Faster Cultivation of Lettuce With The Utilization of Vertical Gardening

Republic of the Philippines
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
SHOOLS DIVISION OF CAGAYAN
ALLACAPAN VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS
FASTER CULTIVATION OF LETTUCE (LACTUCA SATIVA) WITH THE
UTILIZATION OF VERTICAL GARDENING
_________________________________________
A Research
Proposal Presented to Allacapan
Vocational High School in Partial Fulfilment
Of the Requirements for the Subject Practical Research 2
of the Strand STEM (Science, Technology,
Engineering and Mathematics)
S.Y. 2022 –
2023
________________________________________
By
Jenica Aguimbag
Karen Baranggan
Rosewell Battad
Lance Cariaga
Ashley De Asis
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Irich Dejarlo
Paul Gutierez
Gladys Limos
Llyod Odarbe
Camille Talosig
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Chapter 1
THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKROUND
Due to changes in climate and many other underlying
factors, it has recently been more of a challenge to grow
crops. The Philippines is ravaged by at least 20 typhoons
per year, a stray typhoon that was unaccounted for could
ruin months of progress when it comes to cultivating
plants, particularly crops which require the farmers to
start over from the beginning. Due to unpredictable issues
such as typhoons, there may come situations where there are
shortages of certain consumables; be it meat, fruits,
vegetables, etc.
Should crops be ruined by typhoons, floods, or any
other sort of natural disaster, and in some cases due to
the number of pests growing out of control — it would in
not only loss of many resources. However, the elements are
not the only factors that hinder the cultivation of crops.
The quality of soil affects the growth of the plant or crop
by being linked to the food quality and quantity derived
from the harvested crop. Environmental factors also affect
plant growth. To prevent or at the very least manage issues

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such as those stated above-become problems, new solutions
are needed to address the problems.
As it is like humans to be innovative, we develop new
methods and solutions to deal with the issues or obstacles
that impede our way of progress. As such, there are
solutions to problems regarding agriculture.
Vertical Farming or Vertical Gardening is a method of
farming in which crops or plants are grown in smaller
spaces. This type of farming allows for higher productivity
in smaller areas, lower usage of water, as well as shorter
growth times, and improved food taste.
The health benefits of lettuce come primarily from its
vitamin content. Lettuce is a source of Vitamin K which
helps improve our bones, as well as being a source of
Vitamin A which has shown to improve vision. Lettuce also
contains Vitamin C which helps in supporting the body’s
immune system. It has been reported to also improve one's
quality of sleep.
This study aims to find a way to increase the
cultivation speed of lettuce using vertical gardening; if

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successful, the method could also be used to grow other
types of crops and plants commonly found in the local
community.
Theoretical Framework
According to Nwosisi et al. (2017), an organic
vertical farming approach relies on the utilization of
water sources that are rich in nutrients for the growing of
crops rather than a significant amount of water, soil, or
chemicals. The use of organic vertical farming has the
potential to increase plant productivity per unit space
while also dependably supplying food throughout the year.
There have been installations of vertical gardens in a
number of countries, but research on the topic is only
getting started.
Their study was carried out at the organic farm that
is associated with Tennessee State University. Using a
soilless medium and a Verti-Gro vertical garden system kit,
a number of different cultivars of leafy greens and herbs
were evaluated for their performance in terms of

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production. During the process of feeding plants an organic
source of nutrients for development, a tank with a capacity
of 167 liters was employed as part of the mechanical setup.
Data was collected on the number of plants that were
produced per square meter.
The organic vertical garden unit was able to produce
herbs and vegetables with leafy greens to a high degree of
success. Planting is simplified by the Verti-Gro system's
use of a free-rotating plastic disc placed below each stack
of pots; this disc also creates a channel via which light
may easily penetrate and reach all of the pots. One other
advantage of the system is that it is simple to use and can
be accessed in any direction, making it accessible to
individuals of all abilities, including the elderly,
retired veterans, and even older veterans. The largest
vegetable crop yields were from the 'Tender Green' mustard
(2.5 kilograms per square meter), the 'Butter Crunch'
lettuce (5.9 kilograms per square meter), the 'Ruby Red'
Swiss chard (3.7 kilograms per square meter), and the
'Summer' spinach (4.3 kilograms per square meter). The
'Pesto' basil (5.8 kg m2) and the Coriander TZ7196 (0.7 kg

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m2) produced the greatest yields out of all of the other
herbs that were planted.
Nwosisi et al. (2017) incorporated another study that
was relevant to their investigation in their work as well.
Kretschmer and Kollenberg (2011) state that there is a
solid market for vertical farming in the Netherlands due to
the fact that locals have a growing preference for organic
and pesticide-free commodities and are prepared to pay a
higher price for these types of products. In addition to
this, they claimed to have developed a vertical growing
system that was capable of producing yields that were three
times higher than those of a standard greenhouse, while
also using 90 % less water and having no need for sunshine.
Leafy green crops were successfully farmed, as shown
by their high yields and almost nonexistent weed growth. It
is possible for urban areas to cultivate vegetables and
herbs utilizing a sustainable organic management system
that can be grown effectively employing vertical organic
gardening.
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Figure 1. The Paradigm of the Study

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT
1. Assessing the Determined
1. The experimental experimental groups effectiven
groups that the the lettuce can ess of
lettuce achieve its achieve its optimal Vertical
optimal growth in a growth in a given Gardening
given number of number of days. as a
days? method of
2. Determining the improving
1.1. Flour production rate of the
sack whose diamater lettuce in the above production
of holes measures 3 experimental groups. rate of
inches lettuce.
3. Comparing the
1.2. Flour vertical gardening
sack whose diamater to the regular
of holes measures 4 method of farming as
inches a faster way to
cultivate lettuce.
1.3. Flour
sack whose diamater 4. Correlating the
of holes measures 5 significant
inches relationship between
the production rate
2. The production and the diameter of
rate of lettuce in holes of flour sacks
the above in the different
experimental groups experiments.
in terms of:
5. Comparing the
2.1. Length of significant
the leaves difference in the
production rate of
2.2. Number of lettuce between the
stems grown control group and
the experimental
2.3. Weight of groups.
the lettuce
F E E D B A C K
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Figure 1 shows the paradigm of the study. Frame 1 is
the input which includes the experimental groups that the
lettuce can achieve its optimal growth in a given number of
days that is required to calculate the output. Frame 2
shows the process which includes the methods used such as
assessment, determination, comparison, and correlation to
generate the results. Frame 3 shows the output of the study
which is the determined effectiveness of vertical gardening
as a method of improving the production rate of lettuce.
Statement of the Problem

F E E D B A C K
This study aims to determine the effectiveness of
Vertical Gardening as a method of improving the production
rate of lettuce. Specifically, it seeks to answer the
following questions.
1. Which of the following experimental groups does the
lettuce achieve its optimal growth in a given number of
days?
1.1. Flour sack whose diamater of holes measures 3
inches
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inches
inches
2. What is the production rate of lettuce in the above
experimental groups in terms of:
2.1. Length of the leaves
2.2. Number of stems grown
2.3. Weight of the lettuce
3. Compared to the regular method of farming, how fast does
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) grow using the method of Vertical
Gardening?
4. Is there a significant relationship between the
production rate and the diameter of holes of flour sacks in
the different experiments?
5. Is there a significant difference in the production rate
of lettuce between the control group and the experimental
groups?
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Hypothesis
This study will be guided by the hypothesis that:
Ho1: There is no significant relationship between the
production rate and the diameter of holes of flour sacks in
the different experiments.
Ho2: There is no significant difference in the production
rate of lettuce between the control group and the
experimental groups.
Significance of the Study
This study will be a significant endeavor in enhancing
the production rate of lettuce. It specifically benefits
the following:
Department of Agriculture. This study will give them
knowledge about vertical gardening and how it will affect
lettuce crops. This study will serve as a guide to them in
boosting the production rate of crops.

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Farmers. This study can inform farmers about vertical
gardening and how it would affect their crops. With the
given piece of information, farmers can use this to know
how to increase their lettuce production rate and also
lessen their crop’s maintenance cost.
Researcher. It would give them knowledge about vertical
gardening and how it would affect their lettuce crops. It
would also enhance their skills in conducting their
research.
Future Researcher. This can serve as a basis for them if
they ever aim to conduct a study that is related to
vertical gardening in the future.
Scope and Delimitation
The main purpose of this study is to identify the
faster cultivation of lettuce with the utilization of
vertical gardening. The researchers used Lettuce (Lactuca
sativa) as a test subject to conduct a study. There were
four samples including the control sample. The raw
materials were gathered at Allacapan, Cagayan. The

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researchers used an experimental table to document their
observations in the production and growth of the lettuce
every week. The study was piloted at Kulibung Daan-ili,
Allacapan, Cagayan from September 1, 2022, to December 1,
2022.
Definition of Terms
For clarification, the important terms used in this
study are defined.
Aeroponics. A plant-cultivation technique in which the
roots hang suspended in the air while nutrient solution is
delivered to them in the form of a fine mist.
Hydroponics. The process of growing plants in sand, gravel,
or liquid, with added nutrients but without soil.
Nails. A small metal spike with a broadened flat head,
driven typically into wood with a hammer to join things
together.
Production rate. The variable that the researchers will
measure in this study.

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Vertical Gardening. A special kind of urban gardening that
is suitable for small spaces, particularly for decorating
walls and roofs in various styles.

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Chapter 2
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
This chapter presents the related literature and
studies after the in-depth and rigorous search done by the
researchers. This will adscititiously present the synthesis
to plenarily understand the research to be done.
Related Literature
Lettuce
As a result of the ease with which it can be
transported and the cheap prices at which it can be grown,
lettuce has emerged as one of the vegetables with the
highest global consumption. Lettuce is one of the most
important vegetables since it is used in the preparation of
a wide range of other dishes and is used in a number of
different cuisines all over the globe.
Lettuce, sometimes referred to as Lactuca sativa, is a
leafy vegetable that belongs to the Asteraceae family and
may be produced throughout the whole year. Its scientific

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name is Lactuca sativa. It is possible to recognize this
vegetable by its green hue and the ruffled appearance of
its leaves. Because it germinates at temperatures ranging
from around 40 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit and grows at its
optimal rate at temperatures between 60 and 65 degrees
Fahrenheit, Lactuca sativa is a vegetable that is produced
throughout the cold season and can be planted almost
anyplace. The vegetable is able to withstand light frosts
and freezes to some degree, despite the fact that it does
not thrive in hotter temperatures. A little bit of shade is
ideal for Lactuca sativa throughout the months of the year
when the weather is warmer. Ancient Egyptians were the
first people known to cultivate the plant Lactuca sativa,
long before it was domesticated by the Greeks and Romans,
who gave it the name Lactuca and from which its common
name, lettuce, derives (Fischer, 2019).
This vegetable is used in the preparation of salads
more often than any other, but it is also utilized in the
preparation of other sorts of food, such as sandwiches,
soup, and juice, and it may be utilized to wrap meals. The
stems of celtuce or asparagus lettuce are harvested for

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their leaves, which may then be consumed either raw or
cooked. Since it has been eaten for so many centuries, it
has amassed a significant amount of religious and medicinal
significance. At one time, the continents of Europe and
North America controlled the majority of the lettuce
market; but, by the late 20th century, the consumption of
the vegetable had extended to all corners of the globe. In
2017, China produced more than 27 million tons of lettuce
and chicory, which gave the country a share of 56% of the
world market for these two types of plants. The value of
lettuce in the United States alone is estimated to be $2.7
billion, making it one of the most economically significant
crops (Damerum et al., 2020)
Lactuca sativa is a rich source of Vitamin K, which
helps to create various proteins that are needed for blood
clotting and the building of bones. Furthermore, it is also
rich in Vitamin A, which helps in maintaining the health of
the eyes to allow good vision and healthy skin, and it
helps the body at fighting off infection.
Factors Affecting the Growth of Lettuce

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There are numerous environmental elements that
influence the growth of lettuce, or plants in general.
Light, temperature, water, humidity, and nutrition are some
of these elements. The temperature and soil moisture are
the two most essential elements in the growth of lettuce
when grown conventionally. Because lettuce is somewhat
tolerant of soil type as long as the nutritional and water
status are satisfactory, soil type is relatively
insignificant.
The most important factors impacting crop development
in controlled environments, such as vertical farms, are
nutrition, light, and temperature, yet there does not
appear to be a difference in lettuce growth when day and
night temperatures are considered when light intensity
fluctuates. However, lettuce requires more nutrients in the
summer than it does in the winter. (Gent, 2017)
The quality of artificial lights used in the vertical
farms also appear to have affect lettuce growth and quality
of nutrition, the colors of the artificial lighting such as
LED lights could used in the farms play can play a factor
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in increasing lettuce yield. (Ahmed, et al., 2020) (Meng
et al., 2020) (Miller et al., 2020) (Hooks et al., 2021)
Vertical Gardening
Vertical Gardening or Vertical farming is a practice
of growing crops in vertically stacked layers. It
integrates controlled-environment agriculture, which
maximizes plant development by using farming techniques
that don't require soil, like hydroponics, and aeroponics.
(labassociates.com, 2022).
This method of farming has a long history that goes
back to ancient civilizations. The Hanging Gardens of
Babylon one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and the
Chinampas of the Aztecs were the first examples of
vertical farming. (Lawson, 2018) (Al-Kodmany, 2018)
(Piechowiak, 2019) (Bhangaonkar et Al., 2021)
Gilbert Ellis Bailey, an American geologist, coined
the phrase "vertical farming" in the 1900s; it was first
applied in Armenia in 1951. The concept of vertical

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gardening was initially presented by microbiologist Dickson
Despommier in 1991. (Lawson, 2018) (Piechowiak, 2019)
Vertical farming, through the utilization of vertical
farming technologies, allows for an increased crop yield
that comes with a smaller unit area of land requirement in
comparison to traditional farming. (O'Sullivan et Al.,
2020) (Islam, et al., 2021) (Perambalam et Al., 2021) (H.M
Resh, 2022) (Dupuis, 2022)
Another benefit of Vertical Gardening is that it
allows for the cultivation of a wider range of crops
because they are not grown on same plots of land (Mir et
Al., 2022) (Reddy et Al., 2022). Another addition to its
strengths is allowing a more consistent crop yield year-
round since the adverse effects of the weather are felt
less in the controlled environment, which prevents crop
losses or crop damages. (Chatterjee et al., 2020)
Vertical farming is highly-efficient in its usage of
natural resources, such as land and water (Orsini, 2020)
(Kobayashi et al., 2022), and should it be done correctly,

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vertical farming leads to reduced chemical or pesticide
usage. (Shamshiri et al., 2018) (Perambalam et Al, 2021)
The use of fertilizers is also minimized which leads
to lower on-farm gas emissions and lower water usage (Rufí-
Salís et al., 2020), and depending on the technique used,
up to as much as 90% less water is used in comparison to
traditional farming methods (Moonilal, 2022) (Yildiran,
2022).
The foundation of vertical farming lies in
hydroponics, in which plants are grown without soil and
instead have their roots in porous materials saturated with
fertilizer. The roots of the plants are floating in
nutrient-rich water as a result of hydroponically grown
plants. These nutrients are carefully placed into the
filtered and purified water and transported to the plants
throughout the growing system.
Some indoor vertical farms, like Bowery’s, do not even
need sunlight, but instead use their own energy-efficient
LED lights as their source of light. (Bhowmick et al.,
2019) (Sustainable Sanitation and Water Management Toolbox,
2019) (Bowery Farming, 2022)

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Related Studies
Lettuce
Lactuca sativa L., more commonly known as lettuce, is
a leafy vegetable that grows best during the cooler months.
It is a member of the Cicoreae tribe of the Compositae
family. Lettuce is a highly well-known green vegetable that
may be used in a broad variety of contexts, ranging from
culinary dishes to pharmaceutical preparations. (Das and
Bhattacharjee, 2020)
The viability and acceptability of hydroponic lettuce
cultivation was investigated in a recent study titled
"Evaluation of hydroponic systems for the cultivation of
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L., var. Longifolia) and comparison
with protected soil-based cultivation." This research
looked at the potential of hydroponic lettuce cultivation
as an alternative to greenhouse soil-based planting methods
in temperate northern India. In this study, the
conventional way of growing plants in soil was contrasted
with two different hydroponic growing techniques—namely,
protected environments, deep water culture, and nutrient

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film—in order to draw conclusions about the relative merits
of each. The findings of the research demonstrated that
growing lettuce in hydroponic systems is an effective and
environmentally friendly alternative to the conventional
way of growing lettuce on soil (Majid et al., 2021).
A study was conducted at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural
University with the working title "Off-season Growth and
Yield Performance of Two Lettuce Varieties in Vertical
Gardening Influenced by Growth Media." The purpose of the
study was to determine how the growth media affected the
yield and growth of various types of lettuce that were
grown in vertical gardens during the off-season. V 1 P 1
are considerably superior to single treatments and
treatment combinations in terms of plant height, the number
of leaves produced by each plant, leaf area, the
circumference of the canopy, and the fresh and dry weight
of each plants. (Islam et al., 2018)
Factors Affecting the Growth of Lettuce

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Three researchers investigated the factors that
influence the development of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) grown
in a controlled environment. According to the findings of
the study entitled “Influence of environmental and
nutritional factors on the development of lettuce (Lactuca
sativa L.) micro greens grown in a hydroponics system: A
review” lettuce micro greens in a controlled environment
require chemical nutrition solutions to achieve their
nutritional development. To control any risk that may
arise, the nutritional solution should be monitored by
checking essential parameters such as the pH level or
electrical conductivity. (Rusu et al., 2021)
To test the effects of Vermicompost on some parameters
of lettuce such as the biochemical, morphological, and
physiological parameters while the lettuce was under
drought stress, a researcher conducted a study entitled
“Effects of Vermicompost on Some Morphological,
Physiological and Biochemical Parameters of Lettuce
(Lactuca sativa var. crispa) under Drought Stress”. The
study discovered that utilizing vermicompost fertilizer
under drought stress conditions improved the growth,

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physiological, and biochemical characteristics of lettuce
plants. Drought stress (0, 2.5, and 5%) and vermicompost
(0, 2.5, and 5%) levels were evaluated. Under moderate and
severe drought stress, lettuce plants treated with
vermicompost at 2.5 or 5% showed higher shoot height, shoot
fresh weight, relative water content, stomatal conductance,
chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, and
carotenoid concentrations than the control (vermicompost at
0%). Malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration and superoxide
dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities rose in
drought-stressed plants.
Under drought stress, the use of vermicompost
increased SOD and CAT enzyme activity and decreased MDA
concentration. Increased antioxidant enzyme activity as a
result of the destruction of reactive oxygen species by
vermicompost. As a result, using vermicompost under
moderate and severe drought stress reduced MDA levels in
lettuce plant cells. Data showed that vermicompost had a
good influence on lettuce growth under drought stress
conditions. (S. Kiran, 2018)

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The study "Growth analysis of lettuce under diverse
substrate compositions" demonstrated that substrate
concentrations had an effect on lettuce growth. According
to the study's findings, lettuce plants grown in a mixture
of organic compound and substrate Plantmax® develop faster.
Vermiculite alone does not offer good results for lettuce
plant growth, however it can be used in conjunction with
other substrates. (Altissimo et al., 2018)
Vertical Gardening
In the past few years, a few researchers have examined
agriculture and smart farming (Madushanki et al., 2019) and
vertical gardening systems in urban settings (Martins & de
Campos, 2019, Al-Kodmany, 2018, Shamshiri et al., 2018,
Kalantari et al., 2018, Kalantari et al., 2017), arguing
issues relating to urban population growth, food security,
a lack of irrigation land, and associated greenhouse gas
emissions to make their case regarding the growing need for
VGs. According to Kalantari et al. (2018) in his study
entitled “Opportunities and challenges in sustainability of

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vertical farming: A review”, it was examined that VGs may
help increase food production while maintaining quality and
promoting effective urban farming. The difficulties and
advantages of vertical farming were also highlighted.
The vertical farm could theoretically produce fish,
poultry, fruit, and vegetables using cutting-edge
greenhouse technology like hydroponics and aeroponics
(Rameshkumar et al., 2020). In a study entitled, “Substrate
properties and fertilizer rates on yield responses of
lettuce in a vertical growth system”, it was studied that,
to maximize the production of lettuce in cities, two
research trials were carried out in the fall of 2018 and
the spring of 2019 to ascertain the impact of substrate
characteristics and fertilizers on lettuce yield. In both
trials, the lettuce varieties "Nevada" and "Optima"
responded to substrate and fertilizer rates in terms of
yield (fresh and dried weight). In both tests, PB7 + C3
produced the highest bulk density. (Wiggins et al., 2020)
An increasingly popular method of growing many
herbaceous plants is vertical farming. Arable land is
getting smaller as the world's population grows

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exponentially. A study entitled "Vertical Cultivation:
Moving Towards a Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Farming" was
conducted by a group of researchers to address the problem
of diminishing farming space caused by population growth
and concluded that Vertical Farming possesses great
potential in finding a solution that allows crop production
to increase per land area as a response to population
growth on agricultural production. (Mishra et al., 2022).
A research study titled “Automated IoT enabled
vertical farming: Planting atypical crops in an urban
environment”, examined that after four weeks of testing,
the lettuce has a height of 84.33%. The findings show that
indoor plants grown in the IoT-enabled Arduino vertical
garden are healthier than those grown outdoors in the same
environment (Dim & Guillermo, 2022). In conclusion,
engaging in vertical gardening at home can improve the
effectiveness, standard, appeal, and enjoyment of your
gardening endeavors. (Hessler,2020)
In a study entitled “Vertical Gardens as a Restoration
Component in Urban Spaces: A Review”, it was examined that
as proved in the past, a vertical garden can decrease

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greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide
(CO), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) while also improving the
ecological values of the environment by providing a habitat
for insects and birds. It follows that vertical gardens
could contribute to softening the hard aspect of concrete
in urban concrete jungles. A sustainable green environment
could be created in India's urban areas if strategies with
a long-term action plan are put into practice. (Patel et
al., 2022)
The Internal Return Rate (IRR) and Net Present Value
(NPV) of Indoor Urban Vertical Farming (IUVF) and
Greenhouse (GF) facilities under various financing
techniques were investigated by a team of researchers. The
researchers concluded in their study, "Indoor Vertical
Gardening in the Urban Nexus Context: Business and Resource
Savings," that vertical farms are considerably more
lucrative to investors than greenhouse facilities since
they conserve more resources. The results of their research
aligned with the results of previous studies. (D.D.
Avgoustaki& G. Xydys, 2020.)

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Synthesis
This chapter contains a summary of previous studies
that are relevant to the current study. It also contains
critical information and data that are important to
improving the quality of this research, which is concerned
with the faster cultivation of lettuce (Lactuca sativa)
using vertical gardening. After reviewing several research
papers, it was determined that vertical gardening would
increase lettuce production. Planting lettuce doesn't grow
well in the heat, the vegetable can tolerate minor frost
and freezes to some extent.
The lettuce should have some shade. Vertical farming,
by utilizing vertical farming technologies, allows for
increased crop yield with a smaller unit area of a land
requirement than traditional farming. Another advantage of
vertical gardening is that it enables the cultivation of a
wider variety of crops because they are not grown on the
same plots of land. Another advantage is that it allows for
more consistent crop yield year after year because the
adverse effects of weather are felt less in the controlled
environment, preventing crop losses or crop damage. So

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vertical gardening was used, we can cultivate lettuce
faster than traditional farming methods, and with the help
of vertical gardening, we can harvest more, larger and
healthier lettuce than traditional farming methods.
Chapter 3
METHODS AND PROCEDURES
This chapter presents the research design, materials
and cost estimates, data gathering tool, data gathering
procedure, and data analysis needed for accurate data
analysis interpretation.
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Research Design
The faster cultivation of Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)
with the Utilization of Vertical Gardening is a
Quantitative type of study. There are several types of
research designs used in conducting this study;
descriptive, causal-comparative, and experimental research
design. A descriptive research design seeks data to
methodically characterize a phenomenon, circumstance, or
population. More particular, it assists in providing
answers to the research problem's what, when, where, and
how questions rather than its why and this research design
shall be used to determine the varying factors or variables
that contribute to or affect the growth of the lettuce.
In a causal-comparative design, correlations between
independent and dependent variables are looked for after an
action or event has already taken place. Comparative,
correlational, and true experimental research designs. This
type of research design will be used by the researchers to
determine the lettuce produced by the method of vertical

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gardening and the common lettuce in terms of height,
weight, and overall size.
Lastly, Experimental design is a type of research
design used to conduct research in an objective, controlled
manner which allows for the greatest possible degree of
precision and the drawing of precise conclusions about a
given hypothesis. Typically, the purpose of this research
design is to determine a factor's or independent variable's
influence on a dependent variable which in this study will
be used to study how lettuce's growth is influenced using
the farming method of vertical gardening.
Materials and Cost Estimates
Table 1. The Total Cost Estimates of the Materials
Unit Measurement Description Cost
25 Inches Bamboo ₱0
3 Sacks Coco coir ₱150.00

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1 Meter Greenhouse ₱1,275.00
cover
1.5 Kilogram Nails ₱80.00
3 Pieces Flour sacks ₱0
1 Pack Seeds ₱25.00
1 Pieces Seedling tray ₱29.00
8 Meter Steel bar ₱12,800.00
2, 15 Inches Wood ₱0
Total ₱14,359.00
Table 1 shows the total Materials and its Cost
Estimates. Column 1 shows the units of the materials.
Column 2 shows the measurement of the unit of materials.
Column 3 shows the description of the materials. Column 4

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shows the cost of each material and the total costs of the
materials needed to grow lettuce using vertical gardening.
Data Gathering Tool
From the first day, the lettuce was planted in the
flour sacks using vertical gardening until harvest time,
the researcher personally observed the effect of vertical
gardening as a method of improving lettuce (Lactuca sativa)
production. The researchers used an experimental table to
gather information about the lettuce’s production rate and
growth every week when collecting data for the study. This
study took into account the lettuce's length or size of its
leaves, number of its stems grown, and its weight. The
collected data was analyzed using mean and standard
deviation to determine the most effective diameter of a pot
in a flour sack in increasing lettuce production rate
through vertical gardening.
Data Gathering Procedure

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
The study was carried out for 8-12 weeks. That 8-12
weeks includes purchasing materials to be used for
cultivating lettuce products. Bamboos were directly
obtained from the forest. The bamboos were used to build
the structure of the vertical gardening. Three flour sacks
were used to plant the lettuce. Each flour sack was
supplied with constant water while the control group was
planted directly on the land for comparison. Factors that
can influence the growth of the lettuces were kept constant
particularly the water. For water supply, water was
directly placed on the top bamboo that was placed
horizontally to supply the three bamboos with small holes
that were placed vertically in the middle of the flour
sack. The flour sacks were supplied with water continuously
and gradually. The observation of the growth of lettuces
was done every week until harvest time.
Data Analysis
The data gathered was interpreted using a variety of
statistical tools in the study. The length of the leaves,
number of stems grown, and weight of the lettuce (Lactuca
sativa) from the control group and the three experimental

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
groups were determined using descriptive statistics such as
standard deviation and weighted mean. ANOVA (Analysis of
variance) was used to assess whether there is a significant
difference in the production rate of lettuce between the
control group and experimental groups. Pearson-r was used
in testing if there is a significant relationship between
the production rate of the lettuce and the diameter of
holes of flour sacks in the different experiments.
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APPENDIX A
DATA GATHERING TOOL
Length of the leaves
Week Contr 3 inches 4 inches 5 inches

s ol
group
Lengt Lengt Increme Lengt Increme Lengt Increme
h h nt h nt h nt
1 cm cm cm cm cm cm cm
Number of Stems Grown

s ol
group
Numbe Numbe Increme Numbe Increme Numbe Increme
r r nt r nt r nt
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
11
12
Weight of the Lettuce

s ol
group
Weigh Weigh Increme Weigh Increme Weigh Increme
t t nt t nt t nt
1 g g g g g g g
2 g g g g g g g
3 g g g g g g g
4 g g g g g g g
5 g g g g g g g
6 g g g g g g g
7 g g g g g g g
8 g g g g g g g
9 g g g g g g g
10 g g g g g g g
11 g g g g g g g
12 g g g g g g g

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Republic of the Philippines

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS

FASTER CULTIVATION OF LETTUCE (LACTUCA SATIVA) WITH THE

UTILIZATION OF VERTICAL GARDENING

Proposal Presented to Allacapan

Vocational High School in Partial Fulfilment

Of the Requirements for the Subject Practical Research 2

of the Strand STEM (Science, Technology,

Engineering and Mathematics)

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKROUND

Due to changes in climate and many other underlying

factors, it has recently been more of a challenge to grow

crops. The Philippines is ravaged by at least 20 typhoons

per year, a stray typhoon that was unaccounted for could

ruin months of progress when it comes to cultivating

plants, particularly crops which require the farmers to

start over from the beginning. Due to unpredictable issues

such as typhoons, there may come situations where there are

shortages of certain consumables; be it meat, fruits,

Should crops be ruined by typhoons, floods, or any

other sort of natural disaster, and in some cases due to

the number of pests growing out of control — it would in

not only loss of many resources. However, the elements are

not the only factors that hinder the cultivation of crops.

The quality of soil affects the growth of the plant or crop

by being linked to the food quality and quantity derived

from the harvested crop. Environmental factors also affect

plant growth. To prevent or at the very least manage issues

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS

such as those stated above-become problems, new solutions

are needed to address the problems.

As it is like humans to be innovative, we develop new

methods and solutions to deal with the issues or obstacles

that impede our way of progress. As such, there are

solutions to problems regarding agriculture.

Vertical Farming or Vertical Gardening is a method of

farming in which crops or plants are grown in smaller

spaces. This type of farming allows for higher productivity

in smaller areas, lower usage of water, as well as shorter

growth times, and improved food taste.

The health benefits of lettuce come primarily from its

vitamin content. Lettuce is a source of Vitamin K which

helps improve our bones, as well as being a source of

Vitamin A which has shown to improve vision. Lettuce also

contains Vitamin C which helps in supporting the body’s

immune system. It has been reported to also improve one's

This study aims to find a way to increase the

cultivation speed of lettuce using vertical gardening; if

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS

successful, the method could also be used to grow other

types of crops and plants commonly found in the local

According to Nwosisi et al. (2017), an organic

vertical farming approach relies on the utilization of

water sources that are rich in nutrients for the growing of

crops rather than a significant amount of water, soil, or

chemicals. The use of organic vertical farming has the