A Cost Benefit Analysis of Nitrogen Content

of the Soil in Virac, Itogon, Benguet

Aduca, Katleen
Bilog, Jessa
Lopez, Hector Jorge
Sison, Mark Adriel
Vinluan, Nicole Gianmari

University of Baguio High School

INTRODUCTION

It seems quite easy to take soil for granted or to abuse the soil. There is so much of it
around, as it covers 1/3 of the earth’s surface, that it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that
we’ll never run out of good soil; however, such is not the case. Soil is an aggregate of four basic
components: water, air, mineral solids, and organic matter. Depending on how much is present in
soil determines what makes the soil good for growing crops or plants for human and animal
consumption. (Fernandez, F. & Kaiser, D., 2018)
The need to better understand the role and fate of nitrogen in the soil in production
systems has become a need as environmental and economic issues have increased such as the
industrialization of the soil. Nitrogen is a chemical element with the chemical symbol N, which
is essential to life on earth because it is a key building block for nucleic and amino acids.
Nitrogen in the soil is the most important element for plant development. It is required in large
amounts and must be added to the soil to avoid deficiency. Nitrogen is a major part of
chlorophyll, a compound by which plants use the energy from sunlight to produce glucose from
water and carbon dioxide. In addition, it is also a major component of amino acids which is the
building blocks of proteins, including the genetic materials ribonucleic acid (RNA) and
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). (Burke, 2016). Nitrogen acts as a key catalyst to support
photosynthesis and other important biochemical reactions required for healthy plant growth.
Since N is a key element component in chlorophyll- the biomolecule which allows plants to
absorb energy from light (i.e., photosynthesis) to facilitate growth. Photosynthesis utilizes light
energy to generate other N-containing molecules, including high energy chemical structures
called adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP allows cells to conserve and use the energy released
in metabolism to drive all the necessary biochemical reactions to support internal energy
transfers-facilitating cellular division (i.e. growth) throughout the entire life cycle of the plant.
Nitrogen is the most abundant element on earth covering an approximate of 78.08% in
the atmosphere. However, plants cannot take or use nitrogen directly from the atmosphere, and
can’t use it until it is naturally processed in the soil or added as fertilizer. Plants take nitrogen
from the soil by absorption through the roots. (Kurtus, 2007)
The nitrogen in the soil that might eventually be used by plants has two sources: the vast
depot of nitrogen in the atmosphere and the nitrogen-containing minerals. Atmospheric nitrogen
is a major source of nitrogen in soils. In the atmosphere, it exists in the very inert N3 form and
must be converted before t becomes useful in the soil. The quantity of nitrogen added to the soil
in this manner is directly related to thunderstorm activity, but most areas probably receive no
more than 20 lb nitrogen/acre per year from this source. On the other hand, the nitrogen in soil
minerals is released as the minerals decompose. This process is generally quite slow, and
contributes only slightly to nitrogen nutrition on most soils. Nitrogen supplied by the mineral
fraction may be significant in some years on soils containing large quantities of NH4 rich clays,
be it either naturally occurring or developed by its fixation added as a fertilizer.
Plants require more nitrogen than any other nutrients, however, only a small portion of
the nitrogen in soil is available to plants; almost 98% of the nitrogen in soil is in organic forms
while the mineral nitrogen in soil accounts for only 2%. The soil microorganisms convert
organic forms of nitrogen to mineral forms when they decompose organic matter and fresh plant
residues. Nitrogen is chemically reacted with other compounds such as commonia, nitric acid,
organic nitrates, and cyanides to form different compounds with totally unique chemical and
physical properties.
Nitrogen can go through many changes in the soil these transformations are known as the
nitrogen cycle, and are important for understanding nutrient and fertilizer management. Factors
determining the quantity of nitrogen in the soil include previous fertilizer applications and
nitrogen released by decomposition.
Nitrogen is important to the different fields. In the chemical industry, it is used to make
fertilizers, nitric acid, nylon, dyes and explosives. To make these products, nitrogen must first be
reacted with hydrogen to produce ammonia. This is done by the Haber process. 150 million tons
of ammonia are produced in this way every year. Nitrogen gas is also used to provide an
unreactive atmosphere. In the production of transistors and diodes in the electric industry, large
quantities of nitrogen are used in annealing stainless steel and other steel mill products.
Annealing is a heat treatment that makes steel easier to work. It also finds application as a shield
gas for safeguarding technological processes against oxidation. It is used for creating an inert
atmosphere for steel casting and vacuum degassing of molten metal. (On Site Gas Systems,
2018)
Liquid nitrogen is often used as a refrigerant. It is used for storing sperm, eggs and other
cells for medical research and reproductive technology. It is also used It is used in this way to
preserve foods since nitrogen helps in rapidly freezing foods, helping them to maintain moisture,
color, flavor and texture. Pure nitrogen is also leveled as food additive in the European Union
with E number E941. (NiGen, 2016)

Review on Related Literature

Soil provides ecosystem services critical for life: soil acts as a water filter and a growing
medium; provides habitat for billions of organisms, contributing to biodiversity; and supplies
most of the antibiotics used to fight diseases. Humans use soil as a holding facility for solid
waste, filter for wastewater, and foundation for our cities and towns. Finally, soil is the basis of
our nation’s agroecosystems which provide us with feed, fibre, food and fuel.
(Soil Science Society of America, n.d.)
Nitrogen is an important building block of proteins, nucleic acids and other cellular
constituents which are essential for all forms of life. Nitrogen is such an important key nutrient
element for plants that it warrants careful management. (Khal, 2004)
 Liquid nitrogen costs about P104.60 per gallon but when delivered in bulk storage tanks,
it costs about P 26.15 per gallon. (Hypertextbook, n.d)
Nitrogen is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that is the most plentiful element in the
Earth’s atmosphere and is a constituent of all living matter. Nitrogen plays a central role in
relation to agricultural soil use and ground water protection. On the other hand, the N plant
requirement in relation to many other nutrients is very high, and essentially the N supply has a
major impact on yield levels of crops. It is normal farming practice to apply nitrogen to soil
through fertilizer N or other agronomic culture techniques (e.g. growing of legumes etc.) to
achieve high crop yields. (Prasad, n.d.)
Nitrogen has a number of important uses. It can be used to replace air and eliminate
oxidation of materials. Its most important use is in creating ammonia, which in turn is used to
make fertilizer and explosives. Liquid nitrogen is used as a refrigerant for every low temperature.
(Kurtus, 2007)
Nitrogen is a crucially important component for all life. It is an important part of many
cells and processes such as amino acids, proteins and even our DNA. It is also needed to make
chlorophyll in plants, which is used in photosynthesis to make their food. (Science Learning
Hub, n.d)
Nitrogen is a great need in for the people to survive. The most important use of nitrogen
is in creating ammonia, which in turn is used to make fertilizer, explosives and other materials.
Finally, liquid nitrogen is used as a refrigerant for very low temperatures. (Krutus, 2007)
There are different forms of nitrogen. One is nitrogen gas that serves as a substitute for
air where oxidation is harmful. It is used to preserves the freshness of the food by packing them
by this it reduces the spoilage of the food. On the other hand, liquid nitrogen is used in soil wells
to build up pressure in order to force crude oil upward. Plants and animals could not live without
nitrogen. It is an important part of many cells and processes such as amino acids, proteins, and
even our DNA. It is also needed to make chlorophyll in plants, which plants use in
photosynthesis to make their food and energy (Ducksters, n.d).
The first process is fixation which makes nitrogen usable for plants where in bacteria
change nitrogen into ammonium. Followed by nitrification where ammonium gets changed into
bitrates by bacteria. Then assimilation takes place where plants absorb nitrates from the soil into
their roots. Then the nitrogen gets used in amino acids, nucleic acids, and chlorophyll. After
assimilation, ammonification occurs wherein it is the decaying process. When a plant or animal
dies, decomposers like fungi and bacteria turn the nitrogen back into ammonium so it can reenter
the nitrogen cycle. Lastly is the denitrification where extra nitrogen in the soil gets put back out
into the air. There are special bacteria that perform this task as well.

Conceptual Framework

The given statement below will serve as an outline of how the researchers plan to conduct
the study to come up with the results.
The input of the study is as follows: the soil in Virac, Itogon, Benguet, the nitrogen
present in the soil, and the tools needed in the extraction process. The methodology to be used is
extraction and comparison. The stated processes shall find out the percentage of nitrogen present
in the soil of Virac, Itogon, Benguet and a distinct assessment between the cost of nitrogen
extracted from the soil and the commercialized nitrogen in the market.
Significance of the Study

The results of the study will provide the researchers an understanding of the nitrogen
content of a soil for they can surely apply this in the near future. Also, the data will inform them
about the cost of the nitrogen from the soil and its benefits.
The present study will help the community to achieve greater knowledge about the
definition and uses of the nitrogen that is found in the soil. Also, with this research, the
community will be aware about the importance of nitrogen present in their soil.
The result of this study will help improve the government policies, rules, and regulations
regarding soil preservation. Since mining is a global issue, the government of the Philippines will
take action to mediate a fully made cost benefit analysis before giving commercialization and
domestication permit.
For the future researchers, this study will serve as a reference in making innovations to
improve research and to test the validity of the related literature. This study will also be used as
an overview or background of the cost benefit analysis of the nitrogen content of the soil in
Virac, Itogon, Benguet.

Objectives

This section includes descriptions of the specific objectives and methods for: (1) the
study sample selection, and (2) the easement comparison study.
1. To determine the nitrogen content of the soil in Virac, Itogon, Benguet.
2. To compare the cost of the nitrogen content of the soil in Virac, Itogon, Benguet
with the commercialized nitrogen in the market.
Hypothesis: The researchers are proposing that the cost of nitrogen content of the
soil in Virac, Itogon, Benguet has an equal value to that of the commercialized
nitrogen in the market.

MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY

This chapter will discuss the research design, the population of the study, materials, data
gathering procedure, treatment of the data, and ethical considerations that will be used by the
researchers in conducting the study.

Research Design

This research will make use of a quantitative study since the researchers will make use of
comparison to evaluate the nitrogen content of the soil in Virac, Itogon, Benguet by comparing
the cost of nitrogen from the soil with the price of nitrogen in the market. This study will make
use of experimental approach such as soil content analysis to provide, gather, and determine
relevant data with accordance to the percentage of the nitrogen present in the soil of Virac,
Itogon, Benguet. The research will also be using a stratified random sampling in the extraction of
the soil sample.
Population of the Study

Virac, Itogon, Benguet has a total area of 449.73 km2. Considering this, the researchers
will do the selection via stratified random sampling. The researchers will be specifically
choosing a lot with an area of 100 m 2 which has a high possibility of commercialization and
domestication within the lot based by conducting an interview with the residents and local
barangay officers of Virac, Itogon, Benguet.
The identified area in Virac, Itogon, Benguet shall be divided into 10 equal parts having
2
10m . Each area shall be labeled by the researchers from 1 to 10. Upon division, the researchers
will randomly pick the sample from the labelled areas. The researchers will be selecting 4 areas
and will further subdivide it into 1m2 each and relabel them from 1-40. From this the researchers
will pick 10 areas to extract the soil sample.

Materials

The researchers shall first coordinate consent forms and letters for the parents, the school,
and the local government unit of Virac, Itogon, Benguet.
The tool for the extraction is a shovel to dig the needed soil to be collected. The soil shall
be placed in sterilized plastic containers with zip locks to avoid contamination.
Measuring instruments will also be used for the gathering of nitrogen content in the soil.

Data Gathering Procedure

The researchers will ensure appropriate steps and measures in conducting the study.
Involved persons such as the parents, the school, and the local government unit of Virac, Itogon,
Benguet will be notified through letters and consent forms for the approval of the continuity of
the study.
After the approval, the researchers shall conduct an initial ocular observation to Virac,
Itogon, Benguet. The researchers will be interviewing residents to determine which area has the
highest possibility of commercialization and domestication within the lot. When the specific lot
has been chosen, the researchers will measure 100m 2. The researchers will further divide the 100
m 2 lot into 10m 2, labelling it from A-Y. When the 10m has been measured, the researchers will
make use of stratified random sampling to choose 4 samples out of the divided lot. When the 4
samples have been chosen, it will be again divided into 10 equal parts resulting 1m 2 as the
measurement. The topsoil is the first layer of the soil which is less than 10 to 18 inches deep, is
more fertile than the subsoil. This is because the soil is rich in organic matter. Since the soil is
directly exposed to the atmosphere, the topsoil becomes more open to nutrients and water
because of the holes that is made by the insects since it is the home of earthworms, centipedes,
millipedes, and other insects. (The London Topsoil Company, 2014).
Upon collecting the soil needed, it shall be transported to the Benguet State University
located in La Trinidad, Benguet for extraction. After the results of the extraction come out, the
researchers will then evaluate the percentage of in the soil with the given data.
Treatment of Data

The data that will be gathered from the extraction shall be used in evaluating the data
requirements of the study. After determining the nitrogen content by Benguet State University
laboratory, the researchers will then identify the nitrogen content of the soil and check the
current price of the commercialized nitrogen in the market. The researchers will then come up
with a comparison and a cost-benefit analysis of the nitrogen content of the soil in Virac, Itogon,
Benguet.

Ethical Consideration

Permissions shall be asked through consent forms of the researchers’ parents, the
principal and the local government unit of Virac, Itogon, Benguet. The researchers play no role
on the nitrogen extraction, further decreasing the chances of creating biased result and relying
solely on the gathered data. The researchers will transport the collected soil immediately to the
laboratory of Benguet State University to avoid contamination and alteration in the soil. The
results of the study will also be confidential that only the panels, the researchers, and the adviser
will have knowledge about the data involved in the study.

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