Abstract: The use of synthetic fertilizers and the commonality of food waste are rapidly increasing. This has led to detrimental effects on the environment, such as pollution, ecosystem degradation, and decreased soil quality (Bisane et al., 2023, p. 301-308; Sarkar et al., 2024, p. 135-161; Sharma and Chetani, 2017, p. 677-680). Researchers have looked into utilizing different organic matter to create environmentally friendly organic fertilizers (Jariwala and Syed; Mercy et al., 2014, p. 300-307). However, information on using berries as organic fertilizer is missing, specifically strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries. This prompts the research question: To what extent can Ocimum basilicum houseplant growth be enhanced by adding raspberries, blueberries, or strawberries as organic fertilizers compared to Miracle-Gro synthetic fertilizer? To determine the sustainability of these fertilizers, a scientific experiment was done utilizing basil plants, as they are common and grow quickly. The fertilizers were created by directly crushing and mixing the specific berry type with water. The data measured includes the plant heights, leaf count, leaf length, leaf width, and leaf area. One-way ANOVA tests and Tukey-Kramer procedures were done to compare the data between groups to see if any significant statistical relationships were present. These tests identified two significant relationships between the strawberry group and the raspberry group leaf areas, and between the Miracle-Gro group and the raspberry group plant heights. Utilizing different berry-based fertilizer concentrations, a longer time frame, and accounting for expiration dates of the berries would reveal if the success of the fertilizers can vary under different circumstances. 

Keywords: Strawberry-based fertilizer, Raspberry-based fertilizer, Blueberry-based fertilizer