Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SETTINGS

Introduction:
Organic fertilizer is also called “organic manure.” Mostly, it refers to compost made

from animal waste or animal and plant residues that are rich in natural by-products. For

example, guano, dried and powdered blood, ground bone, crushed shells, finely

pulverized fish, phosphate rock, and wood. The nutrient elements contained in organic

fertilizer are mostly inorganic state, so it is difficult for crops to use them directly.

Through the action of microorganisms, a variety of nutrient elements are released slowly

to provide nutrients to plants continuously.

They are naturally available mineral sources that contain moderate amount of plant

essential nutrients. They are capable of mitigating problems associated with synthetic

fertilizers. They reduce the necessity of repeated application of synthetic fertilizers to

maintain soil fertility. They gradually release nutrients into the soil solution and maintain

nutrient balance for healthy growth of crop plants. They also act as an effective energy

source of soil microbes which in turn improve soil structure and crop growth. Organic

fertilizers are generally thought to be slow releasing fertilizers and they contain many

trace elements. They are safer alternatives to chemical fertilizers. However, the improper

use of organic fertilizers leads to overfertilization or nutrient deficiency in the soil.

Hence, controlled release of organic fertilizers is an effective and advanced way to

overcome these impacts and maintain sustainable agriculture yield.

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Organic products are also ideal for your landscape, because they feed the soil, creating

a sustaining environment. Gardening organically, do much more than nourish your plants.

As in nature, an organic soil alive with microbes and fungi releases nutrients slowly to

plants. By enriching the soil with organic supplements and encouraging the growth of

naturally occurring beneficial organisms, you give your plants the tools they need to

access nutrients in the soil and the strength to protect themselves from harmful pathogens

and pests. Take the natural approach and amend with soil conditioners, such as

earthworm castings, which add organic matter, including humid acid, and desirable

microorganisms to your garden soil. This helps make soil borne nutrients, such as iron,

more available to plants. High-quality organic fertilizers are the products of natural

decomposition and are easy for plants to digest. Made from natural sources, organic

fertilizers provide garden plants with slow-release, consistent nourishment. Such a

“health food" diet makes your plants strong and self-sustaining. Rather than depend on

you for feeding them a steady supply of synthetic fertilizers, they find what they need in

soil that has been fed with organic fertilizer.

Lettuce is an annual plant belonging to the daisy family. It is most often grown as a

leafy vegetable. It is easily cultivated, and it requires low temperatures to keep from

flowering. It is particularly rich in antioxidants like vitamin C and other nutrients like

vitamins A and K and potassium. This leafy green vegetable helps fight inflammation and

other related diseases like diabetes and cancer.

Whether it is animal based or plant based such as animal wastes and compost, it has

been a go to substitute by farmers over Inorganic Fertilizers. Inorganic fertilizers usually

contain only a few nutrients which are generally nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur
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and sometimes micronutrients, either individually or in combination. The Batuan fruit is

found high in Potassium, Phosphorus, Calcium, Magnesium, Iron, that and trace levels of

Zinc, Copper, and Manganese, which are some of the nutrients needed by lettuce in order

to grow.

The researchers will conduct the study in Yu’s residence in Barangay San Isidro,

Talisay, Camarines Norte.

The general objective of the study is to determine whether the Batuan (Garcinia

binucao) fruit peel will be an effective fertilizer in the Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) plant and

whether it will be a viable alternative to other lettuce (Lactuca sativa) fertilizer.

The Batuan (Garcinia binucao) fruit and lettuce (Lactuca sativa) plant will be the

main materials to be used for experimentation. Using Batuan peels as the Organic

fertilizers to Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) plants.

The overall purpose of the Research is to determine the effectiveness of Batuan

(Garcinia binucao) fruit peel as an organic fertilizer for lettuce (Lactuca sativa) plants.

The researchers found, that there are few related researches on this topic. Thus, presents

the opportunity to describe and give solutions and recommendations more in order that

the future researchers may use in the incoming years. The researchers also want to

disseminate the importance of using organic fertilizers that can help the community to

use resources more efficiently and conservatively. Hence, using the Batuan (Garcinia

binucao) fruit as an organic fertilizer for lettuce (Lactuca sativa) plants is where our

experimental investigation on this topic will begin.

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Statement of the problem:

General problem:

This study aims to determine the effectiveness of Batuan (Garcinia binucao) fruit peel

as organic Fertilizer to the growth and yield of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) plant.

Specific problem:

Specifically, this may result into following questions:

1. What are the effects of Batuan fruit peel (Garcinia binucao) peel as organic

fertilizer on the growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) plant in terms of:

a. Width of the leaves

b. Height of the plant

2. What is the best treatment of Batuan (Garcinia binucao) peel as organic fertilizer

to the growth of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) plant?

3. Is there a significance difference among the different treatments of Batuan

(Garcinia binucao) peel as organic fertilizer to the growth and yield of Lettuce

(Lactuca sativa) plant in terms of:

a. Width of the leaves?

b. Height of the plant?

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Null Hypothesis

There is no significant difference among the different treatments of Batuan

(Garcinia binucao) peel as organic fertilizer to the growth and yield of Lettuce

(Lactuca sativa) plant in terms of:

a. Width of the leaves?

b. Height of the plant?

Significance of the Study

The results of the study will be of great benefit to the following:

Backyard Farmers Home farmers can have alternatives to inorganic or synthetic

fertilizers that are more sustainable.

Vegetable Farmers They profit the most because they can reduce their expenses and

have access to substitute plant fertilizer.

Department of Agriculture (DA) (Bureau of Plant Industry) The Department of

Agriculture will benefit from this since they will be aware that the peel from Batuan

(Garcinia binucao) fruits may be utilized as an organic fertilizer.

Community The community can eat nutritious vegetables.

Researchers Themselves They benefit from this for additional knowledge, details and

information about Batuan fruit (Garcinia binucao) peel as organic fertilizer for Lettuce

(Lactuca sativa) plants.

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Future Researchers This will serve as a possible research literature for their own study.

The said undertaking can be replito mas a source of another.

Scope and Limitation of the Study

This study focused on studying the effectiveness of the Batuan (Garcinia binucao)

fruit as an organic fertilizer. The experimentation will only be done on lettuce(Lactuca

sativa) plants. The study will be conducted at Yu’s residence in Barangay San Isidro,

Talisay, Camarines Norte. The data collection will be conducted to 20-100 grams of

Batuan (Garcinia binucao) fruit peels and three replications of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)

plant per treatment. There are total of 5 treatments used by the researchers. In every

treatment, the researchers have 3 replications of plants. Overall, there are 15 total lettuce

plants used for the experiments. The selected Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) plants who will

represent the population. The study will be conducted from October 2022 until December

2022. The main source of data will be the observation, which is proposed by the

researchers.

Definition of Terms

The following terms are defined theoretically and/or operationally as used in the study.

It further describes the meaning of the terms that are used in study.

Batuan This is the fruit which will be used on the study of organic fertilizers on lettuce

(Lactuca sativa) plants.

Effectiveness This will be the main objective of the research on the effect of Batuan

(Garcinia binucao) as an organic fertilizer on lettuce (Lactuca Sativa) plant.

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Garcinia binucao The scientific name of Batuan fruit which peel will be used as an

organic fertilizer for (Lactuca sativa) plant.

Growth of the plant This refers to the process of increasing the physical size of letuce

(Lactuca sativa) plant.

Height of the plant It refers as a component of letuce (Lactuca sativa) plant in

determining the life span and time to maturity.

Lactuca sativa The scientific name of lettuce plant in which the (Garcinia binucao)

peel will be used on.

Lettuce The vegetable plant that will be experimented on with the Batuan fruit peel.

Organic Fertilizer The basis to make the peel of the Batuan (Garcinia binucao) as an

organic fertilizer in lettuce plants.

Peel It refers to the ingredient used in determining the effectiveness of Batuan

(Garcinia binucao) fruit peel to letuuce (Lactuca sativa ) plant.

Weight of the plant (yield) It is the component of letuce (Lactuca sativa) plant which

is measured by size to maintain quality in order make it the healthy standards.

Width of leaves It refers as a part of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) plant that is being

measured by tape measure or straightedge in centimeter which affected by environmental

factors.

Yield This refers to the amount needed to produce organic fertilizer for lettuce (Lactuca

sativa) plant.
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Endnotes

The following articles and references are the ones used in the chapter one of

our research which helped us determine more information about our title.

DORA Agri-Tech, Organic Fertilizer (2020). Retrieved from:

https://doraagri.com/what-is-organic-fertilizer-for-plants/

Hitha Shaji, Vinaya Chandran, Linu Mathew, Controlled Release of fertilizers

for Sustainable Agriculture (2020). Retrieved from:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B978012819555000013

CORVALLIS, Ore. Here’s the scoop on Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers

(2019) Retrieved from: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/heres-scoop-

chemical-organic fertilizers#:~:text=But%20organic%20fertilizers%20have

%20advantages,the%20soil%20easier%20to%20work

Elizabeth S. Quevedo et.al Physicochemical Properties, Nutritional and

Sensory Quality of “Batuan” [Garcinia binucao (Blco.) Choisy] Fruits (2013).

Retrieved from: https://annalsoftropicalresearch.com/physicochemical-properties-

nutritional-and-sensory-quality-of-batuan-garcinia-binucao-blco-choisy-

fruits/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CBatuan%E2%80%9D%20fruits%20were%20also

%20found,peel%2C%20pulp%20and%20ripe%20fruit.

Pennington Seed, Inc. All You Need To Know About Organic Fertilizer

(2020). Retrieved from:

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https://www.pennington.com/all-products/fertilizer/resources/what-is-organic-

fertilizer

Poonam Sachdev, webmd.com, (2022). Health Benefits of Lettuce. Retrieved

from: https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-lettuce