Fertilizantes biodegradáveis no ensino de Química: uma abordagem sustentável em uma perspectiva CTSA

Abstract

Environmental chemistry and sustainability are the foundational pillars that guide a critical understanding of issues surrounding the use of traditional chemical fertilizers and biodegradable alternatives within the contemporary socio-environmental context. This study contextualizes the concept of sustainability through the examination of fertilizers from a Science, Technology, Society, and Environment (STSE) perspective, with a focus on biodegradable fertilizers. The objective is to promote a sustainable approach in chemistry education by exploring the use of natural fertilizers derived from renewable materials. The proposal is grounded in chemical concepts such as solubility, nutrients, soil reactions, and matter cycling. The STSE approach supports social, technological, and environmental study that encourages students to recognize the benefits and risks associated with traditional chemical fertilizers, as well as to analyze more ecologically viable solutions, such as biodegradable fertilizers. During the approach, a homemade fertilizer was produced using banana peels, eggshells, and coffee grounds to consolidate the problematization and foster critical-social thinking through the use of alternative materials. This led to the following question: how can the use of controlled-release biodegradable fertilizers contribute to a sustainable approach in chemistry education from a STSE perspective? The research was conducted with a first-year high school class and follows a quantitative research methodology. The results demonstrate the relevance of the methodologies employed in applying the STSE-based didactic sequence, indicating improvements in the quality of students' arguments and direct connections between the studied content and the concept of sustainability.