HYDROPONICS GARDENING IN MANTICAO NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL:

A SUSTAINABLE TECHNIQUE OF WASTE CONSERVATION

AND CROP PRODUCTION

MAKIDATO, ERAH LYN M.

LANDONG, RENZ JOHN L.
NAYVE, APRIL MAE A.

An Investigatory Project Proposal

Grade 12
Manticao National High School

September 2023
I. Abstract
Hydroponics is a sustainable method of growing plants in nutrient solutions, with

the potential to revolutionize urban development and supply food sources for the urban

poor. This study aims to explore the effects of hydroponic farming on Manticao National

High School's environment, specifically focusing on plastic waste disposal and benefits.

The study aims to answer questions about the benefits of hydroponic farming, such as

reducing plastic waste and improving cleanliness while contributing to sustainable

propagation of hydroponics plants. Students can learn about plant growth,

environmental factors, and develop artistic, creative, and teamwork skills through

hydroponics. The researchers want to embrace new ways of gardening that will

consume less soil, space, and water which allows researchers to produce healthy food

in a brief period. This type of gardening will decrease the number of plastics wastes by

recycling plastic bottles and cups. This is because the researchers will only use these

materials as pots instead of using PVC tubes, with these kinds of materials it is less

costly. To adapt this kind of gardening the students will develop innovative ideas, skills

and abilities which can be shared not only in the school but also in their own different

communities. The findings can be also used as a guide for future research with a wider

sample size.

II. Background of the Study

The term "hydroponics" refers to a method of growing plants in nutrient solutions

with or without the use of an inert medium to give mechanical support, such as gravel,

vermiculite, rockwool, peat moss, sawdust, coir dust, coconut fiber, etc. The Greek

terms hydro means water and ponos means labor, hence the phrase hydroponics

translates to "water work." Professor William Gericke first used the term "hydroponics"
in the early 1930s to refer to the practice of growing plants with their roots suspended in

nutrient-rich water. (Resh, 2013).

This type of gardening needs no soil and offers a higher yield of calories per

growing area. Unlike growing in soil, where there are so many different influences,

hydroponic growing can be almost completely controlled. This is because it effectively

removes the plant from a natural environment and instead creates what is, at least in

theory, an optimized ‘ecosystem’ designed to grow in the absence of soil. Hydroponics

consumes less water because most hydroponics use recirculation techniques to

minimize waste. This technology offers continuous production as well. Unlike

conventional agriculture which primarily uses large outdoor crop fields, hydroponics

growers don’t have to worry about the changing seasons. Crops can be grown and

harvested year-round, increasing supply and reducing the need for preserving food.

This type of systems does not require much if any of these toxic applications. Because

there’s literally no soil for pathogens to live in, few pests or diseases can survive in

a properly maintained hydroponic setup.

Hydroponics is a sustainable and innovative method of gardening that has the

potential to revolutionize urban development, it can provide a variety of food sources

that will lessen the vulnerability of the urban poor, can provide urban residents with

income options, creating a sense of community, and decreasing poverty, can be

implemented as an instructional device to spread knowledge about sustainable methods

and the significance of local food production. Although it does come with certain

disadvantages, its benefits outweigh the drawbacks. With proper knowledge and use of
renewable sources of energy, individuals, firms, and communities can use hydroponics

to grow disease-free plants all year round.

III. Statement of the Problem

The study aims to discover the effects of implementing Hydroponic farming in

Manticao National High School. Specifically, intended to answer the following questions:

1. In what way does Hydroponic gardening help in plastic waste disposal in the

school?

2. What are the benefits that the school might gain from implementing Hydroponic

gardening?

a. To increase the level of school cleanliness;

b. To reduce water consumption; and

c. It maximizes gardening space.

IV. Significance of the study

Students can actively learn about how plants absorb nutrients and how various

environmental elements can influence plant growth by using hydroponics, and they can

also develop their artistic and creative abilities as well as their teamwork and

collaboration skills.

School. Hydroponic farming in schools will be beneficial. As the study will use

recycled cups and plastics, it can lessen the amount of plastic waste produced while

also improving school cleanliness.

Future researchers will be able to use this study as a guide and use it to do

similar studies over a longer period and with an even wider scale.
 ANNEX A
HYDROPONIC SYSTEMS
 ANNEX B
CHOSEN SYSTEM OF THE RESEARCHERS: THE RECYCLED SYSTEM

ANNEX C

TIMELINE OF THE STUDY