PRODUCTION OF SPRING ONION (Allium fistulosum) AND LETTUCE

(Latuca sativa) USING RECYCLED PLASTIC BOTTLE AND COCOPEAT AS

MEDIUM IN HYDROPONICS METHOD

A
Micro Project
Proposal Presented to the Faculty
of the College of Agriculture Laguna State Polytechnic
University Province of Laguna Nagcarlan Satellite Campus

In
Partial Fulfillment
Of the Requirements for the Degree of
BACHELOR IN AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY

ANGELO LUPASI MANGAO

2023
 Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION

Spring onions, also referred to as scallions or green onions, are actually

very immature onions that are picked before the bulb has a chance to grow. Both

the little white bulb and the long, thin green tops are edible and can be eaten

fresh or cooked. Though considerably milder, they taste a lot like onions. While in

most locations, lettuce is a cool-season crop that grows well in the spring and

fall. Lettuce is a leafy herbaceous annual or biennial plant in the family

Asteraceae grown for its leaves which are used as a salad green. The lettuce

plant can vary greatly in size, shape and leaf type but generally, the leaves of the

plant form a dense head or loose rosette.

Spring onions are commonly known as scallion or green onion. They are

loaded with essential nutrients like Vitamins A, C, B2 or thymine, copper,

phosphorus, magnesium and potassium. They provide a unique taste and flavour

to the dishes they are added in. Spring onions are often used in Oriental

cooking. Cut the green tops very finely and use like chives. Spring onions can be

used instead of onions in some recipes.

Lettuce can be the star of a dish, like in lettuce wraps or salads, or be a

happy supporting role when shredded and sprinkled as a garnish. The leafy

green vegetable is used in salads, cooked vegetable dishes, and is commonly

used on sandwiches. Lettuce is a source of vitamin K, which helps strengthen

bones. Consuming adequate amounts of vitamin K can also reduce your risk of
bone fracture. Water makes up over 95% of raw lettuce. As a result, eating

lettuce hydrates the body.

Hydroponics is the cultivation of plants without using soil. Hydroponic

flowers, herbs, and vegetables are planted in inert growing media and supplied

with nutrient-rich solutions, oxygen, and water. This system fosters rapid growth,

stronger yields, and superior quality. When a plant is grown in soil, its roots are

perpetually searching for the necessary nutrition to support the plant. If a plant’s

root system is exposed directly to water and nutrition, the plant does not have to

exert any energy in sustaining itself. The energy the roots would have expended

acquiring food and water can be redirected into the plant’s maturation. As a

result, leaf growth flourishes as does the blooming of fruits and flowers.

Leafy greens, and lettuce especially, are perfectly suited for hydroponic

systems. They grow fast, produce well, and have a small footprint in your grow

space. Lettuce is the perfect first plant for hydroponic newbies beginners. There

isn’t anything tricky or fancy about growing lettuce, and you can get started with

almost no experience and very little money. At the same time, hydroponic lettuce

systems can be scaled and monetized incredibly well. Commercial growers

across the world produce millions and millions of dollars of the stuff each year.

The project will be composed of one hundred fifty (150) pieces of recycled

plastic bottles of Spring Onion and one hundred fifty (150) pieces of recycled

plastic bottles of Lettuce using cocopeat as the growing media through

hydroponics method in a production cycle. ( 2 production cycle)

 The implementation of the project will start in November 2022 and will

end in January 2023. It will be located at Brgy. Bukal, Nagcarlan, Laguna. The

student’s objective is to produce greater scale of Spring Onion and Lettuce in

hydroponics method in a span of 45 growing days.

General Objective

Generally, this micro project aims to determine the profitability and marketing of

spring onion using recycled plastic bottle in hydroponics method.

Specific Objective

1. To determine the profitability of recycled plastic bottle in producing spring

onion and lettuce using hydroponics method .

2. To produce 6 kg of spring onion and 150

3. To earn an additional income of Php 5000.00 in the entire production. ( 2

production cycle )
 CHAPTER 2
MARKETING ASPECTS

A. Product Description

Spring onions, also referred to as scallions or green onions, are actually

very immature onions that are picked before the bulb has a chance to grow. Both

the little white bulb and the long, thin green tops are edible and can be eaten

fresh or cooked. Though considerably milder, they taste a lot like onions.

A leafy herbaceous annual or biennial plant in the family Asteraceae,

lettuce, or Lactuca sativa, is grown for its leaves, which are eaten as a salad

green. The size, shape, and variety of leaves on the lettuce plant can vary

widely, but often the leaves grow in a thick head or loose rosette.

Figure 1. Spring Onion Figure 2. Lettuce

B. Marketing Strategy

The student farmer will plant three hundred (300) holes of seedling in total.

The whole production will compose of one hundred fifty (150) holes of onions and

one hundred fifty (150) of lettuce. The student entrepreneur will sell the

harvested spring onion and lettuce to the relative and friends vegetable dealers.

A part of this marketing strategy to sell it through online by posting it to social

media. Marketing mix illustrate the 8Ps or simply known as product, place,

promotion, people, packaging, performance and process.

Table 1. Marketing mix for spring onion and lettuce production

Product Spring onion (young leaf of onion)

Lettuce (leafy vegetable)

Place Brgy. Bukal Nagcarlan, Laguna

Price 5 pesos per 150 pieces (spring onion)

50 pesos per 250 grams (lettuce)

Promotion Canvassing and informing the buyer with the intervention made
by producing spring onion and lettuce.

People Contact Buyer

Relatives
Friends
Citizens of Brgy. Bukal
Neighbors

Packaging The spring onion and lettuce will be package into vegetable
plastic.

Performance Fast grower

Process Can harvest the spring onion with conserving amount of water
in maximum of 80 days
Can harvest the spring onion with conserving amount of water
in maximum of 45 days
Profit Assuring the 40% profit from the capital.
C. Target Market

The buyer of the spring onion and lettuce are the contact buyers whom the

student farmer contacts 1 week before harvesting and also the student farmer

will be selling through online. Other buyers of the spring and lettuce are the

relatives, friends, and citizens of Barangay Bukal.

D. Terms of Sales

The contact buyer, relatives, friends and citizens of the student farmer will

be selling the spring onions and lettuce in retail and paying the spring onion and

lettuce in cash.

E. Price and Pricing

The price per kilo of Spring onion is Php. 5 pesos per 150 pieces and

Lettuce that is Php 50.00 per 250 grams. This price and pricing will be lesser

based on the market price in the town market.

F. Projected Sales
The total gross sales for the whole cycle combining the two crops was

Php11,000.00. In the entire production cycle, there was a net profit of

Php2,500.00 and Php8,500.00 of expenses.

Table 2. Projected sales of Lettuce and Spring Onion Production

Crop Quantity Unit Unit Price Sales
(Php) (Php)
Lettuce 37.5 Kg 200.00 Php 7,500.00

Spring Onion 4 Kg 350.00 Php 1,400.00

Total Php 8,900.00

 CHAPTER 3
TECHNICAL ASPECT

A. Preparation of the Project Proposal

Conducted some research on which hydroponics is the method using in

planting spring onion and lettuce. After the survey, the student decided to plant

spring onion and lettuce because its effective to cultivate in hydroponics method.

B. Implementation of the project

The implementation will start on November 2022 and will end in January

2023. The proposed title is “Production of Spring Onion (Allium fistulosum) and

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) using Recycled Plastic Bottle and Cocopeat as medium

in Hydrophonics Method”. All the activities will be done by the student starting

from planting the lettuce for seedling and onion preparation until it reaches in

marketing stage of the product. The project will be located at Brgy. Bukal

Nagcarlan, Laguna,

C. Production system

Follow the wick system in hydroponics method to plant spring onion and

lettuce. The student farmer will not use aerators, pump or electricity. However,

the student will use recycled plastic bottle instead of hydro box and coco-peat as

medium.
D. Project size

The total greenhouse area that will be used in growing Spring onion and

lettuce plant is 4 meter wide and 8-meter length in total, 300 is the total of plants,

300 recycled bottles. It will be divided into 150 holes per plant. It is in Brgy. Bukal

Nagcarlan, Laguna.

Figure 1. Project Size of Lettuce and Spring Onion Production

E. Project Location

Brgy. Bukal Nagcarlan, Laguna. Microproject will be located at Brgy. Bukal

Nagcarlan, Laguna. It is 20 minutes travel from LSPU Nagcarlan Campus.

Figure 2. Site Location of Lettuce and Spring Onion Production

F. Production Description

This chapter covers the actual Lettuce and Onion production in the whole

cycle including, land clearing, preparation and process of each treatment,

nursery

management, potting preparation, planting, water management, weeding

management, and harvesting.

 PREPARATION OF
GREENHOUSE RECYCLED BOTTLES NURSERY
SEED SOWING
PREPARATION AND GROWING MANAGEMENT
MEDIA

PEST AND DISEASE WATER FERTILIZER

TRANSPLANTING
MANAGEMENT MANAGEMENT MANAGEMENT

HARVESTING POST-HARVEST MARKETING

Figure 3. Product Description of Lettuce and Spring Onion Production

G.

Production Process

The production process of student farmer will be greenhouse preparation,

seed sowing, preparation of recycled bottles (cutting) and growing media,

nursery management, transplanting, fertilizer management, water management,

pest and disease management, harvesting, post-harvest activities and lastly, the

marketing.
 G.1 Greenhouse Preparation

The student farmer conduct visitation on the greenhouse that will be used

as the site of the production of spring onion and lettuce in hydroponics method.

The student farmer will clean the greenhouse that will used in growing spring

onion and lettuce in hydroponics method.

G.2 Seed Sowing

The student farmer will prepare the seedling tray to sow the seed of

lettuce using coco-peat as medium of the seedbed. It is composed of 1 pack of

seeds that have more than 200 pieces of seeds. The small spring onion will be

planted directly in the growing media.

G.3 Planting Preparation of recycled bottles and Growing Media

The student farmer will use cutter to cut the bottles. This will be the

preparation of recycled Bottles. The coco peat will be added as the growing

media. One-fourth (1/4) to one-third (1/3) the volume of the cup is sufficient just

enough to support the seedling upright. The lesser the better because the less

growing media there is in the cup the faster it is for the roots to find its way to the

nutrient solution.

G.4 Nursery Management

The student entrepreneur will be planting 150 seeds of Lettuce and 150

seeds of Onion in seedling tray with favorable weather condition at the

greenhouse area. The student farmer will wait for two (2) weeks for germinating.
 G.5 Transplanting

After the germination of one hundred fifty (150) Lettuce seeds, it will be

transplanted in recycled bottle with coco-peat as growing media and set of

hydroponics solution, while the Spring Onion is planted directly in the growing

media.

G.6 Fertilizer Management

In Hydroponics method uses a solution called SNAP. SNAP Hydroponics

is a safe, easy to use and low-cost hydroponics system that is designed for

household level and small-scale commercial vegetable production. It only

requires enough sunlight, sufficient air movement and protection from rain.
G.6.1 Preparation of Treatment

The estimated liters of

water can be used in
whole mixture will be
220 liters and 500 ml of
set A and B of solution.

The student farmer will The components will

prepare ten liters (10L) form soluble and
of water for every insoluble salts that will
twenty-five liters (25L) render them useless
of both set of solution. for hydroponics use.

Set A and B solution will be

both supplied in Lettuce and
Onion.

SNAP comes in two

bottles because it has
The solution will components that will
include set A and set B chemically react with
each other if mixed in
high concentrations.

will mix the prepared

water and set A first
and after that the set B.

Figure 4. Preparation of treatment

G.6.2 Process of treatment

Examine the bottles for

leaks and make some
trouble shooting.

See to it the bottom of

the cups is touching
nutrient solution
atmost by 1/2inch
deep, not any deeper.
Visit the set up
every morning as
early as you can to
catch any insert
larva that may feed
on the plants.
Add equal amount of
SNAP B to each media,
Arange the recycled stir well. Place the
bottles on a bench in seedling plugs on the
the greenhouse. holes of the recycled
plastic bottle.

Fill each plastic bottle

with about 1L of tap
water. Add 250mL of
SNAP to each and stir
well.

Figure 5. Process of Application of SNAP Solution

G.7 Water Management/Irrigation

The student farmer will prepare a solution for Spring Onion consisting of

440 ppm and Lettuce with 560-840 ppm as per the nutrient requirement. The

solution will last for one production cycle only.

 G.8 Pest and Disease Management

Aphids are the number one pest of Lettuce and Spring Onion during the

production. They pierce leaves and stems, suck juices from the plants that cause

crops to droop or leaves turn to yellow. In order to control them, the student

farmer will use insecticidal soaps or oil. Thus, because oil is petroleum-based, it

is natural way of treating the pest because it directly affects the natural life cycle

of the adult leaf-miners and larva. Also, oil product kills by smothering the aphids.

G.9. Harvesting

The Lettuce will be harvested starting day 45 up to day 50 while the

Spring Onion starting day 56 until day 60. Harvesting will be done through hand

picking method. The student entrepreneur will look for the possible buyer two

weeks (2) prior before harvesting date.

G. 10 Post-harvest Activities

The student farmer will conduct harvesting of Lettuce in a minimum of 45

days and maximum of 50 days. Spring Onion will be harvested on minimum of 56

days maximum of 61. Besides from the harvesting, the post-harvest operation

also important practices to consider to prolong the shelf life of the produce and

keep the quality in good condition and also to make it have a market price.

G.11 Marketing

The student farmer will sell the Lettuce and Spring Onion in retailed to the

contact buyer, relatives, friends and other citizens of barangay.

 Figure 6. Post-harvest activities of Spring Onion and Lettuce Production
H. Labor Utilization

In the labor utilization of Lettuce and Spring onion production, it is shown

that many workers are not required especially in other activities such as

greenhouse preparation, transplanting, water management, harvesting and to

lessen the labor cost of the whole production.

Table 2. Labor Utilization of Lettuce and Spring Onion Production

Activities Unit (Man-day) Unit Cost Total Cost

Transplanting 1 Php 50.00 Php 50.00
Water Management 1 Php 50.00 Php 50.00
Pest and disease 1 Php 50.00 Php 50.00
Management
Harvesting 1 Php 50.00 Php 50.00
Total Php 200.00

I. Calendar of Activities

Table 3 and 4 shows the activities and practices such as Greenhouse

management, seed sowing, transplanting, fertilizer and water management,

harvesting and marketing. Harvesting of Lettuce will be done on day 45 and

Spring Onion on day 56 simultaneously.

Table 3. Calendar of Activities in Spring Onion Production

ACTIVITIES Nov Dec Jan

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

Green House Preparation

Seed Sowing

Preparation of Recycled

Bottles and Growing

Media

Nursery

Transplanting

Fertilizer Management

Water Management

Pest and Disease

Management

Harvesting

Marketing
Table 4. Calendar of Activities of Lettuce Production

ACTIVITIES Nov Dec Jan

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

Green House Preparation

Seed Sowing

Preparation of Recycled

Bottles and Growing

Media

Nursery

Transplanting

Fertilizer Management

Water Management

Pest and Disease

Management

Harvesting

Marketing
 Chapter 4
FINANCIAL ASPECT

The financial aspect of the microproject discusses the probability and

sensitivity of venture.

A. Funding Requirements

The amount of Php.2090 was used in the micro project of lettuce and spring

onion plant production to purchase the materials, laborer, and other expenses

Table 4. Record expenses in whole production of Spring Onion and Lettuce.

Item Item Description Quantity Units Unit Cost Total Cost
No. (Php) (Php)
1 Crop and Crop
Supplies
Lettuce Seed 180 Pack 180.00 360.00
Small Spring Onion 150 Pieces 5.00 750.00
2 Materials
Recycled Bottle 100 Pieces 1.00 100.00
Greenhouse Rental 100.00
SNAP Solution 2 Set 290.00 580.00
3 Others
Labor Cost 200.00

Total Expenses Php2,090.00

B. Source of Financinng

The student entrepreneur’s savings will be used to subsidize the

production of Spring Onion and Lettuce production. The capital was put to good

use by purchasing all of the essential inputs for the production.

C. Financial Statement

The performance, sustainability, and worthiness of this production was

shown by the financial records of financial operators and other entities pertinent

to the final information. An income statement, cash flow statement, and balance

sheet were all included.

C.1 Income Statement

Table 5. Income statement of whole production of Spring Onion

Revenue
Sale Php 1,400.00
Total Sales Php 1,400.00
Expenses
Crop and Crop Supplies 750.00
Materials 390.00
Others 100.00
Total Expenses Php 1,240.00
Net Profit Php 160.00

Table 6. Income statement of whole production of Lettuce

Revenue
Sale Php 7,500
Total Sales Php 7,500.00
Expenses
Crop and Crop Supplies 360.00
Materials 390.00
Others 100.00
Total Expenses Php 850.00
Net Profit Php 6,650.00
C.2 Cash Flow

Table 6. Cash Flow for whole production of Spring Onion

Spring Onion Production
Cash Flow Statement
For the Month of November 2022 Ended January 2023
CASH INFLOWS
Sales Php 1,400.00
Total Cash Inflows Php 1,400.00
CASH OUTFLOWS
Crop and Crop Supplies 750.00
Materials 390.00
Others 100.00
Total Cash Outflow Php 1,240.00
Net Cashflow Php 160.00
Opening Balance 0.00
Ending Balance Php 160.00

Table 6. Cash Flow for whole production of Lettuce

Lettuce Production
Cash Flow Statement
For the Month of November 2022 Ended January 2023
CASH INFLOWS
Sales Php7,500.00
Total Cash Inflows Php 7,500.00
CASH OUTFLOWS
Crop and Crop Supplies 360.00
Materials 390.00
Others 100.00
Total Cash Outflow Php 850.00
Net Cashflow Php 6,650.00
Opening Balance 0.00
Ending Balance Php 6,650.00
C.3 Balance Sheet

Table 7. Balance Sheet Statement of whole production of Spring Onion and

Lettuce.
Spring Onion and Lettuce Production
Balance Sheet Statement
For the Month of November 2022 Ended January 2023
Assets
Cash Php8,900.00
Total Assets Php8,900.00
Liabilities 0.00
Total Liabilities Php0.00
Owners’ Equity
Capital Php2,090.00
Net Income Php6,810.00
Total Liabilities and Owners’ Php8,900.00
Equity

C. Profitability Analysis

To ensure the profitability of the micro project in the production of Spring

Onion and Lettuce, Net Profit Margin (NPM), Return of Investment (ROI),
Benefits Cash Ratio (BCR) were analyzed and interpreted.

D.1 Net Profit Margin (NPM)

To determine the Net Profit Margin the following formula was utilized.

Compute the NPM per treatment

Net Profit
NPM= x 100
Total Sales

Net Profit margin of Total Spring Onion plant Production

6,810.00
NPM= x 100
8,900.00

NPM = 76.51%

Interpretation: The total net profit margin of whole Spring Onion and Lettuce
production was positive 76.51% which means that the project was feasible.
Net Profit margin of Total Spring Onion Production in Hydroponics method.

160
NPM= x 100 NPM = 11.42%
1,400

Interpretation: The total net profit margin of whole Spring Onion production in
Hydroponics method was positive 11.42% which means that the project was
feasible.

Net Profit margin of Total Lettuce Production in Hydroponics method.

6,650
NPM= x 100 NPM = 88.66%
7,500

Interpretation: The total net profit margin of whole Lettuce production in

Hydroponics method was positive 88.66% which means that the project was
feasible.

D.2 Benefit Cost Ratio

Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) total Pak choi Production

Total Sales 8,900.00

BCR= BCR=
Total Expenses 2,090.00

BCR = 4.2

Interpretation: The Benefit Cost Ratio of total Spring Onion and Lettuce
production was 4.2 and it was more than 1. It shows that project was acceptable.
D.3 Return of Investment (ROI)

To determine the Return of Investment the following formula was

utilized.

Return of Investment (ROI) of total Pothos plant Production

Net Income
ROI = x 100
Total Investment

6,810
ROI= x 100
2,090

ROI = 325.83%

Interpretation: There was 325.83% return in the investment for the whole Spring

Onion and Lettuce production it shows that the micro project is feasible. For

every Php100.00 investment, the project can generate 325.83% net income.

Return of Investment (ROI) of total Spring Onion Production

Crop 1

160
ROI= x 100 ROI = 12%
1,240

Interpretation: There was 12% return in the investment for the whole Spring

Onion production in Hydroponics method. It shows that the micro project is

feasible. For every Php100.00 investment, the project can generate 12% net

income

Return of Investment (ROI) of total using rabbit manure

Crop 2
 6,650
ROI= x 100 ROI = 782%
850

Interpretation: There was 782% return in the investment for the whole Lettuce

production in Hydroponics method. It shows that the micro project is feasible. For

every Php100.00 investment, the project can generate 782% net income