ORGANIC HYDROPONICS SOLUTION FOR HIGH VALUE CROPS

VEA ROJHANN C. DENOSTA

JOSEPHINE I. MACAIRAN
ALEXIS A. MEANA

A RESEARCH PROPOSAL SUBMITTED TO RUBY FLOR S. DAGANTA OF

ABORLAN NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT
OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR RESEARCH IV
SPECIAL SCIENCE CLASS
GRADE 10

NOVEMBER 2022
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

Vea Rojhann C. Denosta was born at Plaridel, Aborlan, Palawan on October 30,

2006. She is the fifth daughter of Mr. Nestor A. Denosta Jr. and Mrs. Laura C. Denosta.

She finished her elementary at Aborlan Central School and graduated with high honors.

She took an entrance examination at Western Philippines University (Main Campus),

Agricultural Science High School and Aborlan National High School, Special Science

Class and fortunately passed both. She enrolled and continued her studies at Western

Philippines University (Main campus), Agricultural Science Highschool, after a year she

decided to transfer at Aborlan National High School. She entered the Special Science

Class and now a proud member of Special Science Class Docile.

She is fond of watching series such as Korean drama series and Chinese drama

series. Her usual habits are writing poem, watching Tiktok, reading books, and playing

online games. She wanted to be a lawyer or a doctor someday.

VEA ROJHANN CATAGUE DENOSTA

 Josephine I. Macairan was born at Puerto Princesa City on September 14, 2007.

She is the eldest daughter among the three children of Mr. Edremar V. Macairan and Mrs.

Johna I. Macairan. She finished her elementary at Ramon Magsaysay Elementary School

and graduated with honors. She took the entrance examination of the Special Science

Class in Aborlan National Highschool and fortunately passed. She enrolled and continued

her studies in Aborlan National High School and now a proud member of Special Science

Class Docile.

She is fond of reading online stories at Wattpad and she loves doing threads. She

enjoys watching anime in Bilibili app. She is good at playing chess and have joined the

Provincial meet on chess competition. She wants to become a Regulatory affairs officer

and build her own business around the world.

JOSEPHINE INDANGAN MACAIRAN

 Alexis A. Meana was born at Gogognan, Aborlan, Palawan on December 09,

2006. He is the third son of Mr. Harrold A. Meana and Mrs. Mary Grace A. Meana. He

finished his elementary at Valleyside Christian School in Mailigan, Aborlan, Palawan

and graduated with honors. He took the entrance examination of Special Science Class in

Aborlan National High School and fortunately passed. He enrolled and continued his

studies at Aborlan National High School and now a proud member of Special Science

Class Docile.

He is fond of reading Manhwa and Manga especially the manhwa entitled Solo

Leveling. His usual habits are sleeping and daydreaming. He wanted to join sports with

his ability but failed because of family issues and lack of support. He dreams of

becoming a Pilot, Seaman, or Policeman someday.

ALEXIS ADVINCULA MEANA

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE i
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS v

CHAPTER PAGE

I. INTRODUCTION 1

Background of the Study 1

Statement of the Problem 2
Objectives of the Study 2
Assumptions 3
Scope and Limitation of the Study 3
Significance of the Study 3
Definition of Terms 4

II. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 6

III. METHODOLOGY 14

Research Locale 14
Gathering of Materials 14
Research Procedure 14
Ethical Considerations 15

REFERENCES 16
 CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Hydroponics is the practice of growing plants without soil. This focus on

cultivating plants using made liquid solution or water. There is also a practice of growing

plants in other aggregates, like the soil-less bark-based mix. The process of hydroponics

is much safer than cropping in soil, there is no fungus, soil predator, soil pests, and

others. The water and nutrients needed by the plant is continuous, that is why the

tendency of dehydration is lesser.

This method is quite superior to other method of gardening, in terms of the

growth, productivity, and the nutrients produce by the product of crops grown in organic

hydroponics process. Hydroponics is also beneficial to those who live in the city, home

gardener and specially the farmers.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the

population of the people on 2050 will be billion and 75% of the population live in the

city. The problem in food will be one of the main issues because cropland will be in

chaos due to the climate change, water scarcity, and soil pollution.

Hydroponics is an effective process to solve the problem in food. Though the

hydroponics is more advantage and better to other process there is still some difficulties

in using this process especially to those who live in rural areas wherein the access in

technologies and electricity is limited.

Statement of the Problem

This study aims to achieve the effectiveness of Organic Hydroponics Solution to

the growth of lettuce.

This study will answer the following research questions:

1. What are the potential materials to be used in creating organic hydroponics

solution for high value crops?

2. What will be the effect of organic hydroponics solution in stimulating the

growth of lettuce?

3. How can we develop our agricultural way?

4. How can we contribute to our economy through agriculture?

5. Is there any better organic hydroponics solution that can be used to grow high

value quality crops?

Objectives of the Study

This study will be conducted to:

1. determine the materials that can be used in organic hydroponics solution;

2. determine the effect of using our own made organic hydroponics solution to

the growth of lettuce;

3. determine the contribution of making organic hydroponics solution in farming;

and

4. determine the advantages of using organic hydroponics solution in growing

lettuce.
 Assumptions

This study will investigate the following assumptions:

1. The lettuce grown in organic hydroponics is better and healthier.

2. Lettuce grows faster in organic hydroponics solution.

3. (Add more)

Scope and Limitations of the study

This study focuses only in determining the effect of the organic hydroponics

solution on the growth of lettuce. This study will be conducted in Aborlan National High

School from November to December 2022.

Significance of the Study

This study will help the farmers and agriculturist to grow their plants faster and

achieve high value crops. This study will also help the citizens who live in the city that

wants to plant but doesn’t have soil to use, so this study will be very helpful for city

dwellers, this kind if process does not need a soil because this contains water and liquid

material to be used for the solution to maintain the growth of the plant, this process also

does not need to water your crops everyday like we usually do.
Definition of Terms

To facilitate better understanding of this study, different terms are defined

operationally herein.

Nitrogen.

Kakawate (Gliricidia Sepium). Kakawate is also known as Madre de cacao, is a

leguminous tree which originated from Central America, and is used in many tropical and

sub-tropical countries as fences in agricultural lands because it grows easily and prevents

top soil erosion.

Phosphorus. (definition)

Bat guano. According to Beck, bat guano can be safely used as a fertilizer, both

indoors and outdoors, and will benefit vegetables, herbs, flowers, all ornamentals, and

fruit and nut trees. Its primary ingredients are roughly 10% nitrogen, 3% phosphorous,

and 1% potassium.

Potassium. (definition)

Wood Ash. Ash is also a good source of potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium.

In terms of commercial fertilizer, average wood ash would be about 0-1-3 (N-P-K). In

addition to these macro-nutrients, wood ash is a good source of many micronutrients

needed in trace amounts for adequate plant growth. This also benefits plants like lettuces,

garlic, chives, leeks, asparagus and stone-fruit trees.

Sulfur. (definition)

Molasses. The lighter grades of molasses made from sugarcane are edible and are

used in baking and candy-making and to make rum. Blackstrap and other low grades of

cane molasses are used in mixed animal feed and in the industrial production of vinegar,
citric acid, and other products. Molasses as fertilizer provides plants with a quick source

of energy and encourages the growth of beneficial microorganisms. The benefits of

molasses for plants include: Rich in minerals that plants can easily absorb and are needed

to maintain their health.

Calcium. (definition)

Gypsum. It is a soft sulfate mineral composed of calcium sulfate dehydrate, with the

chemical formula CaSO4·2H2O. It is also widely mined and is used as a fertilizer.

 CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Hydroponics is from the Greek term “hydro” (water) and “pono” (work),

hydroponics literally means “working water” as plants are grown in water bed with liquid

solution that supports them minerals and nutrients they needed. Horticulture must be a

breakthrough but studies about farming without soil, back to the 1600s with the works of

an English philosopher Francis Bacon and geologist John Woodward.

According to 1981 article in The New York Times, since nutrients are brought to

the roots, plants do not need to extend or expand to fight for food. Unlike farming in soil,

hydroponics allows the plants to placed closer together so that the nutrients are equally

distributed. In 2014 Dr. Carandang VI, presented and have proven that the value of the

products of urban agriculture are better than the normal plants. They have also concluded

that Hydroponically grown lettuce grown faster than the normal lettuce.

On the other hand, Sacamay et. al. (2015) has confirmed that lettuce grown at

organic hydroponics had 10.13% and 15.23% more leaves than inorganic fertilizer and

commercial organic amino acid applied treatments in 4th week. There are no other

changes were observed among commercial organic amino acid, home-made concoction

and inorganic fertilizer, in terms of leaf length from the 2nd week to 4th week having.

The result that were observed between lettuce applied with home-made

concoction and inorganic fertilizer on its leaf width on the 2nd week having 7.03 cm and

6.30 cm. Moreover, also effects that has been observed at the commercial organic amino

acid and home-made concoction in plant height having an average length of 17.03cm and

17.00cm, respectively. At harvesting, lettuces that has been applied with home-made ion
are 43.23 g or 20.12% heavier than those applied with commercial organic amino acids

and 23.67% heavier than inorganic fertilizer. Therefore, the home-made concoction is the

best organic nutrient for growing lettuce grown in hydroponics solution.

Gabriel (2018) have concluded that this VFH technology is acceptable to onion

farmers except only to the aspect of cost of initial investment which requires government

subsidy for the ordinary onion grower to avail the new and sustainable technology in

onion production.

Hsieh et. al. (2014) have concluded that inorganic nutrient solution, the yields of

the treatment with aeration are higher than those without aeration. On the other hand,

organic nutrient solution yields from the treatment without aeration were higher than

those with aeration. This confirms that the nitrification is necessary to organic

hydroponic system.

While on 2017, Alres concluded at his study that organic hydroponics is

extending worldwide and this system have many new alternatives and also opportunities

for growers and consumers to produce high quality, including vegetables enhanced with

bioactive compounds. Hydroponics and soil-based production systems require proper

control, and they must be implemented correctly with full respect with plant needs, soil,

water, environment, growers, and consumer safety.

Upendri (2021), has stated that hydroponic systems, a popular technique of highly

resource towards the healthy living environment. An environmentally friendly

agricultural system with organic fertilizer is used to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers,

thus producing healthy agricultural products for consumption. Organic hydroponics is a

system that is organized based on organic agriculture concept. Use of liquid organic
fertilizers produced from agricultural residues and industrial wastes are increasingly

popular in organic hydroponic system.

In 2017, Aures stated that the Hydroponic systems for vegetable production are

nowadays more essential to maximize productions and increase yields compare to normal

growth plants, while Jain et. al. on 2019 stated that, the organic hydroponics can be

extremely helpful because we can grow plants without soil and this may be extremely

helpful especially to the countries that is poor land.

Rashid et. al. (2020) concluded that the Organic hydroponics can grow a large

number of plants or vegetables. They have also stated that the quality yield, taste and

nutritive value of end products that is produced hydroponically are higher-than the plants

grown in the natural soil-based cultivation.

Aoyama et. al. (2014) have studied on hydroponic culture in lettuce and have

improved the retrieval rate of organic nitrogen ions by filtrating by the solution with a

non-woven bag.

Punongbayan (2009) has conducted a research about hydroponics and stated that

hydroponics gardens are considered by many to be better for the environment, it also

produced bigger harvest of better quality of fruit and vegetables, and a consistent year-

round yield that you cannot equal in using soil or by growing outdoors or in greenhouses

that is only a using natural light.

In a hydroponic garden that uses a sterile root zone media and has a clean

environment, crops aren’t too exposed to pathogens and diseases that live in the soil.

Hydroponic gardening eliminates weeds and also other soil-borne problems.

 Mie et. al. (2017), concluded that the emphasizes of several documented and like

human health benefits associated with organic food production, and the application of

such production methods is likely to be beneficial in conventional agriculture in

integrated pest management.

In August 2020, Jan et. al. has confirmed that the cultivation is cost effective,

disease free and eco-friendly and is beneficial to those who are in high space area and

cultivable land is not available.

On the other hand, Sardare (2013) showed that, open field/soil-based agriculture

has faced significant difficulties since the dawn of civilization, chief among which is the

decline in the amount of land available per person. Per capita land was 0.5 ha in 1960

when there were 3 billion people on the planet. Today, there are 6 billion people, but that

number will drop to 0.25 ha by 2050.

Arable area under cultivation will continue to shrink as a result of increased

urbanization, industrialization, and iceberg melting (A clear result of global warming).

Once more, soil fertility has reached a saturation point, and more fertilizer application

does not result in an improvement in productivity. Additionally, some of the cultivable

regions have weak soil fertility, which reduces the potential for microbes to naturally

build up soil fertility.

While in April 2022, Velasquez et. al. confirmed that According to the Food and

Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the population of the people on 2050 will

be billion and 75% of the population live in the city. The problem in food will be one of

the main issues because cropland will be in chaos due to the climate change, water

scarcity, and soil pollution.

 Hydroponics is an effective process to solve the problem in food. Though the

hydroponics is more advantage and better to other process there is still some difficulties

in using this process especially to those who live in rural areas wherein the access in

technologies and electricity is limited.

Griffith (2014) reports that the goal of his thesis is to simplify and reduce the cost

of growing food hydroponically. In essence, hydroponics is the process of growing plants

without the usage of soil. The notion that it is open this also fits nicely with the

hydroponic system's overall community vibe movement.

The goal of the thesis was to develop a functional hydroponic controller that is

affordable and Buildability is adequate. It will keep track of and regulate the essential

environmental components required for the pH, EC, air, and water levels are mostly

responsible for successful hydroponic cultivation. There will be visual alarms raised if

these depart from predetermined bounds. External devices will also be under the

controller's control HW, like a water heater, a water pump, and lighting board of

electronics.

On the other hand, Vigyan (2020) notes that deep learning is a new, cutting-edge

approach for agriculture's new, high-yielding, low-resource, high-potential varieties.

Deep learning has lately entered the field of agriculture as it has been successfully

employed in a number of other fields. In this study, hydroponic farming is used in

conjunction with deep learning techniques to increase tomato plant production while

overcoming significant obstacles to doing so in a limited amount of time and space.

The unique technology of smart farming approaches can be better understood by

looking at the production and agricultural issues under consideration. Be used to improve
performance overall. Multi-planned airflow, amount of wetness, and hydroponics

Utilizing deep learning approaches, carbon dioxide and nitrogen thresholds of nutrients

can be managed and regulated. UAV use and IoT sensors help with controlling the other

Aspects of production.

Scientists are scrambling to come up with plans for how to care for the planet in

light of the explosion in human population. The provincial metropolitan migration, or

rural-urban immigration, has left rural regions' farms devoid of farmers from one

perspective while overpopulating metropolitan areas from another. In hydroponics, yields

are produced without the use of soil. The homesteads are able to follow the ranchers to

the city area using this strategy.

Additionally, since no dirt is needed, hydroponic systems can be stacked

vertically (also known as vertical farming) to conserve space. Mechanization or

automation is the final frontier in tank farming. It will enable one rancher to construct and

work on multiple homesteads simultaneously. This essay provides a thorough analysis of

the ingenious hydroponic system developed to extend up to the present (Shelke et. al.,

2021).

Based on the results of the study of Hadinata and Masshoeda in 2021,

hydroponics indicates the variables and measured are Temperature, Potential Hydrogen

(pH), Total Dissolve Solid, Water Temperature, Humidity, UV, Carbon Dioxide, Soil

Moisture and Electrical Conductivity. The device used is the ESP8266, Arduino, and

Raspberry PI with the MySQL, Thingspeak, Firebase, Domoticz, and Wyliodrin IoT

Platforms.
 Frasetya et.al.,stated that the hydroponics of the parameters observed to measure

of the effectiveness of each system in increasing the growth of the lettuce and plants are

plant height, leaf number, fresh weight, and shoot-root ratio. The observational of

hydroponics data were then analyzed using analysis of variance at 5% significance level

and Duncan’s test at 5% level.

Sambo, et. al. (2019) stated that Soilless cultivation is represent as a valid

opportunity for the agricultural and production sector, especially in areas of characterized

by severe soil and degradation and limited water availability. Furthermore, this

agronomic practice embodies is a favorable response toward an environment-friendly and

agriculture as a promising tool in the vision of a general challenge in the terms of food

security.

This review aims that therefore at unraveling limitations and opportunities of

hydroponic solutions used of soilless cropping systems focusing on the plant mineral

nutrition process.

Phibunwatthanawong and Riddech (2019) reported that, the liquid organic

fertilizers produced from agricultural residues and industrial wastes are becoming

increasingly popular. the study they have conducted aim to examine the effect of liquid

organic fertilizers produced from waste molasses, distillery slop and sugarcane leaves on

the growth of Green Cos Lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. longifolia). At the end of the study

they have concluded that Organic liquid fertilizers formulas 3 and 5 had similar growth

promotion properties as chemical fertilizers with Green Cos Lettuce. Moreover, their

products are organic and serve rich nutrient source for the plant
 Based on their study about the tomatoes growing in organic hydroponics, as

Keshasov et. al. (2021) compare the quality two grown tomatoes, organic the grown in

waste-based liquid fertilizer showed reduced growth rates but increased mean fruit size,

At the result there is no significant change in total yield compared with high-mineral

cultivation. The growth rate was similarly reduced in plants cultivated with low-mineral

fertilizer. Plants cultivated with organic waste-based fertilizer had high Cl− concentration

in xylem sap, leaves, and, ultimately, fruits. The leaves of plants cultivated with organic

waste-based fertilizer contained higher concentrations of starch and soluble carbohydrate

and low concentrations of phosphorous (P) and sulfur (S). The plants grown with organic

waste-based or low-mineral medium showed significantly poorer fruit quality than the

plants cultivated with the high-mineral solution.

The low-mineral treatment increased xylem sap contribution to fruit weight

because of higher root power. The organic waste-based fertilization did not change the

root power but increased fruit size. Their conclusion was, the organic waste-based

cultivation is a possible solution for sustainable plant production in greenhouses.

However, additional adjustment of nutrient supply is required to improve the fruit quality.
 CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

Research Locale

This study will be conducted at Aborlan National High School from January to

February 2022.

Gathering of Materials

The following will be used in this study:

1. Bat guano – the bat guano will be gathered at Dionesio Catague coconut

farm, Apis Apoc-apoc, Aborlan, Palawan.

2. Kakawate leaves (Mexican Lilac) – the Kakawate leaves (Mexican Lilac)

will be gathered from the backyard of Mr. Nestor Denosta Sr. at

Marignes, Cabigaan, Aborlan, Palawan.

3. Sawdust or Wood ash – the sawdust or wood ash will be gathered at

Josephine Macairan’s furniture shop at Ramon Magsaysay, Aborlan,

Palawan.

4. Molasses – the molasses will be bought from Aborlan Public Market.

5. Gypsum – the gypsum will be gathered from Josephine Macairan’s house

at Ramon Magsaysay, Aborlan, Palawan.

Research Procedure

A permission for doing the study at Aborlan National High School will be asked

from the principal. A list of materials needed to the study will be gathered at the places

mentioned in gathering the materials.

B. Preparation of Hydroponics Solution

1. The materials gathered will be under the process of solid-liquid separation to

drain the nutrients from the manure and make it liquid.

2. Create a solution using the materials.

3. Grow the plants using the process of hydroponics.

4. Examine the crops and gather the data.

5. The result will be the basis in determining which organic hydroponics solution

is effective as in growing the lettuce.

Ethical Considerations

(Write here)
REFERENCES