1

CHAPTER 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE

INTRODUCTION
RATIONALE
In Africa, using fertilizers in agriculture nearly doubled from
1990 to 2020, reaching 7.1 million metric tons in 2020. The notable rise
primarily stems from increased nitrogen usage which is used in the
formation of fertilizer, which surged from 2.1 million metric tons in
1990 to 4.4 million metric tons in 2020. Fertilizer production saw a
substantial 159 percent increase during the same period, surpassing
agricultural demand - the surplus grew from 1.3 million metric tons in
1990 to 5.5 million metric tons in 2020. Egypt, Nigeria, and South
Africa stand out as the largest consumers in the region. (FAO, 2023)
The waste of banana peels in the Philippines is increasing
causing it to have environmental issues such as pollution. Usually, the
banana peels are thrown away in urban landfills, which causes
greenhouse gas emissions. The Philippines Statistics Authority (2023),
estimates that the country produced 2.36 million metric tons of bananas
between July and September 2022. Throwing away banana peels in
public areas or the water may destroy the quality of the areas and it can
also harm the wildlife. Because its waste attracts wildlife such as
insects, it gives concern to the urban and suburban environment
Moreover, statistics reveal in Toledo City, Cebu that a single
banana plant could contribute up to 80% of its total mass in waste. It
also shows that approximately 220 tons per hectare of waste or by-
products of banana are produced annually (Olid et al., 2022). The peel
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waste from fruits, particularly bananas, accumulates significantly in

both household and industrial settings on a daily basis.
Unfortunately, these peels are often disregarded as waste by
individuals. This poses a significant challenge that requires proper
attention, especially at the industrial level, to ensure a pollution-free
environment. The use of inorganic fertilizers has become a widespread
concern as it not only costs more but is also a factor in soil pollution.
On the other hand, organic waste or by-products have almost been
completely disregarded, especially in Cebu. In conclusion, using
banana by-products as a potential resource other than waste is essential
for the sustainability of the environment.
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Figure 1.1 shows the variables by utilizing the Independent Variable

and Dependent Variable Model
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Banana Peels
Bananas carry important nutrients that can be recycled and
reused for different purposes. Bananas can be used for various things
 3

because bananas possess many important minerals and elements,

especially Potassium. Moreover, using the by-products of bananas
could promote the sustainability and feasibility of otherwise abundant
products (Hussein et al., 2019).
Moreover, Hariyono et al. (2021), stated that Banana peels have
valuable nutrients that are useful for plants and are also organic waste.
Banana peels are nutrient- rich, such as potassium and other nutrients
that can help the growth of the plant. This nutrient helps control
enzymes and spread nutrients in the plant. It also makes the stems
strong and supports new growth.
Additionally, Barontoy, K. J., et al. (2022), it was found that
banana peel fertilizer can help plants grow naturally. Banana peel can
be used as a fertilizer to enhance soil properties, crop quality, and yield
due to its potassium content the application of banana peel as a
fertilizer, either alone or in combination, has been found to significantly
enhance the growth performance of plants, including shoot length, root
length, and number of leaves.
Milk Curds
Organic fertilizers encourage soil management approaches that
emphasize long-term soil health, and sustainable food production. The
use of expired milk as fertilizer is a practical and eco-friendly strategy
to recycle nutrients, decrease waste, and promote healthy soil and plant
development. According to Lin et al. (2021), expired milk products are
rich in organic carbon and nitrogen, so they are good raw materials for
making organic fertilizers.
According to Yang et al. (2023), food waste poses a significant
national and global challenge, with milk being among the most
 4

frequently discarded items. Additionally, milk and the relationship

between bacterial growth and time after expiration. Through
experiments involving incubating milk with agarose gel, they found
that bacterial growth remained relatively low in the initial days after
expiration but increased gradually over time.
REVIEW OF RELATED STUDIES
In the study by Barontoy, K. J., et al. (2022), it was found that
banana peel fertilizer can help plants grow naturally. Their research
aimed to explore how effective liquid organic fertilizer derived from
banana peel (BP-LOF) could serve as a potassium source for enhancing
the growth of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.). The study employed a
Completely Randomized Design (CRD) featuring six distinct
treatments. These treatments included various combinations of BP-LOF
and an inorganic KCl fertilizer, with the latter serving as the control.
The findings indicated that the application of BP- LOF yielded
comparable outcomes to the growth and yield of eggplant when
compared to the use of KCl fertilizer alone.
Additionally, the calcium in bananas helps the soil produce
nutrients which maximizes the benefits of vegetative growth. In line
with the research of Islam et al. (2019) biochar made from banana peels
was discovered to have a high Potassium content. While plant
productivity and above-ground biomass were statistically not
significant (p < 0.05) when compared to the control they were lower in
the 1 percent BPB treatments but increased in the 2 and 3 percent BPB
treatments. In addition, it was discovered that the plant grown with
BPB was stronger, healthier, and greener-looking.
Furthermore, banana peel waste belongs to wet organic waste.
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This is beneficial to improve agricultural production both in quality and

quantity, and reducing environmental pollution. According to the study
of Howeidi et al. (2023), The treatment with the organic extract of
banana peels showed significant superiority, as the concentration of 20
ml. L-1 achieved the highest average in root volume 127.1 cm 3
average root weight of 66.68 g and total yield of 11.13 tons. Therefore,
the effect of the organic banana peel extract in increasing the vegetative
traits may be attributed to the content of the banana peel extract on the
nutrients that provide the plant with the major nutrients.
Moreover, based on a study by Alharbi et al. (2021), organic
fertilizer saw an increase of 22-35% in grain yield and a 15-17%
increase in straw yield. The organic fertilizer is composed of products
from discarded dairy, giving wheat plants the proper minerals to grow
and even leading to an increased yield in output. Furthermore, this
could be beneficial to our study since this shows that plants could strive
for organic fertilizer derived from dairy.
Furthermore, based on the study by Yang et al. (2023), their
study shows that bacterial growth increases in milk when it passes its
expiration date. This could be beneficial as it shows that micro bacteria
could thrive in the soil and promote healthy plant growth.
SCOPE AND DELIMITATIONS
Examining the effects of employing expired milk curds and
banana peels as natural fertilizers on the growth and development of
Raphanus Brassica Rapa, or pechay, is the goal of this research project.
It will examine several growth variables, including the number of
leaves, and the hue of the plant’s leaves. Banana peels and expired milk
curds are good fertilizers since they are easily obtainable and may
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benefit the environment, promoting environmentally friendly farming

practices and minimizing waste initiatives.
However, it's important to recognize some restrictions.
Additional plant species or crops are not included in the analysis;
instead, the study is restricted to the germination response of Raphanus
Brassica Rapa (Pechay) seeds to expired milk curds and banana
peelings. Second, due to logistical limitations including a lack of
funding, time, and labor, the study will be carried out in controlled
experimental conditions, which might not accurately represent actual
agricultural environments. Notwithstanding these drawbacks, the study
hopes to offer insightful information about the possible application of
organic waste products as environmentally friendly fertilizers in
farming.
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THE PROBLEM

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

This study investigates the effectiveness of expired milk curds and
banana peels as fertilizers on the germination of Raphanus Brassica Rapa
(PECHAY).
The primary goal of this investigation is to compare the impacts of
the two organic fertilizers on the germination process of Raphanus Brassica
Rapa (Pechay) seeds. The researchers seek to investigate the germination
process in terms of the number of leaves, the color of the leaves, the growth
rate, and the height of the plant in the presence and absence of these
particular organic fertilizers.
HYPOTHESIS

1. The organic Expired Milk Curd fertilizer and Banana Peel

Fertilizer will boost the germination of Brassica Rapa (Pechay)
promoting waste management
2. To investigate whether there are differences on the effects between
milk curds and banana peels in the germination of Brassica Rapa.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This comparative study will be beneficial to the following entities:

Communities. Practical recommendations for sustainable farming and

resource management are provided by this study to the community.
Growing prospects are increased, trash is reduced, and soil quality is
enhanced by using banana peels and past-due milk curds as organic
fertilizers. It additionally encourages ecological understanding,
sustainability, and resilience in communities, which results in healthier
crops. Encouraging a collective feeling of accountability for community
resources through the application of these measures eventually improves
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well-being in general.
Environment. The study encourages environmentally friendly methods and
sustainable waste management by investigating the use of expired milk
curds and banana peels as organic fertilizers in agriculture.
Local Farmers and Agricultural Communities. The study's
recommendations for sustainable farming techniques, like using expired
milk curds and banana peels as organic fertilizer, benefit local farmers. By
reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers, promotes environmental
stewardship, boosts productivity, and reduces costs. Farmers who have
access to these results are better equipped with knowledge for both financial
gain and long-term sustainability.
Future Researchers. The future researchers will benefit from this study.
This can serve as a guide when they are creating a new research study to
examine how well expired milk curds work to promote plant growth and
reduce the impact of agriculture on the environment in place of chemical
fertilizers.
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RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Materials

● Milk (Expired)

● Banana Peels
● Pechay Seeds

● Loam Soil

● Water

● 3 Plastic Pots or Containers

● Trowel

● Leaf Color Chart

● Ruler or Measuring Tape

● Knife or Scissors

● Microwave

● Mortar and Pestle

Procedure
The researchers first prepared the materials necessary for the
experiment which included Pechay seeds, plastic pots, and Loam soil all of
which were bought from a local supermarket. For the fertilizers, Ripe
Bananas were bought locally from Carbon Market located in Cebu City.
For the expired milk, a box of expired whole milk was provided by one of
the researchers. In preparing the fertilizers, the researchers boiled the
expired milk to obtain the coagulated by-product of the mixture. Secondly,
the researchers dried the banana peelings by using a microwave to dry the
banana peelings. After drying, the banana peelings are then cut into small
pieces and will be crushed in a mortar and pestle. Three separate pots are
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then prepared for the experiment, each allocated to a Pechay plant. Pot A
incorporates the Milk Curds, Pot B incorporates the Banana peelings, while
Pot C serves as the control with no additional fertilizers. Observations of
Pechay Seedlings will be conducted in two weeks.
Testing Process
The effectiveness of Expired Milk Curds and Banana Peelings as
fertilizer are tested in terms of the following: the number of leaves, the hue
of the plant leaves, the rate of growth of the plants, and the height of the
plant (Fernandez et al., 2023)
● For the number of leaves, the researchers counted and monitored
the number of leaves of Pechay plants daily in Pot A (with the
Milk Curd Fertilizer) Pot B (with the Banana Peel Fertilizer), and
Pot C (without both of the fertilizers) (Fernandez et al., 2023).
● For height, the researchers started measuring from the base of the
pot until the top of the plant using a ruler with a 2 days interval
each (Galapin et al., 2023).
● For leaf color, the researchers observed the hue of the Pechay
plant using a leaf color chart in Plant A (fertilizer A) Plant B
(fertilizer B), and Plant C (No Fertilizer) every day of the week to
monitor the health of the seedlings (Fernandez et al., 2023).
● For the growth rate, the researchers measured the height of the
plants to measure the rate of plant growth at a 2-day interval
using the formula by Hoffmann & Poorter (2002) (G= (S2-S1)
/T) where g is the growth rate, and S2-S1 is the change in height,
and t is time.
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DEFINITIONS OF TERMS
Organic fertilizers- Fertilizers that are made from naturally produced
sources, such as byproducts of fruits or dairy (milk curds and banana
peelings)
Milk curds- by-product of milk that is used as a fertilizer, which is
favorable for bacteria that helps nurture the plant.
Banana peelings- The outer layer of a banana. They release nutrients into
the soil and feed the plants when decomposing
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CHAPTER 2
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
Data Analysis Procedure
SPSS was used to accurately perform a comprehensive data analysis.
The researchers used One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to analyze
the data (Kenton, 2024). The p-value must be less than the value of 0.05 for
the differences to be considered significant.

Table 1.1 Plant Height

Table 1.1 shows the height of the plants. In the pot labeled “banana”
sliced banana peels were used as fertilizer, expired milk curds were used in
the pot labeled as “Milk” we used as fertilizer, and the control variable or the
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pot that has no fertilizer was labeled as “Water”.

Moreover, “Milk” has the lowest mean of 2.57 followed by “Banana”

with 2.89 and the variable with no fertilizer has a mean of 3.29. The p-value
on the table is .15, which indicates that the null hypothesis should be
rejected, as there is no significant difference between the fertilizers. SPSS
application is used to analyze the data in order to get the p-value and mean.
Table 1.2 Number of leaves

Table 1.2 shows the record of the number of leaves of all the treated
plants with different fertilizers. The Banana peel fertilizer shows that it has
significantly higher yield of leaves compared to the milk curd fertilizer, and
a significantly higher mean of 0.79 than the banana fertilizer, and the milk
curd fertilizer with the mean of 0.69. Moreover, the table shows the p-value
is .42 and it is greater than 0.05 so the null must be rejected.

Table 1.3 Leaf color

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A green hue on the plant's leaf color indicates that it is healthy and
properly watered (Pantazi et al., 2019). This table shows the leaf colors in
the different pots. Furthermore, this shows that both fertilizers show a yield
of healthy green color of leaves
Table 1.4 Plant Growth Rate

Table 1.4 shows the growth rate of the plants of each variable. Plants
treated without the fertilizer grew about 6mm per day. Furthermore, plants
treated with the fertilizers (Banana and Milk) both grew 5.93 and 5.07 mm
per day respectively. In determining the growth rate of plants, the
researchers used the formula of Hoffmann and Poorter (2002), where G=
(S2-S1) /T.
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CHAPTER 3
SUMMARY
This study examines the effectiveness of utilizing Expired Milk Curds
and Banana Peels as Organic fertilizers on the germination process of
Raphanus Brassica Rapa (PECHAY). The primary focus of this study was to
compare the impacts of both fertilizers in the development of Pechay seeds.
The researchers tested the efficacy of both fertilizers in terms of plant height,
number of leaves, leaf color, and plant growth rate.
FINDINGS
The researchers observed the treated Raphanus Brassica Rapa
(Pechay) with two different organic fertilizers, particularly expired milk
curds and banana peel chunks.
1. The seed treated with banana peel fertilizer yielded higher growth rate
than the expired milk cured with a mean of 52.86 and an interval of
6mm per day, yielding 4 leaves and grew to 91mm in 2 weeks.
2. Moreover, the expired milk curdle has the lowest mean of 29.29, with
the smallest leaf count of 3 leaves, and grew to just 72mm in 2 weeks.
3. Additionally, both fertilizers show a healthy green leaf color.
4. Lastly, the researchers concluded after the data was analyzed that
there is no significant difference between them, the p-value of the
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plant height is .15 and the p-value of the number of leaves is .42 both
is greater than the alpha value which is 0.05.
CONCLUSION
Based on the results presented in the study, the banana peel fertilizer
proved to be efficient in boosting the germination of the Pechay seeds,
providing them a notable advantage when starting their growth. This shows
an effective way of harnessing the waste of bananas to our own advantage
by using them as fertilizers. Moreover, this could show another way to use
expired milk instead of disposing it in the traditional manner and this could
be used as an organic fertilizer. In conclusion, the fertilizers that were used
in the study showed that harnessing organic waste could help the
environment, showing insights of other sustainable alternative fertilizers
aside from using chemical fertilizers.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The investigation of using banana peels and curdled milk as fertilizer
offers a promising path for environmentally friendly and sustainable farming
methods. However, the study has produced findings suggesting that more
development may be necessary to produce accurate and dependable results
in line with the goals of the study. For more further development on the
study, the researchers would like to recommend the following:
● Further research can be conducted in regards to the Expired Milk
Curds especially in terms of handling or preparing the milk such as
boiling the milk in the proper 100 celsius for 10 minutes and allowing
it to ferment for 48 hours (Joishy et al., 2019). This could affect the
growth rate and the yield of the Pechay plant.
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● Additionally, experimenting on other plants aside from Pechay could

further improve our understanding on the effectiveness of both of the
fertilizers and the impacts it has on different plants
● Future researchers can improve on this study by conducting the
experiment in a much longer time frame allowing the possibility of
testing the effectiveness of the organic fertilizer on the full growth of
plants rather than germination only.
●

REFERENCES
Adekiya, A. O., Dahunsi, S. O., Ayeni, J. F., Aremu, C., Aboyeji, C. M., Okunlola, F., &
Oyelami, A. E. (2022). Organic and in-organic fertilizers effects on the performance of
tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus) grown on soilless
medium. Scientific Reports, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-16497-5

Alharbi, S., Majrashi, A., Ghoneim, A. M., Ali, E. F., Modahish, A. S., Hassan, F. a. S., & Eissa,
M. A. (2021b). A new method to recycle dairy waste for the nutrition of wheat plants.
Agronomy (Basel), 11(5), 840.
https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11050840

Barbaro, k. J., et al. (2022). Banana peels are good for gardens. Cape Gazette.
https://www.capegazette.com/article/banana-peels-are-good-gardens/202889

Barontoy, K. J., et al. (2022). Eco-friendly development: Exploring the effectiveness of

using banana peel fertilizer. КиберЛенинка.
https;//cyberleninka.ru/article/n/eco-friendly-development-exploring-the-effectivesness-
of-using-banana-peel-fertilizer.

FAO (2023). Inorganic fertilizers 2000–2021. FAOSTAT Analytical Brief Series No. 68. Nhanj Rome.
https://doi.org/10.4060/cc6823en
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Fernandez, D., Iway, F., Maglasang, C., Odever, K., Pateño, G., Sanchez, L. (2023).
Comparative Study of Banana Peel Fertilizer and Complete Fertilizer on the Growth and
Development of Malabar Spinach.

Galapin, C., Calamohoy, K., Diate, C., Miro, C. & Naces, M. (2023). Different Ratios Of
Cucumber And Banana Peels As Fertilizer To Green Onions

Hariyono, H., Mulyono, & Ayunin, I. Q. (2021). Effectiveness of Banana Peel-Based Liquid
Organic Fertilizer Application as Potassium Source for Eggplant (Solanum melongena
L.) Growth and Yield. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 752(1),
012022.
https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/752/1/012022

Joishy, T. K., Dehingia, M., & Khan, M. R. (2019). Bacterial diversity and metabolite profiles of
curd prepared by natural fermentation of raw milk and back sloping of boiled milk.
World Journal of Microbiology & Biotechnology Incorporating the MIRCEN Journal of
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology/World Journal of Microbiology &
Biotechnology, 35(7). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-019-2677-y

Kenton, W. (2022). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) explanation, formula, and applications.

Investopedia.[veebileht] https://www. investopedia. com/terms/a/anova. asp (07.04.
2023).

Komalkumari. (2022, August 17). Field performance and economic analysis of different Adlai
(Coixlacryma jobi l.) cultivars grown under. International Journal of Applied Chemical
and Biological Sciences. https://identifier.visnav.in/1.0001/ijacbs-22g-24002/

Lin, F., Wu, Y., Ding, Z., Zhou, Z., Lin, X., Majrashi, A., Eissa, M. A., & Ali, E. F. (2021b).
Effect of Two Urea Forms and Organic Fertilizer Derived from Expired Milk Products on
Dynamic of NH3 Emissions and Growth of Williams Banana. Agronomy, 11(6), 1113.
https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy11061113

Pantazi, X. E., Moshou, D., & Tamouridou, A. A. (2019). Automated leaf disease detection in
different crop species through image features analysis and One Class Classifiers.
Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 156, 96–104.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compag.2018.11.005

Protocol – Organic-Based Agriculture Program | BSWM. (n.d.).

https://www.bswm.da.gov.ph/download/protocol-organic-based-agriculture-program/
#:~:text=Most%20farms%20in%20the%20Philippines,applied%20in%20many%20parts
%20of

Yang, E. S., Yang, Q., Troemper, B., & Zhang, J. (2023). Investigation on Bacterial Growth and
pH in Milk after the Expiration Date. The Scientific World Journal, 2023, 1–9.
https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/9982886
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Appendix A- Transmittal Letter

20
 21

Appendix B- Documentation
Materials

● Milk (Expired)

● Banana Peels
● Pechay Seeds

● Loam Soil

● Water

● 3 Plastic Pots or Containers

 22

Procedure

Boiled the expired milk to obtain the coagulated by-product of the mixture.

Making the banana peel fertilizer

Planting of petchay seeds

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Applying milk curd fertilizer and banana peel fertilizer

Measuring the plant height every 7th day

 Plant A- Control Group

 Plant B- With banana peel fertilizer
 Plant C- With milk curd fertilizer

Day 1 Day 3 (All plants germinated at

the same time but at different speed and height.)

Day 6 Day 9
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Day 12

Day 15
(Last Day)

Control Group Milk Curd Fertilizer Banana Peel Fertilizer

Appendix C. CURRICULUM VITAE

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PERSONAL
BACKGROUND
Name : Jed
Joaquin C. Astillo
Home Address : Sitio
Sudina, Guadalupe, Cebu City
Birthday : July 4,
2005 Religion : Roman
Civil Status : Single

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

Senior High School

University of Cebu - Pri
Natalio B., Bacalso Ave., Cebu City

Junior High School

Ramon Duterte Memorial National High School
Guadalupe, Cebu City

Elementary Education
University of Cebu - Main
Sanciangko St., Cebu City
 26

PERSONAL BACKGROUND
Name : Nash Benedict E. Apolinar
Address : 866 C T.Villa t., Brgy. T. Padilla Cebu City
Birthdate : April 28, 2005
Religion : Roman
Civil Status : Single

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

Senior High School

University of Cebu-Main
J. Alcantara St., Cebu City

Junior High School

Abellana National School
Osmeña Blvd. Cebu City

Elementary Education
University of Cebu Main
Sanciangko St., Cebu City
 27

PERSONAL INFORMATION
Name : Natalie Waynne H. Montejo
Address : V.H. Garces St., Cansojong,
Talisay Cebu City Birthdate : August 25, 2006
Religion : Born Again Christian
Civil Status: : Single

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

Senior High School

University of Cebu-Main
J. Alcantara St., Cebu City

Junior High School

Cansojong National High School
Labuca, Cansojong, Talisay City, 6000 Cebu

Elementary Education
Borromeo Brothers Elementary School
V.H. Garces, Talisay City, Cebu
 28

PERSONAL BACKGROUND
Name : Agnais J. Tarrosa
Address: : 443 PBN Brgy Busay Cebu City
Birthdate : May 9, 2006
Religion : Roman Catholic
Civil Status : Single

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND

Senior High School

University of Cebu Main Senior High School Department
J. Alcantara St., Cebu City

Junior High School

University of Cebu – Main Campus
Sanciangko St., Cebu City

Elementary Education
University of Southern Philippines Foundation
USP Compound, Salinas Dr, Cebu City, 6000 Cebu