CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

The purpose for this investigation is to find out if charcoal (carbon sulphate oxide) can act as a fertilizer for orchids and help boost the growth of the orchid plant and increase the bloom of its flowers. The investigator had selected this topic due to an interest in the different properties of charcoal and how it can help nature in many ways. The topic was chosen due to the fact that the investigator’s family has a garden with orchids that are even several decades old. The investigator then decided to do experiment with charcoal and orchids to see if charcoal could help the orchid’s flowering. There have been other investigators who have done similar studies and have proved that charcoal can act as an effective fertilizer. Others have proven that charcoal can act as a fertilizer for plants and an enhancer for soil but this investigator would like to know if it can be used specifically for orchids and if it would be the best way to boost an orchid’s bloom and growth. This project can contribute to the attainment of a better quality of life since it is beneficial to the environment because charcoal is organic, affordable and may be used by everyone, and can be used to enhance soil quality, fight global warming and make plants grow better. This can study can fight global warming since it is natural and organic and it will not release chemicals into the environment which damage the land and our air, specifically the ozone layer.

Statement of the Problem

It is unknown if charcoal can act as a main fertilizer and have an effect on the growth of the orchids plant.

Hypotheses

Carbon Sulphate Oxide will act as an effective fertilizer to promote growth for the orchid plant.

Carbon Sulphate Oxide as a fertilizer will have an impact on the environment and the botanical community.

Significance of the Study

This study can contribute towards a better quality of life. Charcoal is organic and affordable and is beneficial to the environment as it can be used to enhance soil quality, fight global warming and make plants grow better. In the fight against global warming, charcoal will not release chemicals into the ozone layer which can damage the land and air. As an organic alternative to chemicals, charcoal can contribute to the health and quality of life of people, especially gardeners and farmers as it lessens their exposure to chemicals. The investigator’s grandmother who tended orchids, had used inorganic fertilizer and as result had developed lung cancer by breathing in the chemicals. If charcoal is proven as an effective fertilizer not only can it fight global warming, it can also prevent diseases such as lung cancer.

CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, orchids are any of a large family of plants having often showy flowers with three petals of which the middle one is enlarged into a lip, also, a flower of an orchid. Orchids have various uses (Orchids and Anthurums, 2015), they are mainly used for decoration, medicine, food and in small-scale industries. They are used in making cottages, ghee (clarified butter) for making some musical instruments, baskets, blackboard erasers and vanilla. In medicine, orchids are used for clotting blood in wounds, hysteria, antidotes, pain, the liver, nerves and headaches. Orchids are also used for festivals and religious purposes. Orchids also have different characteristics (Orchids and Anthurums, 2015); they last long when they are still attached to the plant but shorter when they’ve been cut off. Orchids have large leaves which are on stocks, which are slender and leafy bracts colored white, yellow, pink, red, orange or green. Some varieties of orchids can also be toxic and can cause swelling and pain. They also contain calcium oxalate. Orchids can be found everywhere, except in cold places. Orchids can be grown and cultivated in different ways, they can be cultivated in coconut husks, clay pots and on the ground. Sunlight is important in their growth process and it is better when its indirect. Seedlings require less light. Coconut husks, brick chips and charcoal can be used as a medium for orchid growth. There are also three types of orchids, terrestrial orchids which grow in the soil, epiphytic orchids which grow on trees and hybrids which are a cross between two different species. There are two types of growth for orchids, sympodial and monopodial. Sympodial orchids produce new growth from the base of previous growth (Williams, 1980). Williams et.al continues to explain that most sympodial orchids have pseudobulbs. Pseudobulbs are not real bulbs but have very thick stems. Monopodial orchids grow in a single upward direction. This new growth pattern is an extension from past growth (Williams,1980). There are also ten more types of orchids; namely, Cattleya, Cymbidium, Phalaenopsis, Dendrobium, Vanda, Ascocenda, Arachnis, Aranda, Oncidium Golden Showers and Paphiopedium. As mentioned, charcoal can be used as a fertilizer. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, charcoal is “a porous carbon prepared from vegetable or animal substances, a piece of fine charcoal used in drawing, also, a drawing made with charcoal. Charcoal is made of ash and carbon. It has properties that make it usable for health purposes. Wikipedia lists charcoal as having anti-fungal and anti-odor properties. Wikipedia continues to state that there are different kinds of charcoal such as biochar, lump charcoal, japanese charcoal and many more. Biochar “is the charcoal that is used for soil amendment. Charcoal can also be used as a base for potted plants to grow instead of soil. This gives us knowledge charcoal is not harmful to plants. Charcoal is actually used in orchid potting mix. Charcoal is inert which means it will not decay. It also allows the air to flow through the potting mix and combines materials of the organic ingredients in the potting mix (What does charcoal have to do with orchids, 2005). American Chemical Society discovered that using charcoal as a fertilizer made more crops and absorb more carbon from the air which means that charcoal can help fight global warming (Charcoal may help improve soil quality, 2008). Dr. Mingxin Guo, an assistant professor at Agriculture and Natural Resources at Delaware State University, stated that since there are many pores in charcoal, the charcoal allows air to diffuse into the soil which lets the plants breath and get water and nutrients that have been held in the pores. Dr. Guo discussed that using charcoal as fertilizer can improve the quality of crops and soil and also improve the quality of soil, thus this should encourage farmers to use charcoal for it is affordable and effective (Charcoal may help improve soil quality, 2008). As this research will look at using charcoal as fertilizer, it is important to understand the process of fertilization. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, fertilizer is a chemical mixture or manure used for enriching land. Fertilizer is used to add nutrients to soil, trees, vegetables, herbs, shrubs and flowers (What are the different types of fertilizer, 2003). There are three different types of fertilizer. One is organic fertilizer which is natural fertilizer with ingredients like bat guano, compost, peat moss, wood ash and manure. Its not harmful to plants and is a soil amendment, however, it does have lesser nutrient content than inorganic fertilizers. Another type is an inorganic fertilizer. It is man-made and comes mostly as powder, pellets, granules or liquid. Chemicals like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are added to this fertilizer. Calcium, sulfur, iron, zinc, and magnesium are added as well. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are found in soil but some plant need more of these than other plants. This type of fertilizer helps stem and leaf growth by promoting protein and chlorophyll. It also helps plants resist diseases. The last type of fertilizer is acidic or alkaline soil for plants that require different pH levels (What are the different types of fertilizer, 2003). Since charcoal contains no chemicals and is made of natural materials, charcoal could be considered as organic fertilizer. Based from this research, the investigator, can hypothesize that it is possible for charcoal to greatly contribute to orchid and flowering but further investigation is needed to verify these findings.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Printed Sources

charcoal [Def. no. 1,2]. (2004) Merriam-Webster

fertilizer [Def. no. 1]. (2004) Merriam-Webster

orchid [Def. no.1]. (2004). Merriam-Webster

Williams, B., Dumbleton, P., Bilton, R., Rittershausen, W., Stead, D., Phillips, P., Andrew, K., Greatwood, A. (1980). Orchids for Everyone, A Practical Guide to the Home Cultivation of over 200 of the World’s Most Beautiful Varieties. United Kingdom, UK: Crown Publishers Inc.

Non-printed Sources

Biochar: Retrieved on December 12 2015 from, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biochar

Charcoal May Help Improve Soil Quality:Retrieved on December 12 2015 from, http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=89562594

Charcoal: Retrieved on December 12 2015 from, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charcoal

Orchids and Anthuriums - Their Classifications, Uses, Techniques of Propagation. Cultivation and Preservation: Retrieved on December 12 2015 from, http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/6369/12/12_chapter%203.pdf

What are the Different Types of Fertilizer?: Retrieved on December 12 2015 from, http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-different-types-of-fertilizer.htm

What does charcoal have to do with orchids?: Retrieved on December 12 2015 from, http://en.allexperts.com/q/Orchids-727/charcoal-orchids.htm