Page 87 - rise 2017

The Effect Of Tea Leaves Compost Extracts To The Development Of Spinacia Oleracea

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1a*
Is Aizat bin Samsuri , Nor Adila binti Zorkepeli , Kohilavaani a/p Ganesan , Syafiqah binti Johan
and Shobhen Varma a/l Ramasamy1

1 Politeknik Nilai, Negeri Sembilan.

a* is.aizat01@gmail.com

Abstract
Tea leaves are widely used in drinks. There are 2 by-products from the processing of tea leaves;
grounded leaves and fibre. In this paper, a project was done to study the effect of tea leaves compost
on the development of Spinacia oleracea based on its height, leaves width, roots length and the
amount of leaves. 4 sets of experiment were prepared, 3 different ratios of tea compost extracts: rice
straw and one set using chemical water-soluble fertilizer. Each experiment was using 10 individual
plants grown inside hydroponic tray and the plant was given an optimum condition for its growth.This
project was done for 30 days following the standard maturation age of Spinacia oleracea. All four sets
were given the same concentration of fertilizer (tea extract and chemical fertilizer) for their growth
(1.8, 2.0, 2.2 and 2.4 EC reading for each week respectively). Same volume light intensity was
exposed to the plants as a control parameter during the experiment. Fertilizer concentration was
checked twice per day, at 7.30 am and 5 pm every day. The results were taken every week by
measuring the number of leaves, leaves size, height of plant, color intensity and final weight.
Comparison was made between all sets of experiments. During the experiment, plants that were
applied with the tea extract do have a normal growth. Plants that were applied with 50:50 tea extract
ratio have a bigger similarities in development with the control. The results shows that plants that
were applied 50:50 tea extract ratio have an optimum development growth.
Keywords: Tea waste, rice straw, compost, spinach

Introduction
Haze is an atmospheric phenomenon where dust, smoke and other dry particles obscure the clarity of
the sky. Air pollution such as haze often occurs due to the open burning of agricultural waste. In order
to counter the problem this research existed with the target to turn agricultural waste such as tea waste
and rice straw to high quality product and reusable. Compost teas are usable, cost-effective, and
reasonable way to efficiently consume nutrients from food waste and vegetative wastes from modern
agriculture. For example a compost tea can be specifically prepared for use as a soil organic matter
producer, a disease suppressant and also as a nutrient source.
They also increase soil biological features. Rice straw improves the soil’s physical, chemical
and biological properties. Green biomass combinations gave significant increase in the nitrogen [1]
which then activates the heat process in the compost. Straw usually a waste product of rice which is a
carbon source (brown stuff) and serves as fiber for the compost. Straw makes an excellent carbon base
for a compost pile. The carbon provides energy for the microbes, and the nitrogen provides protein.
The most commonly required plant nutrients are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K).
Almost all fertilizers are categorized according to their Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium or N-P-K
value.
Other than controlling the air pollution from open burning, organic liquid fertilizer also
beneficial to the farmers as it can replace the use of chemical fertilizer. Effective microbes such as
yeast are also added to start the compost quickly. Three ratios of compost (50:50, 70:30, 30:70) are
made and the best constituents are identified although the standard ratio of carbon to nitrogen is 30:1.
This project is done to reduce the usage of the chemical fertilizer. The excessive of the chemical
fertilizers can cause the leaf of vegetables are look wilt. This is because the chemical fertilizers
contain artificial nutrients that are not naturals. Besides, the usage the chemical fertilizers can pollute
the water such as alga bloom and increasing the biological oxygen demand in water.