Abstract:

Is loose leaf tea an effective substitute of fertilizer for plant growth? In the following experiment, research was performed to analyze the question of study regarding whether natural herbal teas act as a fertilizer or stimulant to catalyze plant growth in Hen and Chick succulents. Characteristically, loose leaf tea is dried tea leaves which are not packaged in individual bags. As an alternative to harsh chemical fertilizers, compost or mulch is used as a nourishment to stimulates plant growth. In a study analyzing herbicides and plant communities, it was reported, “Repeated application of fertilizers and herbicides are among the factors thought to explain the decline of biodiversity within agricultural areas. Long-term observations suggest that fertilizers drifting into natural habitats at the margins of croplands has led to significant modifications of species composition and richness in communities” (Loïc, 2). Significant research is leading a movement towards natural fertilizers and away from chemical pesticides and growth stimulants. Advancement in this field has led to commonality of vermiomposting or the use of mulch as a natural fertilizer. By definition, vermicomposting is the use of natural and organic materials as a base that is then degraded by earthworms to be used as a fertilizer, it's simply a notion back towards traditional and natural agricultural practices. One constitutional biodegradable source included in the compost and the process of vermicomposting is steeped loose leaf herbal teas. which therefore introduces the topic of study.

For the experiment, whether specific types of herbal teas have a greater effect on plant growth as opposed to others will be observed. Teas included in the study are herbal green tea, chai tea and jade citrus tea. As each of these have different characteristics, they also possess different chemical properties and acidities which may have a potential effect upon plant stimulation and growth.

There is not a significant amount of previous experimentation done on the topic of using different organic substances including loose leaf tea as natural fertilizers. Reliable research articles are not available where herbal teas have been used alone as a natural fertilizer for plant growth already. However, in an experiment done on antioxidant properties of fruit tea, herbal teas were also mentioned; “The results reported in this study indicate that fruit tea infusions are, just like herbal teas, valuable sources of polyphenolic anti-oxidants and that beverages prepared from teas containing a substantial portion of fruit parts exhibit the best anti-oxidant properties” (BELŠČAK, 195). Therefore the antioxidants in the herbal teas should be beneficial in plant growth. Additionally, extensive research has been recorded on subject of vermicomposting and the production of tea through this process. An article on vermicomposting and tea production discussed an experiment that was done where the liquid matter from the compost was extracted and used like a tea to nourish the plants as a natural fertilizer. The results were recorded as, “vermicompost teas had significant effects, not only on plant germination and growth, but also on the incidence of plant diseases, plant parasitic nematodes and arthropod pests… Nevertheless, the teas had about one third of the microbial activity and diversity of the solid vermicomposts, volume to volume, and there was little diminution of microbial” (Arancon, Dick). The difference between this experiment and the one that will be described in this paper, is the tea they were using was the liquid matter that was a result from the organic material in the compost. Where in the opposition, I will be testing loose leaf tea as the only organic substance being used a fertilizer or stimulant and not as a byproduct of vermicomposting. Most research in preparation for this experiment was gathered from my personal inquiry derived from home and gardening articles that claimed loose leaf tea to be a simple and suitable substitute plant fertilizer. In several articles, gardening enthusiasts claimed that biodegradable tea bags individually would suffice, however, provided no data reflection or proof to their claims. Therefore, through this experiment I will inherently prove or disprove the theory of whether loose leaf tea as an independent fertilizer is effective. If this experiment proves true, then this provides a simple and cost effective way to substitute chemical fertilizers without requiring the process of mulching or composting.

Hypothesis: Using recycled loose leaf tea as an organic fertilizer will add nutrients that improve soil quality as it decomposes. Herbal peppermint tea will yield the most plant growth as opposed to chai and jade citrus loose leaf tea.

Results and Analysis:

The experiment was completed in triplicate form consisting of three variables, one positive control and one negative control. The three variables under testing are the different types of tea: chai tea, peppermint tea and jade citrus tea. The positive control was the hen and chick plants in exposure to sunlight without the introduction of tea as a fertilizer. In respect, the negative control is the hen and chick succulents without the introduction of tea in the soil that are stored in a dark room without exposure to sunlight.

Over the course of 3 weeks measurements of the plants growth was taken dimensionally in order to account for the size of the plant. In the following table are the results represented in centimeters.

* Following these results, the dimensions were then multiplied in order to determine the approximate area in centimeters of the succulents.

* Then the growth factor of each individual plant and the average growth factor of the variable was calculated using the manipulated equation.

Y=ae^rx à Log= log(a*e^rx) à log= r*x +log à Y= mx+b

Conclusion:

The hypothesis was proven correct; using recycled loose leaf tea as an organic fertilizer adds nutrients that improve soil quality as it decomposes. Herbal peppermint tea yielded the most plant growth opposed to chai tea and jade citrus loose leaf tea. Based upon the calculated average growth rates per week, the succulents with peppermint tea grew at a rate 0.215, the succulents in chai tea at 0.0719, the succulents in jade citrus tea at 0.0853, the positive control at -0.0401 and the negative control at -0.034.

The results imply peppermint tea yielding the most plant growth exponentially because it has the highest growth rate out of all the variable teas. In comparison, the positive and negative control groups yielded a negative growth factor which indicates degradation of the plant without any fertilizer substitute. This proves that recycled loose leaf tea is an effective organic fertilizer. Jade citrus tea and chai tea while had positive growth factors were not significantly greater. This indicates that they did not have a significant effect on succulent plant growth.

What I learned was that the different chemical structures of tea maintain different characteristics that have an effect on the growth of plants. While I do not have research on the exact chemical structures of each tea used, I am assuming the peppermint teas chemical structure was the richest in antioxidants. In an article on the properties of green tea, the author states tea is, “regarded as a functional food because of its inherent anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antimutagenic properties” (Sumit). Therefore, the antioxidants, antimutagens and antimicrobials act as a positive nutrient source that the plants uptake. These components are a possible explanation for the variation of results amongst plant growth and using different teas because each tea has a unique chemical structure.

Limitations of the experiment were the inability to control that amount of sunlight the plants were exposed to consistently. I did not have access to artificial light sources, therefore, the weather had an effect on the outcome of the experiment because it is inconsistent and affects photosynthesis. Additionally, in the future I would allow more time to observe plant growth instead of over the course of three weeks. Despite these limitations, the experiment still showed significant values in changes of growth and the degradation of some plants.

Implications:

The implications of this experiment are simple in benefit to the effects on individuals, families and society. The purpose of this experiment was to ultimately provide a cost effective, environmentally safe and less time consuming solution to traditional composting or mulching. Loose leaf tea is easily accessible because it can be store bought and requires almost no maintenance for the general public to use as a substitutional fertilizer that positively impacts the growth of plants. Therefore, this experiment it is beneficial to the general public from its economical approach.

Additionally, because loose leaf herbal teas are natural the environment is unaffected by the introduction into the soil. Which ultimately provides a safe alternative to chemically based fertilizers that are known to negatively affect the biodiversity of the planet. The concept of environmentalism and economic development is characterized as sustainable development. The movement towards sustainable development also depicts the relevance of this experiment. An article on creating the law of environmentally sustainable economic development discusses the debate: “The growing use of such terms as "green economy" and "green jobs" is indicative of the direction that both policy and law are evolving. Municipalities across the United States, in particular, are consciously using renewable energy technology, green infrastructure, recycling, brownfield redevelopment, and other forms of more sustainable economic development not only to create jobs and improve their economies, but also make themselves more attractive places to live and work” (Dernbach, 1). It is possible that sustainable agricultural practices will become mandatory and highly regulated, therefore, loose leaf tea is a simple way to incorporate this method of agriculture into your backyard at home.

References:

Arancon, N.Q, C.A Edwards, R Dick, and L Dick. "Vermicompost Tea Production and Plant Growth Impacts." Biocycle. 48.11 (2007): 51. Print.

BELŠČAK, ANA, NIKOLINA BUKOVAC, and JASENKA PILJAC-ŽEGARAC. "The Influence of Ascorbic Acid and Honey Addition on the Anti-Oxidant Properties of Fruit Tea Infusions: Antioxidants in Fruit Tea Infusions." Journal of Food Biochemistry. 35.1 (2011): 195-212. Print.

Dernbach, J.C. "Creating the Law of Environmentally Sustainable Economic Development." Pace Environmental Law Review. 28.3 (2011): 614-641. Print.

Gaur, Sumit, and Rupali agnihotri. “Green Tea: A Novel Functional Food for the Oral Health of Older Adults.” Geriatrics & Gerontology International 14.2 (2014). Academic Search Premier. Web. 20 Nov. 2015.

Loïc, Pellissier, S W. Mary, Strandberg Beate, and Damgaard Christian. "Herbicide and Fertilizers Promote Analogous Phylogenetic Responses but Opposite Function Responses in Plant Communities." Environmental Research Letters. 9.2 (2014) Print.