The study addresses the increasing need for plant production in the Philippines due to environmental degradation and a growing population's demand for high-quality food and raw materials. Farmers struggle with costly organic fertilizers and a need for high-quality crops. While organic fertilizers offer environmental benefits, improper use can lead to overfertilization or nutrient deficiencies. Controlled-release nanofertilizers are proposed as a solution, offering prolonged nutrient release, simultaneous release of different nutrients, and improved water retention. The study aims to assess the feasibility of nanofertilizers, specifically nano urea-modified hypochlorous acid nanoparticles, compared to other fertilizers and their impact on crop production, focusing on lettuce. Furthermore, the goal is to develop a cost-effective, high-quality nanofertilizer with hypochlorous acid to improve nutrient delivery and soil quality while reducing production time and effort.

The growing global population has increased the demand for food supply, putting pressure on the agricultural industry. While fertilizers have been essential in enhancing soil fertility and nutrition, they have also led to negative environmental impacts, including soil, land, water, and air pollution. Overuse of synthetic fertilizers and the presence of toxic elements in fertilizers have been problematic. Nanofertilizers offer a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional organic fertilizers. They provide controlled release, targeted delivery, and stimulate plant growth while reducing water and nutrient loss. This research aims to propose alternatives to organic fertilizers to mitigate their harmful effects. It is especially relevant considering the projected global population growth, which highlights the urgency of addressing food security and resource depletion. Providing farmers with cost-efficient and eco-friendly alternatives can benefit both their livelihoods and consumers. It also contributes to environmental well-being and sustainability efforts to address issues like food insecurity and ecosystem pollution.

The study made use of an experimental research design. The researchers tested the effect of the type of fertilizer in soil fertility and plant growth; they did so in hopes of finding a sustainable yet cost-efficient alternative to organic fertilizers. As such, the researchers controlled the type of fertilizer and observed its impacts on soil fertility and plant growth. The researchers first synthesized their own nano-urea modified hypochlorous acid nanoparticles nanofertilizer. Following this, the lettuce was planted using the two fertilizers, which amounted to two setups: organic fertilizer (OF) and nanofertilizer (NF). The shoot length of the two setups were observed over the course of a month, and the data gathered from the observation was subjected to a time-series analysis for the descriptive aspect.

To show the correlation between plant growth and the type of fertilizer, a chi-squared test was performed. Apart from this, the researchers also examined the fertility of the soil through a soil fertility tester, which yielded categorical results (Low, Moderate, High) and was converted into quantitative data through a soil fertility index. The soil fertility data were treated with an independent samples t-test to determine the presence of a significant difference between the results of the two setups.

The study addresses the ethical consideration that the fertilizer could possibly be toxic or hazardous to soil; thus, the experimentation was conducted on a pot of soil, rather than directly on the ground. Intellectual property rights were also taken into account; the researchers credited their sources properly through the APA 7th edition. Since there were no participants in the study, the researchers did not make use of the following ethical considerations: data privacy, consent, anonymity, and data dissemination.

From the research, it is proven that nano urea-modified hypochlorous acid is feasible and a better alternative because of its cost-effectiveness and the final soil quality that the group obtained. It gave balanced and proper nutrients to the plant that it achieved a maximum growth with the given time span for both plants.

The difference between the group’s findings with previous research is the use of hypochlorous acid as soil-increasing fertility. The slow and sustainable release of the nutrients did not just supply the plant itself nutrients, but also the soil which gave it adequate fertility to maintain the growth productivity. The researchers decided to use it as a substitute to hydrogen peroxide, and the fact that no previous studies have used this compound yet in terms of how it will affect the growth and distribution of nutrients in the soil and plant. Another difference is the organic fertilizer's greater value yield than of nanofertilizer's when using the soil fertility tester, which gave the group a significant difference in terms

There were significant limitations and restrictions that prevented the study for further validity and interpretation. First, having time constraints, as a consequence, the members gave great considerations for the research to find as many findings as possible. Second, the availability of materials, the researchers need to wait for materials such as magnetic mixers in order for the group to formulate the nano urea-modified hypochlorous acid nanoparticle nanofertilizer. This took some time because of the significant mixer’s late delivery. Third, changing of the NPK sensor to soil fertility because of the sensor’s inability to properly function and read the plants. This changed the whole research from nutrient delivery to soil fertility. With these all said, the research process was greatly affected and pushed the group to a later schedule and make changes.

Furthermore, validating the use of nanofertilizers also helps strengthen the image of nanotechnology as a whole. Its step to progress and innovation gives way to consider and trust the usage of nanotechnology more than ever in other fields besides farming. The results obtained from the study provide substantial support from the initial hypothesis and research objectives to investigate the impact of nanofertilizer on lettuce growth. The data analysis shows that the soil in the organic fertilizer set-up had higher fertility compared to the nanofertilizer. Thus, this aligns with the initial hypothesis that there would be a difference in soil fertility between the two set-ups.