Potential of Pumpkin Seed (Cucurbita maxima) and Peel as an Organic

Fertilizer for Okra Plant and Eggplant

A science investigatory project

presented to the faculty of

Pililla Integrated National High School

In Partial Fulfillment of the

Requirement for Practical Research 2

S.Y. 2022 – 2023

Ibrhaime Ammed L. Paz

Rhein David Q. Cama

Keith Janil V. Galino

Patricia Mae L. Padilla

Alexandra O. Mendoza

Julius Christian C. Berdan

Shan Harmond D. Castro

Jhennymer T. Gabiana
Introduction

It is stated that soil with good tilth has granular aggregation that promotes

plant growth by retaining water and nutrients while allowing for drainage and gas

exchange. But a good crop production is hard to achieve if the soil is lacking the

nutrients, nutrient deficiency may cause stunted growth, death of plant tissue, or

yellowing of the leaves usually caused by the reducing production of chlorophyll,

a pigment that is a primary component for photosynthesis. Nutrient deficiency

can have a significant impact on agriculture, resulting in reduced crop yield or

reduced plant quality.

The utilization of organic fertilizers offers the advantages of being

affordable, enhancing soil texture, aeration, structure, and water retention while

also promoting the growth of healthy roots. Vital to the health of the soil and

plants, the use of fertilizers enables higher availability for cultivation and an

increase in production, making it feasible in having access to food for a

significant portion of the world’s population. Minerals, animal sources, sewage

sludge, and plants are just a few of the sources for organic fertilizer. Animals,

plants, and leftover items all helped to increase the amount of organic matter in

the soil. Without using fertilizers for the production, nature may struggle in

replenishing the nutrients in the soil. Farmers turn to fertilizers because these

substances contain plant nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.

One of the most important soil minerals for plants is phosphorus. It is a

component of plant cells and is necessary for cell division and the growth of the

plant’s growing tip. It is essential for young plants and seedlings because of this.
Regarding potassium, it is associated on how water, minerals, and carbohydrates

travel throughout plant tissue. It has a role in the plant’s enzyme activation, which

has an impact on the synthesis of protein, starch, and adenosine triphosphate

(ATP). The rate of photosynthesis can be controlled by ATP synthesis. These

elements are crucial for fertilizer production since they aid in improving the soil.

Pumpkin seeds are very rich in antioxidants, potassium, phosphorus, iron,

zinc, magnesium and many other nutrients. But in improving and replenishing the

soil, a fertilizer must contain a high amount of potassium, phosphorus, and

nitrogen which pumpkin seeds are sufficient in. Using this as an organic fertilizer

can be a huge benefit as it offers the best nutrients for effective plant growth.

Enhanced soil structure, a plentiful supply of nutrients like potassium and

phosphate, and greater water-holding capacity are just a few of the advantages

of using pumpkin seeds as an organic fertilizer.

The experiment will be conducted in Malindig Street Bagumbayan Pililla,

Rizal since there are available farmland ready for planting and cultivating, the

researchers will conduct the said experiment in a part of soil that is in need of

fertilizing and another part that requires no fertilization to see if the goal of the

experiment will be achieved.

( Prajapati & Modi, 2012 ) The availability of potassium to the plant is

highly variable, due to complex soil dynamics, which are strongly influenced by

root–soil interactions. Many plant physiologists consider potassium second only

to nitrogen in importance for plant growth. Potassium is second to nitrogen in

plant tissue levels with ranges of 1 to 3% by weight. It is vital to many plant

processes and its functions are discussed elaborately. Potassium is the second

component that pumpkin seeds are rich in, it can sustain and even replenish the

nutrients that are loss in the soil.

( Chen, 2006 ) Plant nutrients are essential for the production of crops and

healthy food for the world’s expanding population. Plant nutrients are therefore a

vital component of sustainable agriculture. Increased crop production largely

relies on the type of fertilizers used to supplement essential nutrients for plants.

The nature and the characteristics of nutrient release of chemical, organic and

biofertilizers are different, and each type of fertilizer has its advantages and

disadvantages with regard to crop growth and soil fertility. Several advantages of

using organic fertilizer have been mentioned such as, they enhance the

colonization of mycorrhizae, which improves P supply. They enhance root growth

due to better soil structure. They increase the organic matter content of the soil,

therefore improving the exchange capacity of nutrients, increasing soil water

retention, promoting soil aggregates and buffering the soil against acidity,

alkalinity, salinity, pesticides and toxic heavy metals.

( Maholtra et al., 2018 ) Phosphorus (P) is an essential element

determining plants’ growth and productivity. Due to soil fixation of P, its availability

in soil is rarely sufficient for optimum growth and development of plants. Under P-

deficient condition, plants undergo various morphological, physiological and

biochemical adaptations, while P toxicity is rarely reported. Thankfully, the

researchers have chosen a seed that contains a lot of phosphorus that is

sufficient to sustain the nutrients in the soil and avoid phosphorus deficiency.
 (Asefa, 2019) The use of organic fertilizer has the advantages of being

cheap, improving soil structure, texture, and aeration, increasing the soil’s water

retention abilities, and stimulating healthy root development. It is stated that

organic fertilizer improves the physical and biological activities of soil and is more

affordable.

( Seyman et al., 2016 ) The most abundant mineral in the studied seeds,

which belong to different genotypes, was potassium (2704.75–1033.63 ppm)

followed by phosphorus (3569.690–9108.835 ppm) and magnesium (1275.15–

3938.16 ppm) (p < 0.05). It is stated that pumpkin seeds contains a high amount

of potassium and phosphorus which are the basic components in the production

of fertilize

A pumpkin seed, also known in North America as a pepita, is the edible

seed of a pumpkin or certain other cultivars of squash.The seeds are typically flat

and asymmetrically oval, have a white outer husk, and are light green in color

after the husk is removed,and it also a good raw material for the production of oil

used in food preparation and in medicine. Pumpkin seeds contain a significant

amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, all of which are required by

plants to grow and thrive.Well-fed plants are healthier and more productive. The

nitrogen components of pumpkin seeds are known for their effectiveness in

helping plants grow quickly. It also accelerates seed and fruit production while

improving forage crops and leaf quality.

Pumpkin seeds are packed full of vitamin A, fiber, beta carotene, and

nutrients and a sure-fire way to stabilize plants and give them a boost for spring.
Pumpkin seeds are also an excellent source of magnesium, copper, iron, zinc,

and other minerals that will help your plants grow healthier and faster, and they

can also provide nutrients to the soil. The Researchers are determined to make a

product that can be used as an organic fertilizer for okra plants.

The objective of this research to examine the use of pumpkin seeds as

organic fertilizer for okra and to establish at least a short-term field experiment

that can be used by many workers in agriculture and farmers.

The purpose of this study is to check the effectiveness of pumpkin seed as

a means of maintaining and increasing soil fertility for the growth of okra. To

check if it can provide a series of active substances with high bio stimulant

function, thus overcoming stress conditions and improving plants physiology

improving both the absorption efficiency and the assimilation of nutrients. This

study also wanted to check the efficacy if the application of organic fertilizer

(pumpkin seed) will substantially increase the growth and improved yield of okra.

Utilization of Pumpkin Seeds as an Organic Fertilizer for Okra Plants could

be a benefit for farmers since organic fertilizers are readily available mineral

sources that have a modest concentration of vital minerals for plants. They

lessen the requirement for recurrent synthetic fertilizer applications to maintain

soil fertility. The research design that will be used in this study would be the

experimental design and categorizing it in True Experimental design.

This study will be conducted by the researchers of Grade 12 STEM in the

school year of 2022-2023. The experiment will be done in a small part of a

farming land with 2 divided sections without fertilizer, with both sections getting

the same treatment (sunlight, watering, and soil cultivation) except the application

of the fertilizer will only be in one section.

The okra plant was chosen by the researchers for it’s widely known quick

growth and development under ideal conditions. Okra plants can reach full size in

50–65 days and can produce pods in just two to three days. They are also simple

to maintain, which made it quicker and easier to test the effectiveness of human

hair. Since one may purchase an okra and plant the seed from it, one can obtain

their own seeds for a low cost.

Pumpkin seeds contain a significant amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and

potassium, all of which are required by plants to grow and thrive. Well-fed plants

are healthier and more productive. The nitrogen components of pumpkin seeds

are known for their effectiveness in helping plants grow quickly.

In conducting the experiment, the researchers will observe about a total of 10

samples of okra plant in each setup, 5 samples for chili plant with processed

pumpkin seeds fertilizer and 5 samples for okra plant without any fertilizer within

a month in order to know the effect of Pumpkin Seeds as a fertilizer.

Theoretical Framework

This study aims to determine the potential of Potential of Pumpkin

Seed (Cucurbita maxima) and Peel as an Organic Fertilizer for Okra Plant

and Eggplant. The findings of this study will be relevant to farmers,

agriculturist, community and future researchers.

This research was based on the study of Tammy Sons (2021) stated

and praises that leftover pumpkins is a great organic methods of fertilizing

those spring blooming garden plants, roses, and other softwood plants.

They are packed full of vitamin A, fiber, beta carotene, and nutrients and a

sure-fire way to stabilize plants and give them a boost for spring.

This study shows the various nutrient content of Pumpkins where

most of the nutrients are use for the production of fertilizer, thus showing

that pumpkins are a good replacement for inorganic fertilizer that most

people use.
 Conceptual Framework

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

• Pumpkin
 Pumpkin  Determined the
 Gathering and
Seeds
Seeds level of
Preparing the
• Pumpkin
Pumpkin Effectiveness of
materials
Peel
Peel Pumpkin Seeds
 Experimenting
• Okra
OkraSeeds
Seeds and peel as an
 Gathering Data
 Eggplant Organic
• Eggplant  Analysis of
Seeds Fertilizer for
Seeds Data
 Soil Okra plant and
• Soil Eggplant
 Mortar and

• Mortar
Pestleand

Pestle
Strainer

• Strainer
Toaster Oven

FEEDBACK

Figure 1:
 The Conceptual Framework of the Study

Frame 1 shows the output materials to be used in the experimentation.

Frame 2 presents the process done as the study is being conducted. Those

processes are gathering and preparing of the materials, experimenting, gathering

data, and analysis of data.

Frame 3 shows the output of the study: Effectiveness of pumpkin seeds and peel

as an organic fertilizer for okra plant and eggplant.

Feedback is shown from the figure above,the arrows direct the input,process,and

output of the study that are related to each other.

Statement of the Problem

In this study, the researchers aim to answer the following questions:

1. What are the height and number of leaves of all the group of plants that

will undergo experimentation?

2. Is there a significant difference between the control and experimental

group of Okra and Eggplant in terms of growth speed?

Hypothesis

There is no significant difference on the Potential of Pumpkin Seed

(Cucurbita maxima) and Peel as an Organic Fertilizer for Okra Plant and

Eggplant.
Scope and Limitations

This study focuses to examine the Potential of Pumpkin Seed (Cucurbita

maxima) and Peel as an Organic Fertilizer for Okra Plant and Eggplant. Elman

Torres and Carolyn Grace Galo Somera (2022) states that organic fertilizers

contain a significant amount of essential nutrients needed by the plant for growth

and development. The utilization of pumpkin seeds and peel could be a benefit

for farmers since organic fertilizers are readily available mineral sources that

have a modest concentration of vital minerals for plants. The objective of this

research to examine the use of pumpkin seeds and peel as an organic fertilizer

for okra plant and eggplant and to establish at least a short-term field experiment

that can be used by many workers in agriculture and farmers.This study aims to

check the potential of pumpkin seed and peel as a means of maintaining and

increasing soil fertility for the growth of okra plant and eggplant.

This study will be conducted by the researchers of Grade 12 STEM in the

school year of 2022-2023. The experiment will be conducted in Malindig Street

Bagumbayan Pililla, Rizal since there are available farmland ready for planting

and cultivating.
Significance of the study

This study will benefit the following:

Farmers- Having broad and various fields of specialization, farmers need

skills and resources from every source, this study helps farmers to have more

insight when it comes to crop planting.

Agriculturists- Agricultural workers, teachers, student or even plantito’s

and plantita’s are within the agricultural field. This study will help them transcend

their knowledge to a new level.

Community- Environment, individuals, and consumers will benefit in

terms of

Cost-efficiency and quality ensuring product.

Future Researchers- The study will serve as a stepping stone for crop-

related studies in the present or even in the future.

Definition of Terms

To have a clearer and better understanding of this study, the following

terminologies was defined.

Chlorophyll - a pigment in plants, algae, and cyanobacteria that is essential for

photosynthesis

Beta Carotene - is a red-orange pigment found in plants and fruits, it is the one

responsible for plants in giving them their colour.

Fertilizer - a substance containing the chemical elements that improve growth

and productiveness of plants

Growth - is the irreversible increase of an organism's size over a given period.

Nutrient Deficiency - is the lack of sufficient quantity of an essential nutrient

required for growth.

Texture - the feel, appearance, or consistency of a surface or substance.

Pumpkin Seeds - is the edible seed of a pumpkin or certain other cultivars of

squash.