The Application of Factorial Design in Enhancing Soil Fertility Through Compost

Abstract

In recent years, agriculture has increasingly relied on chemical fertilizers to achieve higher yields and boost productivity. Unfortunately, excessive use of chemical fertilizers may result in lowercrop production and decreased soil fertility. Organic fertilizer and compost may complement chemical fertilizers, providing a low-cost and sustainable plant nutrition supply. This study aims to demonstrate the optimal ratio of composts and water that will maximize soil fertility through the application of a 32 factorial design. Using the 32 factorial designs with randomized complete blocks, 27 jasmine plants were randomly grouped into three blocks. The treatment or compost used were dried leaves, orange, and banana peels. The height of the plants in each pot was measured for 30 days and the growth rate was calculated. The plant growth rate was analyzed using the analysis of variance (ANOVA). Each factor and combination factors was analyzed according to the main and interaction effect. The result show that soil fertility is maximized with the use of dried leaves with one cup of water, followed by the orange peel with three cups of water, and the banana peel with two cups of water. The results can be improved by taking the measurements for more than 30 days with the addition of other composts and locations for the blockings.