Agriculture Science

School-based assessment
Crop production

Name: Nicholas Guthrie

Centre: 100131
Candidate Number: 1001311407
Topic: Sweet Pepper Production
Name of School: York Castle High School
Introduction

Name: Nicholas Guthrie

Centre: 100131
Candidate Number: 1001311407
Title: Crop Production
Start Date: November 13, 2023
Termination Date: February 19, 2024
Problem Statement

There are many fertilizers on the market used in sweet pepper cultivation. How do they affect
the plants and which brand is best?
Aim

 To compare the effects on production of two (2) different brands of toiler application
fertilizers suitable for sweet pepper cultivation

 To produce at least 100lbs of sweet pepper for market/ canteen

 Table of Content

Methodology..............................................................................................................................................5
Experimental Design...............................................................................................................................5
List of Materials and Equipment Used...................................................................................................6
Activities Done........................................................................................................................................7
Pictures showing student engaged in in Activities.................................................................................8
Data collection......................................................................................................................................10
Results......................................................................................................................................................11
Data Presentation and Interpretation................................................................................................11
Discussion.................................................................................................................................................15
Conclusion................................................................................................................................................17
Limitations...........................................................................................................................................18
Recommendations................................................................................................................................18
Bibliography............................................................................................................................................19
Cost Analysis............................................................................................................................................20
Budget for Sweet Pepper Production… ..............................20
Actual Income and Expenditure Statement (Sweet pepper).............................................................21
Comparison..............................................................................................................................................22
Methodology

Experimental Design

 Transplanted 60 sweet pepper seedlings and divide the plot into 2 sectors.

 Section A will be treated with a foliar application fertilizer that has been diluted with
water (Fersan flowering premium)

 Each plot will have approximately 30 sweet pepper seedlings

 Section B will be treated with a different toiler application fertilizer (Nourish 20-20-
20+Micro)

 Method of application will be spraying

 Concentration 3.5gallons-2lbs

 Spraying will be conducted during the early hours twice a week (8-9 am) for 3weeks

 Soil type, location, irrigation, and natural soil nutrients will remain consistent for both
sectors

 Both sectors will be given organic fertilizers in the form of chicken manure periodically

 The application of the fertilizer will be given from weeks 5 to 7 twice per week

List of Materials and Equipment Used

 Spray pans

 Fertilizers

 Seedlings

 Manure

 Water

 Insecticide

 Fungicide

 Mulch

 Strings

 Watering Can
Activities Done

1. Sowed seeds in a seed tray using potting soil.

2. Watered seedlings using a watering can

3. Applied fungicide to prevent loss of seedlings

4. Prepared land for Transplanting – land clearance, weeding, plowing, and incorporating

manure

5. Transplanted seedlings into fixed pots

6. Divided plots into two (2) sections

7. Continued spraying with fungicide plus insecticide to avoid pest damage

8. Mulched seedlings with dry grass to help retain soil nutrients

9. Applied 2 different types of foliar application using a knapsack sprayer

10. Molded pepper plants using a hoe

11. Monitored plants for pests and diseases

12. Observed growth of flowers and fruits

13. Recorded data on information sheets

14. Harvested sweet potatoes and packaged and prepared them for market

15. Weighed sweet peppers and fruits and recorded data

16. Irrigated daily if there is no rainfall to ensure proper maturation of fruit

Pictures showing student engaged in in Activities

In this picture I am mulcting the crop

In this picture I am spraying the crops with Fertilizer

In this Picture I am weighing the fruits

Data collection

We collected the Following pieces of information

1. Number of Emerged Flowers.
To test the effect of fertilizers on the flowering ability, we will need to determine the number
of flowers on each plant by counting them.

2. Number of Mature Fruits

We will also attempt to determine how many flowers made it to fruit development

3. Weight of the fruits

The total weight of the reaped/ harvested fruits will be determined to ascertain and compare
the production levels of each section
 Results
Data Presentation and Interpretation

Figure 1, a table showing the average number of flowers that emerged

Week 8 Week 9 Week 10

Section A
70 (2) 90 (3) 120 (4)
Section B
100 (3) 142 (5) 146

Figure 1. shows the average number of flowers from each plot. During weeks 8-10, we

recorded that section B is producing more flowers than section A

Bar Graph Showing Average Number of Flowers Emerged

6

0
Week 8 Week 9 Week 10

Section A Section B
 Bar Graph Showing Total Weight of Fruits after Harvest
(lbs)
60

50

40

30

20

10

0
First Second

Section A Section B

Figure 2. Bar graph showing the Total Weight of Fruits after Harvest in pounds
Figure 3. Bar graph showing the total Number of Fruits Matured

. Bar graph showing the total Number of Fruits Matured

Category 2

Category 1

80 85 90 95 100 105 110

Section A Section B Column1

Discussion
This research takes the form of an experiment to discover the effects of two brands of the

same fertilizers on the growth of sweet peppers. The fertilizer that was chosen is the foliar

fertilizer. A foliar fertilizer is a type of fertilizer that is applied to the leaves of the plants

rather than the soil. It is an efficient way to boost and cure plant nutrient deficiencies. In this

experiment, we aim to investigate the effects of the growth and development of sweet

peppers by using two different brands of foliar fertilizer, which are premium and nurish. The

method of application involves using a 3.5-gallon spray pan with a mixture consisting of

30ml of the foliar fertilizer solution diluted in 3.5 gallons of water ensuring uniform coverage

on the leaves of the sweet pepper plants

The first observation made was the number of flowers that emerged on each plant we then

counted the flower buds to get an indication of the flowering capability of the fertilizers used.

We found that plot(B) which was sprayed with Nourish 20-20 20+micro outperformed plot A

which was sprayed with Fersan flowering premium. Plot B produced a total of 388 flowers,

while plot A produced only 280 flower Buds, according to https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au

flowering in plants is highly dependent on nitrogen(N), potassium(P), and phosphorus(K) they

make up a trio known as NPK which is good for plant growth.

The second parameter we assessed was the count of mature fruits originating from the flower

buds. Greater fruit yield directly correlates with increased production and revenue. Plot B

demonstrated superior fruit production with 108 fruits compared to Plot A's 91. Once again,

phosphorus proves pivotal in fruit development, with Nourish 20-20-20 providing a richer source

of this nutrient compared to Fersan Flowering Premium. Fersan fertilizer contains only 6%

phosphorus, while Nourish 20-20-20 boasts 20%. As per information from

https://www.croplife.com, insufficient phosphorus availability can lead to premature ripening

and pre-harvest fruit drop. It's possible that more frequent application of Fersan was necessary to

compensate for its lower phosphorus content. Additionally, fruits from Plot B were generally

heavier, attributed to both the increased fruit count and their larger, more mature appearance.
Conclusion

Both Nourish 20-20-20+micro and Fersan Flowering Premium proved effective fertilizers for

flowering and fruiting purposes. However, in direct comparison, Nourish 20-20-20 displayed

superior performance. Application of Nourish 20-20-20 resulted in increased fruit production,

owing to its elevated nutritional composition. It was observed that nitrogen, potassium, and

phosphorus—essential elements for flowering and fruiting—were present in higher

concentrations in Nourish 20-20-20, contributing to its enhanced efficacy in promoting these

processes.
Limitations
1. Some areas in plots A and B were shaded by taller trees limiting the adequate sunlight some

plants would have received

2. Plot B was located closer to a manure dump so this may have added to the high performance
of the Plot.

Recommendations

 We could look at adjusting the application rate of the Fersan to match the phosphorus

content of the nourish 20-20-20.

 We could try to use plot areas that have no shade as sweet pepper needs the maximum
amount of sunlight to perform well.
Bibliography

 https://www.croplife.com

 https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au
Cost Analysis

Budget for Sweet Pepper Production. $

Projected Income

 100lbs of sweet pepper @$200/lb. 20,000.00

Total projected Income. 20,000.00

Projected Expenditure

 Insecticide. 2000.00

 Fungicide. 2000.00

 Fertilizer. 1000.00

 Seedlings (100). 3000.00

Total projected Expenditure 9000.00

Total Projected Surplus 11000.00

Actual Income and Expenditure Statement (Sweet pepper)

Actual Income. $

126 lbs of sweet pepper @$230/ lb. 28,980.00

Total actual Income 28,980.00

Actual Expenditure
 Engeo Insecticide (250ml)

 Phyton-27sc Fungicide

 Fersan Flowering Premium fertilizer

 Nourish 20-20-20

 Sweet Pepper Seedlings

Total actual Expenditure 10,300.00

Total actual Surplus 18,680.00

Comparison
Actual Income surpassed Projected Income by nearly $9000.00. This increase was primarily due

to exceeding our production and sales targets for sweet peppers, coupled with selling them at a

higher price of $230 each instead of the projected $200, significantly boosting our revenue.

Actual Expenditure slightly exceeded Projected Expenditure, mainly attributed to higher costs

for pesticides and fertilizers. This resulted in a marginal difference of $1300.00 in Expenditure.

The Actual Surplus far exceeded the Projected Surplus by approximately $9000.00, primarily

due to increased production and sales, as well as fetching a higher value for our crops. Despite

the slight variance in Expenditure from the projections, our Actual Surplus significantly

outperformed the projected figures.