OTON NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING PROGRAM

Oton, Iloilo

Bottle Gourd peel extract (Lagenaria siceraria) as an alternative

liquid fertilizer for spring onion (Allium fistulosum)

Minnie S. Ng

Chapter 1

Introduction

The study's executive summary is presented in this chapter. It is divided into six parts:

(1) Background of the Study, (2) Conceptual Framework (3) Statement of the Problem, (4)

Hypothesis of the Study, (5) Significance of the Study, (6) Definition of Terms, (7) Scope and

Limitation of the Study.

Part One, Background of the Study, describes the problem's primary focus, supports the

need for the investigation, and provides examples of the variables that will be taken into

account.

Part Two, Conceptual framework, includes one or more formal theories, as well as other

concepts and empirical findings from the literature

Part Three, Statement of the Problem, covers the challenges that the study will try to

solve.

Part Four, Hypothesis of the Study, incorporates predictions made by the researcher

based on relevant papers, publications, and journals.

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Part Five, Significance of the Study, describes the study's findings' possible benefits.

Part Six, Definition of Terms, provides definitions for key terms that will be used

throughout the study, both conceptually and practically.

Part Seven, Scope and Limitation of the Study, limits the study's scope and describes the

areas it will cover.

Background of the Study

Chemical fertilizers are wildly use in agricultural farms because chemical fertilizers are

relatively inexpensive, have high nutrient contents, and are rapidly taken up by plants.

However, the use of excess fertilizer can result in a number of problems, such as nutrient loss,

surface water and groundwater contamination, soil acidification or basification, reductions in

useful microbial communities, and increased sensitivity to harmful insects (Lin et. al, 2019).

Due to these disadvantages farmers are looking for ways to grow plants with the help of

alternatives. Animal manures and food wastes are some of the alternatives of synthetic

fertilizers.

Kitchen waste composting is the act of using the kitchen waste and food scraps, which

are organic materials, to create compost beneficial for enriching soil and growing plants and

crops. Food scraps are good sources of vitamins and minerals. These give the soil nutrients to

become healthier, trickling down the minerals to the crops planted into it. Vegetable peels are

some of the prominent kitchen waste byproducts. Bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) peel, also

known as upo is one of the prominent wastes in Filipino kitchens.

Bottle gourd is one of the common indigenous vegetables in the Philippines that is

cultivated in areas such as Quezon, Rizal, Siquijor, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Nueva Ecija,
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Surigao Norte and South Cotabato (Altoveros et. al, 2020). Bottle gourd are used by the locals

in different Filipino recipes. The peels are disposed since it is too hard to put in the desired

recipes.

In order to lessen the negative effects of synthetic chemical fertilizers on the

environment and lessen the food waste from the local kitchens, individuals are using

decomposed food wastes including vegetables peels are alternative fertilizers for plants but

there are no scientific studies on the direct effect of bottle gourd on the growth of specific

plant.

Using chemical fertilizer when growing spring onions is bad because it can cause soil

pollution, growth will take longer, the height of the leaves will be poor, and the number of

leaves will be reduced. It is unhealthy for health.

On the other hand, alliums are important vegetable crops in the Philippines. The most

grown species of alliums in the country are Allium cepa L. (onion), A. sativum L. (garlic), and A.

fistulosum (Spring onion). These species are widely used as spices and are common ingredients

of most Filipino dishes. Specifically, spring onions are used as toppings in most of the Filipino

dishes.

The aim of this study will determine the effect of bottle gourd peel extract as liquid

fertilizer on the growth of spring onion

Conceptual Framework
INDEPENDENT VARIABLE DEPENDENT VARIABLE

Concentration of bottle gourd peel extract Growth of spring onion

1. 75% bottle gourd peel extract and 1. Number of leaves

water 2. Height

2. 50% bottle gourd peel extract and

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Statement of the Problem

Generally, this study will determine the effectiveness of using Bottle Gourd Peel Extract

as an alternative liquid fertilizer to the growth of spring onion

Specifically, the researcher will seek to find out the answer to the following questions:

1. What are the number of leaves of spring onion when treated with different

concentrations of liquid fertilizer such as:

a. No bottle gourd peel extract and water

b. 75% bottle gourd peel extract and water

c. 50% bottle gourd peel extract and water

d. 25% bottle gourd peel extract and water

2. What is the height of spring onion when treated with different concentrations of liquid

fertilizers such as:

a. No bottle gourd peel extract and water

b. 75% bottle gourd peel extract and water

c. 50% bottle gourd peel extract and water

d. 25% bottle gourd peel extract and water

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3. Is there a significant difference on the growth of spring onions when treated with

different concentrations of liquid fertilizer from bottle gourd peel extract?

4. Is there a significant difference between bottle gourd peel extract as an alternative

fertilizer and commercial fertilizer?

Hypothesis of the Study

1. There is a significant difference between the growth of spring onion with Bottle Gourd

Peel as an alternative liquid fertilizer than without Bottle Gourd Peel Extract as an

alternative liquid fertilizer.

2. There is no significant difference between the growth of spring onion with Bottle Gourd

Peel Extract as an alternative fertilizer and commercial fertilizer.

Significance of the Study

This research will be carried out with providing vital knowledge and insight into the

bottle gourd peel extract as a solution to the growth of spring onion from the respondents

needed for the anticipated importance. This study will be significant to the following:

Researchers, Environment, People, Students

Field of Science. This study may be great help to the field of science, specifically the

environmental sector, and to the Department of Agriculture (DA) for it may be used as an

organic alternative fertilizer for commercial ones. The process may be developed to produce a

low-cost fertilizer
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Agriculture. Soil contamination and water contamination from synthetic fertilizers

presents a major problem in agriculture, this study can help alleviate the harmful effect of

synthetic fertilizers by using bottle gourd as alternative organic fertilizer. This study can help

the environment by substituting less harmful material from a more harmful one.

Researchers. This study may be used as a basis for other researchers in using plant

products such as other vegetable peels as fertilizers.It may also help the researcher in

improving their skills and knowledge for upcoming challenges.

Future Researchers. This study might help future researchers obtain more knowledge

in conducting research.

Farmers. This study is a great help for farmers for it may help them plant other plants

that needed organic fertilizer.

Definition of Terms

Bottle gourd. Also known as Calabash of the Cucurbitaceae family, is a climbing

perennial plant grown as a vegetable crop in tropical countries such as India, Japan, and

Thailand (Mkhize et. al, 2021).

In this study, bottle gourd peel extract will be used as an alternative liquid fertilizer to

examine its impact on the growth of spring onion.

Fertilizer. A fertilizer is any material of natural or synthetic origin that is applied to soil

or to plant tissues to supply plant nutrients. Fertilizers may be distinct from liming materials or

other non-nutrient soil amendments. Many sources of fertilizer exist, both natural and

industrially produced (Purbajanti et. al, 2019).

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In this study, it refers to the bottle gourd for it will be used as an alternative fertilizer to

enhance the growth of the spring onion.

Spring onion. Also known as scallions or green onions are vegetables derived from

various species in the genus Allium. They lack a fully developed bulb. Instead, the Allium

species referred to as scallions make use of the hollow, tubular green leaves growing directly

from the bulb. These leaves are used as a vegetable and can be eaten either raw or cooked.

Often the leaves are chopped into other dishes and used as garnishes.

In this study, it will be used as a subject. The growth of the Spring onion will be the

basis of the effectiveness of the bottle gourd as alternative fertilizer.

Concentration. Concentration is the action of focusing one’s attention or mental effort.

Different concentration will be used in this study.

Scope and Limitation of the Study

The focus of this study will be the determination of the effect of bottle gourd ( Lagenaria

Siceraria) as an alternative liquid fertilizer on the growth of spring onion (Allium Fistulosum).

The spring onion's growth will be measured solely by the height, number, and size of its leaves.

The actual experiment will take place in the researcher’s residence in Abilay Norte, Oton, Iloilo.

The experiment will require the study’s variables, such as bottle gourd peels and spring onions

which will be grown, gathered, and inspected at the researcher’s residence. There will be four

treatments to determine the impact of bottle gourd peels as an alternative fertilizer on the

growth of spring onions.

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SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING PROGRAM
Oton, Iloilo

Chapter 2

Review of Related Literature

This chapter presents and discuses literature to substantiate the researcher’s conceptual

framework and various related studies

Chapter Two has three major parts: (1) Bottle Gourd, (2) Spring Onion, (3) Fertilizers,

(4) Summary

Bottle Gourd
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Calabash (Lagenaria siceraria), also known as bottle gourd, white flowered gourd, long

melon, birdhouse gourd, New Guinea Bean, Tasmania bean, and opo squash, is a vine grown

for its fruit. It can be either harvested young to be consumed as a vegetable, or harvested

mature to be dried and used as a utensil, container, or a musical instrument. When it is fresh,

the fruit has a light green smooth skin and white flesh.

Bottle gourd has been used traditionally to with many health conditions like fever,

cough, pain and asthma. It has been used since ancient times for its benefits. It is also

considered a good source of vitamin B, C, and other nutrients. It is known for its shape, a

bottle, dumbbell, or oval shape. Bottle gourd contains a good amount of choline, a kind of

neurotransmitter that helps in improving the functions of the brain and helps in

preventing stress, depression and other mental disorders.

Bottle gourd has been used traditionally to help with many health conditions like fever,

cough, pain, and asthma. It has been used since ancient times for its benefits. It is also
 OTON NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
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considered a good source of vitamin B, C, and other nutrients. It is known for its shape, a bottle,

dumbbell, or oval shape (Mkhize et. al, 2021).

In this study concluded, wild bottle gourd is an excellent source of bioactive

metabolites responsible for the potent antioxidant, antidiabetic, antiacetylcholine esterase and

anticancer activities. Further, extensive investigations to develop effective drug from the wild

bottle gourd against such diseases is needed (Zahoor et. al, 2019)

Spring Onion
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Scallions (also known as spring onions or green onions) are vegetables derived from

various species in the genus Allium. Scallions generally have a milder taste than

most onions and their close relatives include garlic, shallot, leek, chive, and Chinese onions.

Although the bulbs of many Allium species are used as food, the defining characteristic of

scallion species is that they lack a fully developed bulb.

Instead the Allium species referred to as scallions make use of the hollow, tubular

green leaves growing directly from the bulb. These leaves are used as a vegetable and can be

eaten either raw or cooked. Often the leaves are chopped into other dishes and used as

garnishes. The Welsh onion (Allium fistulosum L.) is also called stone leek, Chinese onion,

Chinese spring onion and Japanese bunching onion. It has been much less known in the world

than the traditional onion, A. cepa. It has been domesticated in the neighbourhood of Lake

Baikal in Siberia near the Altai Mountains in Russia and in Western or North-Western China

Studies have shown that spring onion might have the potential to inhibit the growth of

bacteria. It might be effective against bacteria like S. aureus, E. coli and P. aeruginosa.

Hendrich hypothesised that the antibacterial activity of onion might be due to the presence of

flavonoids and polyphenols in it. Furthermore, the study showed that this potential anti-

bacterial activity of spring onion might increase with its concentration. However, such claims

need to be proved by further research (Padula et. al, 2022).

Organic Fertilizer

In the past few decades, chemical fertilizers have widely spread throughout the world

focusing that the soil is inert medium for plant roots, rather than as a living biosphere in which
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the crop is only one of hundreds or thousands of interacting species. However, it is now realized

that in fields under intensive monoculture which receive heavy applications of chemical

fertilizers alone, there is a slow decline in productivity. This decline occurs even in irrigated

paddy fields. Applications of nitrogen fertilizers are responsible for emissions of green house

gases like nitrous oxide (N2O) and ammonia (NH3). Besides supplying nitrogen, ammonia can

also increase soil acidity. Excessive nitrogen fertilizer applications lead to pest problems by

increasing the birth rate, longevity and overall fitness of certain pests. Experience in tropical

Asian countries generally shows that organic farming alone does not supply enough nutrients,

and organic fertilizers need to be supplemented by a basal dressing of chemical fertilizer.

However, over a longer period of time, applications of organic materials such as livestock

manure and crop residues have been found to bring about a gradual improvement in soil

productivity and crop performance. A study carried out on five crops in Japan showed that

applications of organic matter enhance root growth and nutrient uptake, resulting in higher

yields.

Another benefit from the increased use of organic materials is that it can help to solve

pollution problems caused by agro-industrial wastes. However, the soil must not be seen as a

dumping ground for organic wastes. If too much nitrogen fertilizer is applied, whether in the

form of organic matter or chemical fertilizer, some of the excess nitrogen is converted to

nitrates, which are harmful to human health. Improper use of organic fertilizers can cause

nitrates to accumulate in groundwater, and also in crops if they are taken up by the plant roots

(Chew et. al, 2019).

Summary
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Bottle gourd has been used traditionally to with many health conditions like

fever, cough, pain and asthma. It has been used since ancient times for its benefits. It is also

considered a good source of vitamin B, C, and other nutrients. It is known for its shape, a

bottle, dumbbell, or oval shape. Bottle gourd contains a good amount of choline, a kind of

neurotransmitter that helps in improving the functions of the brain and helps in

preventing stress, depression and other mental disorders.

 Spring onions are used in flavouring food and used in the preparation of soups, and

salads. Spring onion strongly resembles onion but there are a few key differences. The spring

onion does not develop a full bulb like onions, it has a smaller bulb. The plant stops growing

and the leaves wither away during the beginning of the winter season. It originated in Asia and

is common in Northeast India. The scientific name given to spring onions is Allium

fistulosum  and it belongs to the family Alliaceae.  You might be familiar with some of the

species like onions, garlic, chives, leek, etc., which belong to this genus and are important as a

medicinal plants. It might have potential health benefits and let us discuss it in the following

sections.

Organic fertilizers were defined as materials having definite chemical composition with a

high analytical value that supply plant nutrient in available form. Organic fertilizers are fertilizers

derived from animal matter, human execrate or vegetable matter (e.g. compost, manure).

Organic fertilizers are made with natural raw material; it usually pertains to our biodegradable

wet suit. Usually compost is made by decomposing biodegradable wastes. These wastes include

paper, leaves, fruit peelings left over foods and even fruit juices. Organic fertilizers make a

good addition to the soil. It makes the soil reach and ideal to planting.
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