Undergrad thesis proposal – Biofertilizers

Perfect — that’s an excellent undergraduate thesis topic for sustainable agro-biotechnology research! 🌱

Below is a complete undergraduate thesis proposal outline titled:

“Development of Organic Biofertilizer Formulations for Enhanced Growth in Agarwood (Aquilaria malaccensis) and Other Aromatic Tree Species”

This version is designed for Cavite State University, BS Biology, and can be expanded into a full proposal document (PDF/Word) like your previous one.

Undergraduate Thesis Proposal

Title:

Development of Organic Biofertilizer Formulations for Enhanced Growth in Agarwood (Aquilaria malaccensis) and Other Aromatic Tree Species

Institution:

Cavite State University
Department of Biological Sciences
Bachelor of Science in Biology

Researcher: Emmanuelle Rae E. Putong
Adviser: Dr. Lloyd Balinado
Date: November 2025

I. INTRODUCTION

The global demand for agarwood and aromatic tree species such as sandalwood (Santalum album), ylang-ylang (Cananga odorata), and cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) continues to increase due to their high value in the perfume, cosmetics, and wellness industries. However, cultivation of these species faces challenges related to poor soil fertility, slow growth rate, and limited access to eco-friendly fertilizers.

Traditional chemical fertilizers can degrade soil health and reduce the microbial balance essential for long-term productivity. Thus, organic biofertilizers—which combine organic nutrients with beneficial microorganisms—present a sustainable alternative.

This study aims to develop and evaluate organic biofertilizer formulations enriched with nitrogen-fixing, phosphate-solubilizing, and mycorrhizal microorganisms to enhance the growth and vigor of Aquilaria malaccensis and selected aromatic trees.

II. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

  1. What are the optimal microbial combinations for an organic biofertilizer suitable for agarwood and aromatic trees?
  2. How do different formulations affect the early growth and physiological parameters of these species?
  3. What is the comparative effectiveness of the developed biofertilizer against commercial organic fertilizers?

III. OBJECTIVES

General Objective:

To develop and evaluate organic biofertilizer formulations for enhanced growth performance of agarwood and selected aromatic tree species.

Specific Objectives:

  1. Isolate and culture beneficial microorganisms (e.g., Azotobacter, Bacillus subtilis, Trichoderma spp., Rhizophagus spp.).
  2. Formulate and characterize organic biofertilizers using composted substrates and microbial consortia.
  3. Evaluate the effects of formulations on seedling growth, root-shoot ratio, and chlorophyll content.
  4. Assess soil microbial activity and nutrient availability after biofertilizer application.

IV. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

  • Environmental: Reduces dependence on chemical fertilizers and promotes sustainable soil health.
  • Scientific: Provides baseline data for microbial synergy in tree-based biofertilizers.
  • Economic: Supports local agroforestry industries and farmers cultivating high-value aromatic trees.
  • Institutional: Strengthens research collaborations between Cavite State University and Crown Organic Biofertilizers Inc. (COBI) in developing biotechnological farm inputs.

V. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE (Summary)

  • Biofertilizers and Plant Growth: Studies show Azospirillum and Azotobacter enhance root development and nitrogen assimilation (Kumar et al., 2020).
  • Agarwood Soil Ecology: Mycorrhizal and endophytic fungi improve Aquilaria growth and stress tolerance (Hoque et al., 2019).
  • Organic Nutrient Sources: Compost and humic acids increase microbial activity and nutrient retention in plantation soils (Rai et al., 2015).
  • Synergistic Formulations: Combined microbial inoculants perform better than single-strain biofertilizers in perennial crops (Pathak et al., 2021).

VI. METHODOLOGY

1. Microbial Isolation and Culture

  • Collect rhizosphere soil samples from healthy Aquilaria and aromatic trees.
  • Isolate N-fixing (Azotobacter), P-solubilizing (Bacillus megaterium), and mycorrhizal (Glomus spp.) strains using selective media.

2. Biofertilizer Formulation

  • Prepare organic substrates (vermicompost, rice bran, molasses).
  • Incorporate microbial consortia into the carrier at standard CFU counts (10⁸–10⁹ CFU/g).
  • Test physical parameters: pH, moisture content, and shelf life.

3. Greenhouse Experiment

  • Grow agarwood, ylang-ylang, and cinnamon seedlings under controlled conditions.
  • Treatments:
    T1 – Control (no fertilizer)
    T2 – Commercial organic fertilizer
    T3 – COBI organic biofertilizer formulation A
    T4 – COBI organic biofertilizer formulation B
  • Parameters: seedling height, root length, leaf number, biomass, and chlorophyll index (SPAD).

4. Data Analysis

  • Perform ANOVA to determine treatment effects.
  • Correlation analysis between microbial activity and plant growth indices.

VII. PROJECT TIMELINE (GANTT CHART)

ActivityDuration
Isolation & CharacterizationMonths 1–2
Biofertilizer FormulationMonths 3–4
Greenhouse TrialsMonths 5–8
Data Analysis & Report WritingMonths 9–10

VIII. EXPECTED RESULTS

  • Optimized organic biofertilizer formulations for agarwood and aromatic trees.
  • Enhanced growth rates and improved soil microbial diversity.
  • Prototype product ready for pilot testing under Crown Organic Biofertilizers Inc. (COBI).

IX. BUDGET ESTIMATE (Undergraduate Scale)

ItemEstimated Cost (₱)
Laboratory materials & culture media10,000
Compost & substrate preparation5,000
Seedlings & greenhouse setup8,000
Analytical tests (soil & plant)7,000
Miscellaneous5,000
Total₱35,000

X. REFERENCES (APA 7th)

  • Hoque, M. A., Hasan, M. F., & Hossain, M. A. (2019). Role of mycorrhiza and rhizobacteria in agarwood plantation growth. Journal of Forestry Research, 30(2), 431–440.
  • Kumar, P., Verma, J., & Sharma, V. (2020). Nitrogen-fixing and phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms as biofertilizers. Agriculture and Environment Journal, 15(3), 201–210.
  • Pathak, R., Tripathi, R., & Singh, D. (2021). Microbial consortia and their synergistic effects on plant growth. Journal of Applied Microbial Biotechnology, 45(6), 92–103.
  • Rai, M., Rathod, D., & Agarkar, G. (2015). Microbial inoculants and their role in sustainable agriculture. Microbial Biotechnology, 8(6), 993–1003.*