemical compound is used as gas or in water
solution or it is converted to salts.

Nitrogen Deficiencies
(a) Pale, green, yellow leaves
(b) Stunted growth

Nitrogen in Excess –
(a) Lower disease resistance
(b) Weaken stem
(c) Decay maturityLower fruit quality

PHOSPHORUS:
Major fertilizers containing P:

(a) DAP – Diammonium phosphate

[(NH4)2PO4] (b)Ca3(PO4)2 – Calcium
phosphate
(c)Triple phosphate and super phosphate Preparation:
Most phosphoric fertilizers are obtained by the treatment
of calcium phosphate with H2SO4 and phosphoric
fertilizers. Calcium phosphate is mainly derived from
phosphate rock and bones. Phosphate rock is found in
deposits of sedimentary origin laid down on beds of ocean
floor.

Phosphorus deficiencies –
(a) Pale purple colour on the underside of leaves
(b) Reduced flower, fruits and seed production

Advantages of P:
1. Encourage cell division
2. Hastens maturity, offsetting quick growth caused by N
3. Encourage root growth
4. Increase disease resistance

Phosphorous in excess
1. Causes dehydration of roots
2. Increase soluble
salt content of medium

POTASSIUM:
Major fertilizers containining K:

1. Potassium chloride (Potash)

2. Potassium nitrate (KNO3)

Preparation:
It is the seventh most abundant element found in earth’s
crust. Potassium chloride which is principal commercial
form of potash and some KNO3 is also used for
production of potash fertilizer.

Potassium deficiencies:
1. Leaves appear dry and scorched
2. Irregular yellow areas on the

surface Advantages of K:

Experiment Observation Inference

1. Take a pinch of No reaction Dil. group absent
fertilizer + few
drops of dil.
H2SO4
2. Take a pinch of No reaction Conc.
fertilizer + few group
drops of conc. absent
H2SO4
3. Take 1 ml of No reaction Volatile group
soda extract and absent
acidify it with dil

HCl. Add few

drops of BaCl2
soln. to it.

4. A pinch of No reaction Zero group absent

fertilizer + few
drops of NaOH
soln.
Heat it.

5. Take 1 ml of No reaction 1st group absent

O.S
(original
solution) in a
solution
and to it add few
drops of dil. HCl

6. Take 1 ml of No reaction 2nd group absent

O.S
(original
solution) in a
solution,
to it add few
drops of dil. HCl.
Warm the
solution,
and pass H2S gas.
7. Take 1 ml of No reaction 3rd group absent
O.S
(original
solution) in a
solution
and to it add few
drops of dil. HCl
.add few drops
of conc.
HNO3.heat it.
Cool it. Add a
pinch of solid
NH4Cl
followed by
excess of
NH4OH.
8. Take 1 ml of No reaction IV group absent
O.S
(original
solution) in a
solution
and to it add few
drops of dil. HCl.
Add a pinch of
solid NH4Cl
followed by excess
of NH4OH. Warm
the solution and
pass H2S gas.
9. Take 1 ml of OS White ppt V group present,
+ few drops of dil. may be
HCl + a pinch Ba2+, Kr2+ or
of solid NH4Cl + 1 Ca2+
or 2 ml of
(NH4)2CO3

10. Filter the White ppt Ca2+ confirmed.

white
precipitate, take
a part of it, and
dissolve it in
minimum amount
of CH3COOH.
Now add
RESULT
(NH4)2C2O4
Fertilizer has Ca2+ as cation. (The fertilizer detected is
Vermi Compost).
11. Flame test Brick red flame Ca2+ confirmed.
*****

Fertilizer–III
Experiment Observation Inference

1. Take 1 ml of Prussian blue Nitrogen

Lassaigne colour present in
elemental

Solution (L.S.)* in form.

a test
tube and to it add
few drops of
freshly prepared
ferrous sulphate
solution. Heat it.
Cool it. Add few
drops of conc.
H2SO4
 RESULT
The given fertilizer has N in elemental form. (The fertilizer
detected is urea).

(Urea)
O.C.N + Na NaCN

FERTILIZER 5(vermi compost)

Ca2+ (aq) + CO32(aq) CaCO3 (s) +2CH3COOH +
CaCO3 Ca [CH3COO]2 + H2O +CO2+Ca2+ (aq)
+C2O42CaC2O4(s)
 Bibiogrphy
Following Books and websites were a source for my
project.

 Wikipedia
 NCERT Chemistry Textbook for class 12
 ECO CORP.
 Google