Topic: To investigate the effect of Bio Fertilizer on the yield of Celery.

Name: Aliyyah Abdul Kadir Class: Form 4 B Teacher: Ms. Paul

Table of Contents 1. Abstract 2. Introduction 3. Literature Review 4. Methodology 5. Results 6. Data Analysis 7. Discussion 8. Conclusion and Recommendation 9. Bibliography

Introduction
Apium graveolens var. dulce is a plant variety in the Apiaceae family, commonly known as celery. The plant grows to 1 m tall. Celery is a beneficial crop used around the world as a vegetable for the crisp petiole (leaf stalk). The leaves are strongly flavoured and are used as a flavouring in soups and stews or as a dried herb. The plant is also used in weight-loss diets, where it provides low-calorie dietary fibre bulk. Celery is often purported to be a "negative calorie food" based on the idea that the body will burn more calories during the digestion of the food than the body can extract from the food itself. Celery proves to be a very important crop with many beneficial components such as Essential oil which contains d-limestone, -selinene, sedanoic acid anhydride and sedanolide. The leaves are rich source of minerals like Ca, P, Fe, vitamin A and vitamin C. Celery is an important economic crop in India which has to compete with seeds produced in China and Israel. However on a smaller scale it is also cultivated in both the Caribbean regions and the United States of America (USA). In the Caribbean there is a growing demand for spices and seasonings which grow in many parts of Guyana as such Celery proves to be an income generating crop for the country. Bio-fertilizers, more commonly known as microbial inoculants, are artificially multiplied cultures of certain soil organisms that can improve soil fertility and crop productivity. Although the three beneficial effects of legumes in improving soil fertility was known since ancient times and their role in biological nitrogen fixation was discovered more than a century ago, commercial exploitation of such biological processes is of recent interest and practice. The commercial history of bio-fertilizers began with the launch of Nitragin by Nobbe and Hiltner, a laboratory culture of Rhizobia in 1895, followed by the discovery of Azotobacter and then the blue green algae and a host of other micro-organisms. They have many advantages as well as disadvantages. Bio fertilizers provide a wider range of nutrients, particularly micronutrients. They help to increase soil organic matter content and they are relatively inexpensive. They do not contain any amount of harmful materials such as heavy metals. Unfortunately, they have a much lower nutrient density as such they require large amounts to provide enough for crops. They require different type of machinery than when applying chemical fertilizers and sometimes they are hard to obtain in certain areas. In addition the odours can be very offensive and discourage farmers from using them.

Literature Review N.A. Azzazz, et al, 2009, The Chemical Constituent and Vegetative and Yielding Characteristics of Fennel Plants Treated with Organic and Bio-fertilizer Instead of Mineral Fertilizer conducted an experiment at the Experimental Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, Assiut branch to investigate the possibility of organic and bio-fertilizers utilization instead of mineral fertilizers and the subsequent effects on vegetative growth, yielding, volatile and crude oils as well as the secondary metabolites on fennel plants. The obtained results indicated that vegetative growth, yield, essential oil and crude oil were augmented when application of different mineral and organic fertilizers. The interaction between recommended NPK x bio-fertilizer treatment and the combined of 40 m organic manure and bio-fertilizer treatment were the most effective on previous 3 parameters. Chen Jen-Hshuan, 2011, The Combined Use of Chemical Organic Fertilizers and/or Bio Fertilizer for Crop Growth and Soil Fertility conducted an experiment at Jen-Hshuan Chen Department of Soil and Environmental Sciences, National Chung Hsing University and obtained information which states that Plant nutrients are essential for the production of crops and healthy food for the worlds expanding population. Plant nutrients are therefore a vital component of sustainable agriculture. Increased crop production largely relies on the type of fertilizers used to supplement essential nutrients for plants. The nature and the characteristics of nutrient release of chemical, organic and bio fertilizers are different, and each type of fertilizer has its advantages and disadvantages with regard to crop growth and soil fertility. The sound management of fertilization must attempt to ensure both an enhanced and safeguarded environment; therefore, a balanced fertilization strategy that combines the use of chemical, organic or bio fertilizers must be developed and evaluated. Shaimaa, M. El-Sayed; A.A. Glala and Safia. M. Adam, 2008, Response of Two Celery Cultivars to Partial or Complete Organic Nitrogen Alternation Strategies The study was carried out in Boulaq Experimental Station, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University during the two successive growing seasons from August 2006 to

July 2008. Results indicated that replacement of 25 to 5o % of celery nitrogen requirement by organic sources may be efficiently carried out without any loose of celery yield. Moreover, alternating mineral nitrogen by organic sources resulted in some improvement of essential oil composition, flavor and reduced nitrate accumulation in celery fresh yield. Accordingly, it could be an eco-friendly recommendation to alternate up to half nitrogen nutrition by organic source, in order to reduce the environmental harmful residues, nitrate accumulation in the celery vegetative yield and also improve its flavor, nutrient value and health impacts.

Methodology Materials: Cutlasses Forks Hoe Shovel Wooden sticks Polythene Watering cans Ruler Hand forks Long boots.

Method: Land preparation was carried out. Two beds were prepared with three (3) inches wide and nine (9) inches long. Insecticide (chlorophyrifos) and fungicide (acrobat) were applied to the beds before transplanting. Celery seedlings were transplanted at four (4) weeks old. Every day plants were watered and competing weeds were removed.

 Every seven (7) days sea weed extract were applied