Growth of pechay( brassica rapa) in various rates using seaweeds( caulerpa lentillufera) extracts as

foliar fertilizer

Evelyn T. Pedacan
Donnabel R. Mendoza

Chapter I
BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Introduction
Vegetable production is one of the main source of income in the Philippines since it is as
agricultural country. On the other hand, almost 75% of our total populations are farmers especially
in the rural areas. Therefore, the country is producing different kinds of crops for home
consumption.

Organic farming sustains and enhances the health of soil, plant, animal and human. There are
other terms used to express the core concept of being a organic these are biological and ecological
in order to provide distinction and clarification on the nature of the agricultural system.

Foliar fertilization is an important tool for the sustainable and productive management of crops.
In recent years, foliar fertilizer especially organic ones have proliferated in the agricultural
fertilizer market. If used wisely, they may be more friendly and target oriented than soil
fertilization since nutrients can be easily directed deliver to plant tissue during critical stage of
plant growth ( Kanan,2010).

Seaweed extract has been already studied in a past year in a different country that really proved
the good effect of it in the growth and development of crop like what Mancuso found last 2016.
He observed the increase uptake of N.P.K and Mg in grapevine and cucumber with the application
of seaweed extract. The presence of marine bioactive substances in seaweed extract improve the
stomata uptake efficiency in treated plant to non- treated plants.(Mancuso et al,. 2016).

Pechay (Brassica rapa) is an erect, biennial herb cultivated as an annual about 15-30-centimeter-
tall in vegetative stage. Pechay is use mainly for immature but fully expanded tender leaves.
Pechay can be growth from low to mid elevation throughout the year. In this study, the increase of
vegetative growth, number of pods per plant, length of leaves and length of roots of pechay will be
determine.

Statement of the problem

This will be conducted to determine the growth of pechay in various rates using seaweeds extract
as foliar fertilizer. Specially, this study attempts to answer the following question:

1. What is the growth performance of pechay(Brassica rapa) in different rates in using seaweeds
extract as foliar fertilizer in terms of:
a. Number of leaves;
 b. Length of leaves; and
c. Plant height?
2. What is the significant difference in the growth of pechay applied with various rates of
seaweeds extract?
3. Determine the substitute foliar fertilizer in the growth of pechay?

OBJECTIVES

In the line with the abovementioned problems, this study aims to:
1. Determine the performance of pechay (Brassica rapa) in different rates using seaweeds extract
as foliar fertilizer in terms of:

a. Number of leaves;
b. Length of leaves and
c. Plant height
2. Determine the significant difference on the growth of pechay applied with various levels of
seaweeds extract.

3. Determine seaweeds extract as substitute foliar fertilizer.

HYPOTHESIS

Various rates of seaweeds extract as foliar fertilizer have no significant effect in growth of pechay.

Significance of the study

This study will be conducted to determine the growth of pechay using different level of seaweeds
extract as foliar fertilizer. This will provide a guideline of information to those farmers who are
interested to plant pechay in their farm in a large or small scale. The results of this study may
serves as vital information to the farmers who are not yet aware of the importance of seaweeds as
used as foliar fertilizer in pechay production and other vegetables.

Scope and limitation of the study

This study will be conducted to determine the growth of pechay using different levels of
seaweeds extract as foliar fertilizer. This study focus only to determine the growth of pechay
particularly on number of leaves and plant height of pechay. This will be conduct from March to
April 2019, at barangay Batasan,San Jose,Occidental Mindoro.

Conceptual framework

The conceptual framework shows the relationship between the independent and dependent
variables. The first box, the dependent variables that contains different rates of seaweeds extract,
is connected to the second box, which contains the data to be collected as result of the experiment.
Definition of terms

In this study, the following terminology are defined conceptually and operationally to prove
clearer understanding on the part of the readers.

Growth- It refers to the biological, physiological and physical mechanism that take place in plants.
In this study, this is primarily characterized by the irreversible increase in the size and volume.

Rate- It refers the specific height or amount of something. In this study, it measures every fives(5)
days.

Number of leaves- It refers to the amount or quantity. In this study, it measures every five(5) days.

Length of leaves- It refers to the distance from one end of something to the other end. In this, it
measures every five (5) days.

Plant height- It refers to the measurement of how tall a plant. A distance above the level or surface.
In this study, it measures every five (5) days.

Foliar- It refers to the process ehich is something applied through leaves of a plant. In these study
seaweeds extract will be used as foliar.

Fertilizer- It refers to the substance that is added to soil to help the growth and development of
plants. In this study, we will used organic fertilizer.

Various rate- It refers to the amount of seaweed extract per treatment to determine the yield
performance of pechay.

Seaweed extract- It refers to foliar fertilizer used to determine the changes in the pechay.
Research design

This study will use the complete randomize design ( CDR) to determine the growth performance
of pechay using different rates of seaweeds extract as foliar fertilizer.

Experimental research will be use in this study, it will involve 160 plants of pechay to determine
its growth using different rates of seaweeds extract as foliar fertilizer.
Location of the study will be conduct from

Experimental layout

Treatment will be replicate four times, arrange the appropriate experimental layout following the
randomization procedure in complete randomize design (CDR).

Data gathering Procedure

Data gathering procedure will be done every five days to determine each number of leaves, plant
height, length of leaves in every treatment.

Statistical Tool
 Analysis of variance (ANOVA) will use to determine the growth of pechay in various rates of
seaweeds extract as foliar fertilizer.