UTILIZATION OF SWEET POTATO PEEL (Ipomoea batatas) AND BROWN

ALGAE (Stoechospermum marginatum) AS AN ALTERNATIVE

FERTILIZER TO TOMATO (Solanum Lycopersicum)

An Experimental Quantitative Research Presented to the Faculty of

Universidad de Zamboanga Senior High School

In Partial of the Requirements in Practical Research II of Science,

Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Strand

Researcher

Jumadil, Nur-Aiza De L.

Muco, Ayezha J.

Udjaman, Rashimar S.

Endih, Alkadar D.

Ala, Mahmoore I.
 Chapter 1

INTRODUCTION

Background of the study

Nowadays, trashes are the most harm to the environment like

biodegradable and non-biodegradable. Trashes like sweet potato peel are
common it can be found anywhere to help the environment instead of
destroying it. The researcher came up with an idea to help the environment and
to increase the production of the tomatoes in the Philippines using an organic
fertilizer using the sweet potato peel and added with brown algae to make an
excellent organic fertilizer for the tomatoes. Having this as an alternative
fertilizer will help not only the people but the environment as well because it
does not contain dangerous substances that could possibly harm the one who
use it.

Tomato is the most important vegetable in the world. It is planted to

about 4.4 million around the world. In the Philippines, around 17,500 ha is
grown to tomato with Pangasinan and Bukidnon as the top producing areas. It
also contains the recommended production system including information on
varieties, soil type and site, best growing period, seedling production, land
preparation, field planting, fertilization, water management, and weed, pest,
and disease management. It also includes information about harvesting,
postharvest handling, and marketing.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, a

substance comprising more than one acknowledge plant nutrients is called
fertilizer, which substance is used for its plants nutrient is called fertilizer, which
substance is used for its plant nutrients content and which is designed for use,
or claimed to have value, in promoting plant growth.
 Sweet potato skins are among the many kinds of household vegetable
waste commonly used in composting boxes or bins. The result of the
decomposition, compost, is an inexpensive, high-quality soil amendment that
contains many essential plant nutrients. Sweet potato skins are no different
than the skins of regular potatoes or other vegetables as part of a compost.
Ambitious sweet potato plants may grow from the “eyes” of the skins, but those
plants quickly die from a lack of light, the heat produced by composting and
from being rousted when you turn the materials with a shovel or fork, a
necessary chore in making compost.

According to Phool B. Zahid (Nov. 11, 2019) There are reports where
marine algae have been gathered for centuries for the purpose to use them as
fertilizer in the countries like Australia, France, Great Britain, India, Japan, New
Zealand, Scotland, Spain and USA. The first record of the use of seaweed as
fertilizer reported from the first century AD, where Chinese, Greeks and later
Vikings used them as manure for their crops, where wet or dried seaweed were
deposited on land for providing nutrients. In the fourth century. Seaweed was
used as a partial substitute of manure. Quality of shelf life of peach increased
by spraying of liquid fertilizer and tomatoes showed an increase by 37 percent
in the plots treated with seaweed fertilizer (Chapman and Chapman, 1980).

An increase in the yield of Soybean, sweet potato, sweet corn, and melon were
observed when seaweed fertilizer was used. Seaweed manure has an
advantage over farm manure since it is free from weeds and fungi and has been
found to eliminate "black spots" from roses, reduces brown rots of peaches,
increases resistibility of crop plants to pest and diseases caused by aplids, red
spider mites, powdery mildew and the fungi responsible for damping of
seedlings (Chapman and Chapman, 1980). Seaweed contain essential
minerals such as Ca, K, Mg, PO4, S, N, Fe, Cu, Mn, Bo and Zn and has been
found to increase the sugar contents in melon because of high content of
potash. Seaweed fertilizer is suitable for root crops and cabbage. Zia
1990 investigated that seaweed fertilizer is beneficial for plant growth, because
of the presence of organic and inorganic constituents which increase the
nutrient uptake and help in the assimilation of carbohydrates and protein
contents of plants. The application of seaweed manure increases the growth,
yield, flowering and fruiting period of plants. Wahab (1991) found out that
different concentration of seaweed effect differently on different plants viz.
Zinnea and other related plants showed best growth in 50 percent concentration
of seaweed manure plus soil.

Seaweed fertilizer is beneficial for plant growth because of the presence of

organic inorganic and constituents, which increase the nutrient uptake and help
in assimilation of carbohydrate and protein contents of the plant and hence
increase the plant yield. Marine algae contain a good amount of minerals,
therefore in USA, UK, France and Norway etc. Seaweed fertilizer is used as a
liquid spray to supplement the horticultural plants utilized seaweed fertilizer
along with normal fertilizer in the field. He noted favorable results by increase
of 60-70 percent yield of the experimental plants. It is noticeable that seaweed
fertilizer increases the resistibility against disease and reduce the chance of
insect attack. This fertilizer also increase the water holding capacity of the
soil. Nature of the seaweed fertilizer is alkaline.

From the present study I am confident that it will surely give good results at
large scale, use of seaweed fertilizer as supplement will be feasible in the
Karachi and its surroundings, because of tones of seaweed cast as drifted
seaweed at the seashore, which nature has given us so generously, can be
collected free of charge and may be utilized as a best fertilizer in our horticulture
and agriculture.

According to Department of Agriculture of the Philippines (October 1995)

The Philippines is chiefly an agricultural country. Its soil is rich and fertile, and
its products grow abundantly throughout the year. The principal farm products
are rice (Oryza sativa), maize (Zea mays), coconut (Cocos nucifera), sugar
(Saccharum officinarum), abaca or Manila hemp (Musa textilis), tobacco
(Nicotiana tabacum), maguey (Agave sisalina) and pineapple (Ananas
comosus). Many tropical fruits are also raised, the most important being banana
(Musa spp.), mango (Mangifera indica), lanzones (Lansium domesticum), citrus
(Citrus spp.), papaya (Carica papaya), avocado (Persea americana), starapple
(Chrysophyllum cainito), atis (Annona squamosa), jackfruit (Artocarpus
heterophyllus), guava (Psidium guajava), santol (Sandoricum koetjape), and
durian (Durio zibethinus). Vegetables and root crops such as mungbean (Vigna
radiata), yardlong bean (Vigna unguiculata ssp. sesquipedalis), cowpea (Vigna
unguiculata ssp. unguiculata), tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum), eggplant
(Solanum melongena), Chinese cabbage (Brassica pekinensis), cabbage
(Brassica oleracea ssp. capitata), mustard (Brassica juncea), lettuce (Lactuca
sativa), sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum), pea (Pisum sativum), sweet
potatoes (Ipomoea batatas), sugar beets (Beta vulgaris), cassava (Manihot
esculenta), and squash (Cucurbita moschata) are raised for domestic
consumption.

Seaweeds have limited distribution ranging from the lower intertidal to

the shallow subtidal zones in the marine environment. Many species are found
in sheltered bays and cays while others may be limited to the rocky, exposed
areas along the shores or margins of the reefs. In the Philippines, there are 141
algae species subdivided into 3 divisions: Chlorophyta (green algae), 58
species; Phaeophyta (brown algae), 23 species; and Rhodophyta (red algae),
60 species (Trono, 1988). Ecological research on seaweeds has been focused
on the description of vegetation while statistical methods have been used to
describe seaweed communities. Until recently, large-scale phytogeographical
patterns specific to the Asian region have not been thoroughly analyzed due to
the great number of species involved and the paucity of taxonomic studies on
seaweeds. Fortes (1992) separated the Philippines into two biogeographic
zones (BZ) based on the distribution of macrobenthic seaweed flora. This flora
comprises 190 genera (Chlorophyta or green seaweeds, 37; Phaeophyta or
brown seaweeds, 23; and Rhodophyta or red seaweeds, 130). The zones are
BZWest, the western zone which is bounded by the South China Sea and the
Sulu sea and BZ-East, the eastern zone which faces the southwestern portion
of the Pacific Ocean (Fig. 1). This classification is partly explained in terms of

According to Jocelyn P. Pedroso and Elderico Tabal College of

Agriculture Western Mindanao State University (Nov. 25, 2019) The increase
in human population requires more food available for consumption. In order to
attain such demand, farmers use various chemical fertilizers because
agricultural production does not match population growth (Smaling, Nandwa &
Janssen, 1997). The uncontrolled and longtime use of these chemicals made
the soil infertile and had led to environmental pollution and induces various
health hazards to humans (Higa and Wididana, 1991). In 1993, the Philippines
has about 7,994,663 hectares that is with ultisols soil and this approximately
26.6% of the total land area. Ultisols are highly weathered deep soils with base
saturation percentage that is low and are acidic due to a continued chemical
fertilizers usage (PCARRD-DOST, 2006). On a global scale, toxic impacts of
Agro-chemicals on the agricultural ecosystem, on the health of producers and
consumers are becoming more evident. About, 10-20 thousand people die of
cancer every year in the develop- ing countries due to chemically grown food
(UNEP/GEMS Environment Library No. 5, 1992). During the time when
dramatic increases in crop yields were obtained with the use of inorganic
fertilizers, the organic materials were not given importance. But because of
modern developments which tend to show unfavorable soil and environment
conditions as a result of continued chemical fertilizers usage, many are
becoming aware of the potential of organic fertilizers as alternative nutrient
source for sustainable agriculture (PCARRD-DOST, 2006). Organic farming
has evolved as an approach where a combination of agronomic, biological and
physi- cal practices is employed with continued application of organic fertil-
izers in order to increase and preserve soil fertility (PCARRD-DOST, 2008) and
soil productivity (Higa, 1994).
Theoretical Framework

The ratio of N-P-K depends on the fertilizer that will be used because
some fertilizers have a different amount of N-P-k (pavlis, 2018). The fertilizer
should be added to the soil because some soil has some amount of nitrogen,
phosphorus, or potassium. All sweet potato contains important vitamins and
minerals, especially vitamins C, B6, Folic Acid, Potassium and Manganese. The
orange-fleshed sweet potato in particular is an important source of beta
carotene, a precursor to vitamin A (Slather et al.,2013).

According to a study in India (International Journal of ChemTech

Research, 2016, 9 (5), pp 845-847, The researchers used potato peel as source
of organic manure on soil nutrient for content leaf nutrient, and content growth
oh the plants. Their study has concluded that the potato peel manure NPK
content was gradually increased in the soil.

In Brown Algae, Liquid extracts of brown algae are being sold as bio
stimulants or bio fertilizer in various brand names. Promising increased crop
yield, nutrient uptake, resistance to frost and stress, improved seed germination
of reduced incidents of fungal and insect attack have been resulted from
application of seaweed extracts. Seaweed are known to contain appreciable
quantities of plant growth regulators (Mooney and Van Staden,1985). The
researchers used Brown Algae as one of the ingredients for making organic
fertilizer simply because it has nutrients that could help the plants grow.

According to the study about the liquid fertilizer derived from seaweed
was researched by Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, they
studied about the effect of seaweed extract of macro algae on the growth and
bio chemical parameter uptake of holy basil. Their study has resulted that
among the three seaweed liquid extracts, Brown algae produced highest
amount of macro and micro nutrients such as Nitrogen, Potassium, Magnesium,
Sodium, Iron and Molybdenum. The study has successfully determined the
Brown algae as one of the most effective seaweed for plant growth. Sweet
Potato Peel and Brown Algae Cn be an alternative fertilizer because they
contain the components of fertilizer such as Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and
Potassium. Farmers can therefore make use of this as an alternative fertilizer.
It is also cheaper than commercial fertilizer and its ingredients are very
convenient.

On the previous study on Potato Peel being source of Organic manure,

the researchers investigated the used of Potato Peel in improving the plants
nutrients of Organic manure for plant development (International Journal of
ChemTech Research, 2016, 9 (5), pp 845-847. The study that the present
researchers are conducting is similar to the previous study that was proven, but
only differs in the variable because the previous study used Potato Peel alone
as an Organic manure, and the present uses Potato Peel and Brown Algae.
Moreover, the researchers want the use of Potato Peel and Brown Algae to
promote organic fertilizer production at a cheaper price. This is to help reduce
farmers’ burden and allow them to have an affordable and environmentally
friendly fertilizer, to avoid harming plants and the environment with chemical
fertilizers.
Conceptual Framework

Independent Variable Dependent Variable

SWEET POTATO PEEL

(Ipomoea batatas) AND
BROWN ALGAE
(Stoechospermum Germination and Growth of
marginatum) Tomato (Solanum
T1(1:1) Lycopersicum)
T2(2:1)
T3(1:2)

Figure 1.

Conceptual Paradigm of the Study

This conceptual framework of the study is represented by the

researchers to show the relationship of the following variables.

The figure above shows that the arrow of independent variable is

connected to the dependent variable. The independent variable shows the
different treatment that were used in the study while the dependent variable
shows the growth rate of the tomato plants.

Statement of the Problem

This study aimed to determine the growth of the tomato using Sweet
Potato Peel and Brown Algae as fertilizer.
1.What is the growth rate of the tomato plants given the different treatments of
Sweet Potato Peel and Brown Algae?

2.Which among the treatment: 1:1, 2:1, 1:2

3.Is there any significant difference using the fertilizer or without treatment in
terms of; size of plant; number of the leaves?

Hypotheses

H1. There is a significant difference among the different proportions (1:1, 2:1,
1:2) of sweet potato peel is to brown algae as fertilizer to tomato plants.

H2. There is no significant difference among the different proportions (1:1, 2:1,
1:2) of sweet potato peel and brown algae as fertilizer to tomato plants.

Significant of the Study

This study aspired to search for the alternative fertilizer of tomato

(Solanum Lycopersicum) using Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas) peel and
Brown Algae (Stoechospermum marginatum). The following ae some of the
possible benefactor of this study:

For farmers, this study can help the farmers because it can lessen their
expenses that might be used in buying commercial fertilizer.
 For consumers, this study can help to ensure the consumer’s safety
since this fertilizer is chemical-free.

For community, this study can disseminate the information on how to

make the what we called waste into something beneficial like fertilizer.

For environment, this research project is for environment because it is

organic since all the ingredients that were used are all found in nature.

For future researchers, they can use this study in the future to arrive the
much more valid and develop results.

Scope and Delimitation

The study focuses on how to apply the researchers environmentally

friendly fertilizer to plants to give them enough energy to live. The use of this
fertilizer helps not only to plants but to the environmental as well, the ingredients
are sweet potato peel and brown algae that provides to develop and improve
the health condition of plants. There is also limitation in using this fertilizer
because the researchers only apply it to small and average size plants enough
to transport the nutrients from the soil to the plants. The research will be
conducted at the researcher’s residence located at

Definition of Terms

Sweet Potato Peel – this term refers to the skin of the sweet potato that will
use as fertilizer.
Brown Algae – this term refers to the kind of seaweed that will use as source
of fertilizer.

Seaweed – this term refers to the plant that grows in the sea.

Compost – this term refers to the process on decaying the sweet potato peel
together with brown algae.

N-P-K – this term or acronym means Nitrogen(N), Phosphorus(P), and

Potassium(K).