INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

The tomato is the edible, often red, berry of the plant Solanum

lycopersicum, commonly known as a tomato plant. The species originated in

western South America and Central America (Encyclopedia Britannica,

2014). In the Philippines During the January to March 2019 period,

production of tomato reached 95.30 thousand metric tons, which was 3.9

percent higher than its 2018 same quarter level of 91.69 thousand metric

tons. Ilocos Region, the major producer of tomato, contributed 42.58

thousand metric tons or 44.7 percent to the total production this quarter.

The other major producing regions were Central Luzon with 22.8

percent and CALABARZON, 8.9 percent (Philippines Statistics Authority,

2019).

Liquid fertilizer also known as weed tea, is easy to make and will give

your garden a boost of nutrients, including nitrogen, phosphorus,

potassium, magnesium, boron, copper, manganese, sulfur, iron and silicon.

You can safely use weed tea on both flower beds and vegetable gardens,

either by pouring it on the soil at the base of the plants, or by spraying it on

the leaves.

The cultivation of Tomato in Agusan del Sur is being done via the

conventional method by means of readily available synthetic fertilizer from

the farm supplies, in return which contributes to the acidity of the soil.

Liquid Fertilizers such as Weed Tea’s is gaining much popularity and

reputation in aiding the productivity of the crops especially to those farmers

who are in Organic Farming Production.

Currently, there is no research conducted studying the growth and

yield performance of tomato applied with different weed tea extracts.

Knowing the beneficial effect of the weed tea extracts in the plant, this study

will be conducted.

Objectives of the Study

Generally, this study aimed to assess the growth and yield performance

of tomato as influenced by different weed tea extracts.

Specifically, this study was conducted to:

1. determine the growth performance of tomato as influenced by different

weed tea extracts applied as foliar spray.

2. determine the yield performance of tomato as influenced by different

weed tea extracts applied as foliar spray.

3. evaluate the cost and return analysis of tomato as influenced by

different weed tea extracts applied as foliar spray.

 Significance of the Study

The result of this study will give information about the effect of the

weed tea extracts to the tomato applied as foliar fertilizer to the growth, yield

and development of the crop as most farmers in Agusan del Sur do not have

much knowledge about organic liquid fertilizer. Hence, this study will be

conducted to benefit farmers about this new kind of technology and become

a reference to researchers.

Scope and Delimitation of the Study

The study will be delimited only on the effects of different weed

tea extracts as foliar fertilizer on the growth and yield performance of

tomato.

Time and Place of the Study

The study will be conducted at Agusan del Sur State College of

Agriculture and Technology, Vegetable Plantation Area on the month of

October year 201.

 Operational Definitions of Terms

Fermentation is the process in which a substance breaks down into a

simpler substance. Microorganisms like yeast and bacteria usually play a

role in the fermentation process, creating beer, wine, bread, kimchi, yogurt,

and other foods.

Aerobic Fermentation is the conversion of a complex organic compound

into simpler one with the introduction of oxygen in the medium.

Anaerobic Fermentation is the conversion of complex organic compounds

into simpler ones in the complete absence of oxygen

Foliar Fertilizer is a type of fertilizer which is being applied directly in the

leaves instead of the soil.

Irrigation refers to the watering of land by artificial means to foster plant

growth.

Ratio is a representation of the proportion of different formulation

Weeds is a noxious plant that grows together with the main crop that

competes in absorbing nutrients and light for photosynthesis.

Yield is the amount of the harvest produced by the plant e.g fruits.
 Conceptual Framework of the Study

Independent Variable Dependent Variable

Weed Tea Extracts A. Growth Parameters

1. Plant Height
2. Number of Leaves
3. No. of Lateral Shoots
4. Diameter of the Girth of the
mainstem
B. Yield Components
1. Number of fruits per plant
2. Diameter of the fruits (mm)
3. Weight of the fruits per
plant (g)
4. Yield per Plot (kg)
4. No. of Non Marketable
Fruits

Figure 2. Conceptual framework of the study

Weed Tea’s are rich in potassium. The extremely long taproots of weeds

uptakes valuable minerals and other nutrients from the soil. Weed Tea’s are

considered as a high nutrients rich fertilizer (Grant, 2018).

The conceptual framework shows the Independent and Dependent

variables of the study. Independent variables include the treatment: Weed

Tea Extracts. The dependent variables include different parameters. It is

composed of plant height, number of leaves, number of lateral shoots, the

diameter of the girth of the main stem, number of fruits per plant, the

diameter of the fruits, the weight of fruits per plant, yield per plot and

number of nonmarketable fruits.

 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Botanical Description of the Crop

Tomato plants are vines, initially decumbent, typically growing 180 cm

(6 ft) or more above the ground if supported, although erect bush varieties

have been bred, generally 100 cm (3 ft) tall or shorter. Indeterminate types

are "tender" perennials, dying annually in temperate climates (they are

originally native to tropical highlands), although they can live up to three

years in a greenhouse in some cases. Determinate types are annual in all

climates. Tomato plants are dicots and grow as a series of branching stems,

with a terminal bud at the tip that does the actual growing. When that tip

eventually stops growing, whether because of pruning or flowering, lateral

buds take over and grow into other, fully functional, vines (Peet, 2014).

Economic Importance of Tomato

In 2012, the total production of tomatoes worldwide was 161,793,834

tons a 2.5% increase from the 158,019,581 tones recorded in 2011. Asia

alone contributed 60% or 97,892,723 tons of the total figure. This total land

area used for tomato growing was 4,803,680 ha in 2012 with 2,824,757 Ha

of which was in Asia. The world average yield was 33.68 t/ha while the yield

in Asia was a bit higher at 34.66 t/ha in 2012. (Food and Agriculture

Organization, 2014).
 Various Weed Tea Extracts

Weed Tea’s produce from Stinging nettle is high in nitrogen, calcium,

iron, vitamins A, B, & C, phosphorus, potassium, boron, iron, zinc,

selenium, and magnesium. A natural insect repellant, when sprayed on

leaves it can help plants resist insect and fungal attacks. Alfalfa is high in

nitrogen, vitamin A, folic acid, potassium, calcium, and trace minerals. If

you don’t have access to it you can use alfalfa hay, meal, or pellets. This is a

“weed” whose growth I encourage in my garden, along with clover. Both are

legumes and make great soil-enhancing mulch or nitrogen-rich tea. Horsetail

is a deeply rooted weed that draws up minerals including potassium, silica,

and iron from far below the soil. Willow is rich in growth hormones, making

it especially good for getting young transplants off to a good start. Comfrey is

rich in calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, vitamins A,B,& C, and

trace minerals. Chicory is high in potassium, calcium, and vitamin A.

Dandelions can be put to good use making a tea that is full of vitamins

A & C along with calcium and potassium (Sweetser and Martin, 2019).

Other Weed based Organic Fertilizer

Several ethnobotanical studies have indicated that the use of nettle

slurry as fertilizer in organic farming for horticultural crops is spreading.

Sometimes, however, the consequences of using these natural products have

been poorly evaluated, and there is very little scientific evidence for the

effects of using these slurries (Garmendia et. al., 2018). In this study, we
aimed to analyze the possible effect of nettle slurry on potato yields produced

by organic farming. To achieve this main objective, we assessed the effect of

nettle slurry on potato yields, plant size and growth parameters, chlorophyll

content, and the presence of pests and diseases. Different slurry doses were

assessed in 36 plots and nine variables were measured during the crop

cycle. Under these field experimental conditions, nettle slurry (including one

treatment with Urtica in combination with Equisetum) had no significant

effects on yield, chlorophyll content, or the presence of pests and diseases in

organic potato crops. The highest chlorophyll content was found in the

double dose treatment, but the difference was not significant. This result,

together with a small improvement in plant height with the double dose

treatment, might indicate very slight crop enhancement which, under our

experimental conditions, was not enough to improve yield.

The Urtica and Equisetum slurry chemical analyses showed very low levels of

nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (Garmendia et. al., 2018).

 Botanical Description of Kandikandilaan (Stachytapheta

jamaicensis)

Kandikandilaan is an erect and branched half-woody plant, 1 to 1.5

meters high. Stems are terete, the younger ones slightly angled. Leaves are

elliptic to oblong-ovate, 2.5 to 10 centimeters long, with pointed tips and

toothed margins, the base decurrent on the petiole. The spikes are terminal,

rather slender, 10 to 30 centimeters long, 3-4 millimeters thick, green and

continuous. Calyx is small, oblique, and 4-toothed. Corolla is deep blue, 1

centimeter long, The fruit is enclosed in the calyx, appressed to and

somewhat sunk in the rachis, smooth, oblong, and about 4 millimeters long

(Vervain, 2015).

METHODOLOGY

Experimental Design and Treatments

An experiment will be done to test four independent treatments using

a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications and five

treatments. Each treatment has 5 samples with a total of 100 tomato plants.

The treatments are as follows:

T0 – Control No Application

T1 – Recommended Rate

T2 – Kandikandilaan (Stachytapheta jamaicensis) Weed Tea

 T3 – Tawa-Tawa (Euphorbia hirta) Weed Tea

T4 – Kanding Kanding(Waltheria chinensis) Weed Tea

I II III IV

T0 T4 T1 T2

T2 T0 T3 T4

T1 T2 T4 T3

T3 T1 T2 T0

T4 T3 T0 T1

Figure 1. Experimental layout in RCBD

Soil Sampling and Analysis

Soil sampling will be done before planting the tomato. The soil samples

will be collected at random and then it will be air-dried. The sample will be

brought to the Department of Agriculture Regional Bureau of Soils, Soil

Laboratory, Taguibo, Butuan City, Agusan del Norte.

Production of Weed Tea Extracts

The Production of Weed Tea Extracts generally starts by chopping the

collected Weeds from the field into smaller pieces. Parts such as leaves, base,

and roots will be chopped into smaller bits and placed up in a plastic

container. A ratio of 1:1 kilogram-Liter (Weed Tea Extracts Materials and

Water) will be mixed in a plastic pail mixed with 1 tablespoon of sugar and

allowed to ferment for about 25-30 days. The container is stored in a cool

dry place. The addition of sugar serves as food for microorganisms in the

process of fermentation. After the fermentation process, the Weed Tea

Extracts will be strained, collected and to be mixed with water according to

the prescribed amount of each treatment to apply.

Cultural Management and Practices

Procurement of Seeds

Seeds will be purchased at a reliable seed company, preferably an F1

of Diamante variety of tomato for optimum performance. The seeds that will

be used are cultivated seeds from a known and reliable seed company.

Land Preparation

The field will be plowed and harrowed twice. The hills will be 61cm

between rows and 61 cm between hills.

Production of Transplants

The steps involved in the production of transplants will be as follows:

1. Soil Media Preparation. The soil media to be used for the production

of tomato seedlings will be a mixture of carbonized rice hull and

garden soil with a ratio of 1:1.

2. Soil Sterilization. The soil will be sterilized for three hours to kill

microorganisms and prevent them from reproducing.

3. Select high-quality seeds. Seeds with high germination percentage

and vigor will be recommended to be sown. Seeds must be free from

seed-borne diseases.

4. Seed Sowing. Seed Tray will be used and will be filled with sterilized

soil media and the tomato seeds will be sown.

5. Prick the Seedlings. Seedlings will be pricked at the two-leaf stage

with a planting distance of 5cm x 5cm to avoid crowding and

spreading of diseases.

6. Hardening. Tomato seedlings will be gradually exposed to direct

sunlight two to three weeks before transplanting. This will be done to

avoid transplanting shock.

7. Transplanting. The tomato seedlings will be transplanted directly in

the field late in the afternoon at the distance of 76.2cm between rows

and hills. Seedlings will be covered by banana bracks to prevent direct

heat from the sun.

Application of Treatment
 Application of Weed Tea Extracts formula will be via Foliar Application.

Weed Tea Extract formulas are done by diluting the 250mL Weed Tea

Extracts Concentrated Solution to a liter of water and apply the solution per

plant and to be applied every afternoon every after 3 days.

Irrigation

Irrigation is done immediately after planting to hasten seed

germination and then followed by a 2-day interval in a week by the use of a

watering can.

Care and Maintenance

Weeding will be done manually to control the undesirable weeds to

avoid competition.

Insecticide Application

Insecticides will be applied if insect pests are already beyond the

economic threshold level to control damage to the crops.

Data to be Gathered

A. Growth Parameters
 1. Plant Height (cm) This data will be measured 5 days prior to

termination by measuring the stem from the base to the tips.

2. Number of leaves This data will be counted 5 days prior to

termination by counting the number of leaves per plant.

3. Diameter of the girth of the main stem (cm) This data will be

determined by measuring the diameter of the main stem 5 days

prior to termination using vernier calliper.

4. Number of lateral shoots this data will be determined by visual

inspecton by counting the lateral shoots of the crop.

B. Yield Components

1. Number of fruits per plant This data will be determined by

counting all the fruit per plant.

2. Diameter of the fruits (cm) This data will be determined by

measuring the diameter of the fruits using vernier caliper in

centimeters per replication of each treatment.

3. Weight of the fruits per plant (g) This data will be determined by

weighing the fruit using weighing scale in grams per treatment per

replications.

4. Yield per plot This data will be determined by weighing the entire

yield per plot.

 5. Number of Non Marketable fruit this data will be determine by

counting all non marketable fruit per plot.

C. Return on Investment This data will be determined by analyzing the

cost of production and the return of investment (ROI) of the certain

yield using this formula;

Net income
R.O.I = ----------------------------- x 100
Initial Investment

Statistical Treatment

The data of the study were organized, tabulated and analyzed

statistically using the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) in Randomized Complete

Block Design (RCBD). The Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) was used

to test the difference among the treatment means.