STUDY ON THE EFFECTS OF SILKWORM

MANURE TEA ON THE GROWTH AND

YIELD OF DRIP-FERTIGATED ROMAINE
(Lactuva sativa) LETTUCE

Aliteg, Palmer D.
Catubing, Linbert

Adviser:
Engr. Leonardo Dumalhin
INTRODUCTION
 Organic manure:
 improves the physical, chemical and
biological properties of the soil with
direct impact on moisture retention,
root growth, nutrient conservation,
etc. (Rajendran et al., 2012).

 Venkatappa (2017) stated that the cost of

inorganic fertilizers can be reduced by
using traditional application of organic
fertilizer such silkworm manure.
INTRODUCTION

 Romaine lettuce (Lactuva sativa)

 It is also known as “Cos”, a lettuce that produces
elongated heads.
 It is exceptionally crisp, slightly bitter, and is
characterized by long, narrow leaves with thick ribs.
Statement of the Problem

 Farmers practice in Benguet is chemical-based

farming.
 The intensive use of chemicals in the conventional
agricultural production is one of the factors that affect
the reduction in biodiversity, nitrogen leaching, soils and
water contaminations (Kennedy et al. 2004).
 High cost of inorganic fertilizers ranging from 1,100-
1,500 per sack(50kg).
 Silkworm excrements are just thrown by the farmers yet it is beneficial to the
soil fertility.
Significance of the Study

 To introduce the silkworm manure to use to fertigate plants,

and will strengthen more the culture of organic farming and to
lead farmers to lessen the application of synthetic fertilizers.

 Silkworm manure could be used as a nitrogen source in

replacing chemical fertilizers for vegetable crop production as
stated by Nageswari et. al. (2017).
Significance of the Study

 Using organic fertilizer could improve soil fertility, reduction

in dependency or utilization of inorganic fertilizer and
possible additional income for vegetable growers. Also,
utilization of silkworm manure could increase the income of
silkworm growers.

 Fertigation method helps in achieving saving in irrigation

water, increased water-use efficiency, produced higher
quality products, increased crop yields and higher fertilizer-
use efficiency (Qureshi et al., 2001).
Objectives of the Study

The general objective of the study is to determine the

effects of different concentrations of the silkworm
manure tea on the growth and yield of drip-fertigated
romaine lettuce.
Objectives of the Study

It specifically aims to:

1. evaluate the effect of different concentration of silkworm
manure tea on the growth of romaine lettuce based on
weekly plant height, and weekly leaf proliferation.
2. evaluate the effect of different concentration of silkworm
manure tea on the yield of romaine lettuce based on plant
height, harvested weight, and marketable yield.
3. perform a simple cost analysis of the drip fertigation
system.
Scope and Limitation
 This study was limited only on the growth and yield of
drip-fertigated romaine lettuce as affected by different
concentration of silkworm manure tea.

Time and Place of the Study

 This study was conducted at the Tili, Shilan, La

Trinidad, Benguet from February 2019 to April
2019.
MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY
Crop shelter Materials
Materials And Methodology

Preparation for making

silkworm manure tea
Materials And Methodology

 Application of the silkworm manure tea started one

week after planting and a four days application
interval is done until one week before harvesting.
Data gathered.
1. Growth and Yield Parameter
A. Initial height
B. Final height
C. Weekly plant height
D. Weekly leaf proliferation
E. Yield components:
1. Marketable yields
2. Total yields
Data gathered.
 
2. Mortality rate.


 This was obtained by computing using the formula:

3. Cost of construction
 for the cost of the materials used in drip irrigation system.

4. Documentation
 This were taken through pictures during the gathering.
Statistical Analysis
 The study have 4 treatments. Each treatment have 3
replications, having a total of 12 experimental units
with 5 plants sample each. The experiment will be
using a Latent Square Design and data was analyzed
using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Comparison
among means was test using Duncan’s Multiple Range
Test (DMRT).
Statistical Analysis

 The study was subjected to the following treatments:

T1 – 200g of silkworm manure
T2– 300g of silkworm manure
T3 – 400g of silkworm manure
T4 – 500g of silkworm manure
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
35.00
Weekly Height
30.00

25.00
PLANT HEIGHT (cm)

20.00

15.00

10.00

5.00
Initial height Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Final height

0.00
1 2 3 4 5 6 7

TR 1 (200 g) TR 2 (300 g) TR 3 (400 g) TR 4 (500 g )

 Table 1. Average weekly growth rate of the Romaine (cm/week) as affected by the
different concentrations of the silkworm manure tea

Replicates Total AVERAGE

TREATMENT
1 2 3
1 (200 g.) 3.27 3.23 3.46 9.96 3.32a
2 (300 g.) 3.64 3.39 3.46 10.49 3.50a
3 (400 g.) 3.08 3.64 3.71 10.43 3.48a
4 (500 g.) 3.63 3.23 3.51 10.37 3.46a
5
(CONTROLLED) 2.71 2.92 2.76 8.39 2.80b
      TOTAL 49.64  
MEAN 3.31
Note: Means with common letter are not significantly different at 5% level of significance by LSD.

 According to Nageswari et al., (2017), silkworm manure supplies approximately 2.00-2.24%N, 0.93-
1.00%P and 1.5-1.8%K besides Zn, Fe, Mn and Cu as micronutrients to the plants depending on the
amount applied. Silkworm manure could be also used as a nitrogen source in replacing chemical
fertilizers for vegetable crop production. This is the reason why some romaine plants bested of their
height.
 Table 2. Mean final height (cm) of Romaine as affected by the different
concentrations of the silkworm manure tea
Replicates Total Mean
TREATMENT
1 2 3
1 (200 g.) 28.72 31.36 32.74 92.82 30.94a
2 (300 g.) 33.06 31.86 32.88 97.80 32.60a
3 (400 g.) 30.30 33.92 34.08 98.30 32.77a
4 (500 g.) 33.76 31.46 33.38 98.60 32.87a
5 (CONTROLLED) 27.40 28.16 27.28 82.84 27.61b
      TOTAL 470.36  
MEAN 31.36
Note: Means with common letter are not significantly different at 5% level of significance by LSD.

 A 2011 study by Chen found that total N, P and K contents of fermented silkworm manure has a
significance increase, being 58.0%, 84.4% and 29.7% higher than those in the raw material,
respectively. . The addition of microbial inoculants shortened the fermentation period, and
decreased the carbon and nitrogen losses during fermentation.
 Table 3. Mean leaf proliferation of Romaine as affected by the different
concentrations of the silkworm manure tea
Replicates Total   Average
Treatment
1 2 3

1 (200 g.) 17.23 18.87 17.40 53.50 17.83a

2 (300 g.) 17.87 17.53 16.60 52.00 17.33a

3 (400 g.) 18.13 17.27 17.30 52.70 17.57a

4 (500 g.) 18.83 17.63 18.17 54.63 18.21a

5 (CONTROLLED) 16.03 15.60 15.70 47.33 15.78b

      TOTAL 260.16  
MEAN 17.34
Note: Means with common letter are not significantly different at 5% level of significance by LSD.
 Table 4. Mean yield of marketable Romaine (grams) as affected by the different
concentrations of the silkworm manure tea
Replicates Total Mean
TREATMENT
1 2 3

1 (200 g.) 785 837 1221 2843 947.6667c

2 (300 g.) 1182 1115 1148 3445 1148.333b

3 (400 g.) 1179 1224 1232 3635 1211.667b

4 (500 g.) 1451 1554 1512 4517 1505.667a

5 (CONTROLLED) 436 469 418 1323 441d
      TOTAL 15763  

MEAN 1050.867
 Note: Means with common letter are not significantly different at 5% level of significance by LSD.

 Silkworm manure compost contains high amount of nitrogen and protein, thereby it provide nutrients
for plants in order to grow well as cited by Venkatappa et al (2017).
 Table 5. Mean yield of total harvested Romaine (grams) as affected by the different
concentrations of the silkworm manure tea
Replicates Total Mean
TREATMENT
1 2 3

1 (200 g.) 1184 1189 1555 3928 1309.33c

2 (300 g.) 1583 1450 1501 4534 1511.33b

3 (400 g.) 1501 1616 1630 4747 1582.33b

4 (500 g.) 1807 1883 1901 5591 1863.67a

5 (CONTROLLED) 562 610 544 1716 572d
      TOTAL 20516  

MEAN
Note: Means with common letter are not significantly different at 5% level of significance by LSD.
1367.73
 Mortality Rate
Plant mortality was not observed in the study
plant wilting was observed to some crops particularly
between 10:00 in the morning to 3:00 in the afternoon due to
the high temperature
spraying an organic insecticide mukusaco.
Appendix Table B-4. Total Cost of Expenses
Appendix Table B-4. Total Cost of Expenses

Parameters     Cost (Peso value)  

Drip irrigation System     7,864.00  

Insecticide and Seed 300.00
Wiring Systems 1,180.00

Total Amount 9,344.00  

Conclusions

Based on the study, the following conclusions were drawn:

 The crops planted and applied with T4 (500 grams of silkworm manure tea) shows
the tallest having a mean final height of 32.87 cm. Crops applied with T4 (500 grams
of silkworm manure tea) also produced crops with the most number of leaves with
an average mean of 18.21 weekly. In terms of weekly growth, crops planted and
applied with T2 (300 grams of silkworm manure tea) enhanced growth of 3.50 cm
weekly
 The most suitable concentration of silkworm manure tea to Romaine in terms of
yield is T4 (500 grams of silkworm manure tea) since it produced crops with the
highest yield with a mean of 1863.67 grams.
 In terms of mortality rate all the crops planted and applied with the different
concentration of silkworm manure tea was able to survive.
Recommendations

Based on the result of the study, the following are recommended:

1. Use organic fertilizer (silkworm manure tea) as substitute to inorganic fertilizer
in fertigating organically grown romaine as it can give satisfactory results in
terms of weekly growth rate, final crop height, weekly leaf proliferation and
marketable yield.
2. Use 500 grams of silkworm manure tea if fertigating organically grown romaine
as it can give satisfactory results in terms of weekly growth rate, final crop
height, weekly leaf proliferation and marketable yield.
3. Parallel study can be conducted with the following considerations: additional on
the application of silkworm manure tea, application to other high value crops,
and varying of drip fertigation intervals and cycles.
THANK YOU VERY
MUCH