NOTRE DAME OF MARBEL UNIVERSITY

INTEGRATED BASIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

Senior High School
General Santos Drive, City of Koronadal 9506
South Cotabato, Philippines

Chapter I

Introduction

Background of the Study

We all know that nowadays most of the farmers make use of the commercial

fertilizers that is very dangerous especially to the consumers. They somehow thinks

that it is the best way to grow vegetables but it may lead to different problems that

the farmers may also encounter. According to Sedlacek et al (2020), growing plants

require nitrogen compound from the soil, which can be produced naturally or be

provided by fertilizers. However, applying excessive amounts of fertilizer leads to the

release of harmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and the eutrophication of

our waterways. On the other hand, while chemical fertilizers have their place

increasing plant nutrients in adverse weather conditions or during times when plants

need additional nutrients, there are also several harmful effects of chemical

fertilizers. Some of the harm chemical fertilizers may cause include waterway

pollution, chemical burn to crops, increased air pollution, acidification of the soil and

mineral depletion of the soil (Hunt 2021).

Pechay (Brassica Rapa) is one of the most known vegetables in the Philippines.

It is known as one of the oldest green vegetables in Asia. It is a healthful food and

easy to digest. A lot of vitamins can be gotten from this vegetable like Vit. A, B, C, D,

and E. Also sulphur, phosphorus, and iron. Aside from nutrition, Pechay can be used
 NOTRE DAME OF MARBEL UNIVERSITY
INTEGRATED BASIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
Senior High School
General Santos Drive, City of Koronadal 9506
South Cotabato, Philippines

in a variety of ways. As with the broth and leaves, which can be used as a treatment

for different illnesses, and can also be used in especially in cooking. Also known as

snow cabbage, Chinese chard or Chinese white cabbage, is consumed both as raw

and cooked. Ideally, it is eaten raw to prevent possible loss of its nutritional value

when heated.

In this study, the researchers decided to produce a natural growth of Brassica

rapa subsp. chinensis (Pechay) with the use of hydroponic, pure soil, coconut husk.

It is extremely important to address and know the kinds of media we can effectively

use in growing pechay. As a result, the goal of this research is to know which type of

media makes a very good quality of pechay, without the application of any chemical.

Statement of the Problem

The study aims to determine the growth performance of Brassica Rapa subsp.

chinensis (Pechay) in different media: Hydroponics, Soil, and Coconut husk. The

specific statement of the problem includes:

SOP 1: Prepare the different media to be used in Brassica Rapa subsp. chinensis

(Pechay)

a. Hydroponics

b. Soil
 NOTRE DAME OF MARBEL UNIVERSITY
INTEGRATED BASIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
Senior High School
General Santos Drive, City of Koronadal 9506
South Cotabato, Philippines

c. Coconut husk

SOP 2: Determining the effectivity of Brassica Rapa subsp. chinensis (Pechay)

seed in the three different media

SOP 3: Determine the growth of Brassica Rapa subsp. chinensis (Pechay) on the

different media based on:

a. Height

b. Number of leaves

c. Root length

SOP 4: Which growing media will Brassica Rapa subsp. chinensis (Pechay) grow

best?

Statement of the Hypothesis

Alternative Hypothesis: pechay plants exhibit a higher rate of growth when planted in

water (hydroponics), soil, and coconut husk.

Null Hypothesis: pechay plants do not exhibit a higher rate of growth when planted in

water (hydroponics), soil, and coconut husk.

 NOTRE DAME OF MARBEL UNIVERSITY
INTEGRATED BASIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
Senior High School
General Santos Drive, City of Koronadal 9506
South Cotabato, Philippines

Significance of the Study

The result of this study will be significant to the following: a) agricultural sectors

specifically to the farmers, b) business owners, c) the community, d) students who are

conducting research, and e) future researchers.

The Farmers, the findings of this study will help the farmers to heighten their knowledge

and discover alternative procedures that can grow a plant more effectively and faster

than the traditional way.

The Business Owners, the result of this study will be significant to the business

owners, big or small, if identified which growing media will pechay grow best, it will be

one of the in demand and profitable growing media in the market.

The Community, the study will benefit the community through providing an insight on how to

best grow pechay to ensure nutrition in the community. The study may also provide knowledge

on how to effectively produce pechay and other vegetables with maximum nutritional value.

The Researchers, this study will be significant to the students who will conduct the

research because it will provide more insight and will help them make wise decisions in

planting pechay.

The Future Researchers, it will be significant to the Future researchers who intend to

conduct further studies related to growth performance in different media. The results of

this study can also contribute to their research if relating to our topic, as this can be

used as a reference to their study in the future.

 NOTRE DAME OF MARBEL UNIVERSITY
INTEGRATED BASIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
Senior High School
General Santos Drive, City of Koronadal 9506
South Cotabato, Philippines

Scope and Limitations of the Study

The study will be conducted in Purok Paglaum, Brgy. Carpenter hill, Koronadal City,

South Cotabato and is limited only on determining the size of the growth of a pechay in different

media: Hydroponics, Soil, and Coconut Husk, in terms of the plant height, number of leaves,

and root length. The experiment will take 7-14 days until it gives a result and concludes the

observations of the researchers. The experiment will happen from March 21 to April 04, 2022.

The study will solely focus on pechay as a variable to test which growing media will it grow best.

This study will not expand on the environmental factors that may affect the growth of the

pechay.

Definition of Terms

Pechay – is a cabbage and one of the most known vegetables in the Philippines with

the scientific name of Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis. This is what the researchers will

observe. The researchers will check which growing media will it grow.

Hydroponics – method of cultivating of plants without using soil and will only make use

of water, this is one of the media to be used in checking the growth of pechay.

Soil - essential for healthy plant growth, mixture of minerals, dead and living

organisms, air and water, this is the second media to be used in determining the growth

of pechay.
 NOTRE DAME OF MARBEL UNIVERSITY
INTEGRATED BASIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
Senior High School
General Santos Drive, City of Koronadal 9506
South Cotabato, Philippines

Coconut husk – coconut husk is an unprocessed string that's commonly used for

mulching and decorative purposes. Also deployed as mulch. The product is also found

ground into dust, which is called coir dust, and is used to grow many exotic plants such

as ferns, bromeliads, anthurium, and orchids, this is the third media to be used in

identifying which media will pechay grow best.

Conceptual Framework

This conceptual framework provides a chart and serves as a guide for the

researchers in conducting the study. The terms stated below highlights the important

steps in accomplishing the researcher’s study. The plant that will be used and the

different media that will be studied and observed are shown in the framework below.

Growth performance of Brassica Growth of Pechay based on:

rapa subsp. chinensis (Pechay)
in different media.  Height
 Number of Leaves
 Hydroponic
 Pure soil  Root length
 Coconut husk

Figure 1: Conceptual Framework of the Study