CHAPTER I

PROBLEM AND THE RELATED LITERATURE

Introduction

A growing problem today that the world is facing is the scarcity of food due to the

fact that some agricultural land turned into industrial areas. Through this, the used of

hydroponics is one of the prospect solution for the said problem. According to the

journal entitled What is hydroponics? (2003), hydroponics is the science of growing

plants without the use of soil. It needed some materials such as sand, gravel or stone

soaked in a nutrient- rich solution. Aside from nutrients, it requires balanced distribution

of air, sunlight and pH level of water that the plants used for production (Harris, 1989).

Anyone can grow several earth- bounded plants via hydroponics and one of this is the

Pechay (Brassica chinensis linn) (hydroponics notebook, 2007).

In Philippines, Pechay (Brassica chinensis Linn) is very popular and found in

some dishes in the country. It is a tender and juicy type of vegetable. Its english name is

celery cabbage, a plant related to the mustard and cabbage family (Madulid,2006.

P.46). Its need sufficient irrigation. It is the best to grown in the area were rainfall is well

distributed throughout the year. It can grow in the both dry and rainy season but it is

the best during the cool months of the year especially September to October. The soil

around of it must be cultivated and always moist in order to make them grow faster

(Westerfield n.d). The farmers with this crop can harvest many times do out a year

because it is a short. Season crop and it can be grown in the areas of the Philippines.

Wether in a small scale or extensively for commercial purpose (Aviner n.d).

are in the upland always decide to earn their income for leaving through vegetable

gardening. According Tagotog Mosib and Corpuz Onofre (2015), the marginal upland

farmers in some selected barangay's of Arakan, Cotabato in Southern Philippines like

Gambodis, Katipunan, San miguel, and Napalico grown high valued crops particularly

leafy vegetables like petchay.The vegetable crop were even destributed and adopted

through the neighbouring province such as; Bukidnon ,Cagayan ,Butuan , and even to

Visayas provinces as said by the vegetable farmers in Bukidnon -Davao boundary

(Buda) area . Pechay is a swallow rooted plant that grows in a loosely high Fertile, well-

drained soil and cool area which those said provinces have a lot of these

characteristics.

Lastly, this study aims to test the efficiency of hydroponics method, if it is feasible

as an alternative way of growing plants especially on pechay.

Review of Related Literature

ABOUT PLANTS

Plants are living organisms belongs to kingdom plantae and these includes herbs, trees,

moss, green algae and etc. Plants can make their own food that's why they are called

autotrophs. They made their own food with the use of sunlight a process called

photosynthesis (Engr & Ross,2004). According to Compbell (2000). In order for plants to

make their own food, not only sunlight but also the presence of nutrients and this is why

most plants are grown in soil. In a large amount of soil, it needs a large amount of

elements called macronutrients. It includes Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, carbon,

These are primarily magnesium, Molybdenum and Iron. These is important for the

metabolic activities of a plant and serves as coenzymes.

As early as 1800, chemists and plant biologists had analyzed plants and demonstrated

that certain chemical elements were absorbed from the environment. It was established

in the mid-1880s that at least ten of these chemicals – carbon, hydrogen, oxygen,

potassium, calcium, magnesium, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur and iron - are necessary

for plant growth and the absence of any may lead to characteristic abnormalities and

growth deficiencies in the plants. During the 1900s, zinc, copper, chlorine, boron and

molybdenum were added to the list of essential nutrients for plant growth (Biology of

Plants, 1986).

ABOUT PECHAY (Brasicca Chinensis Linn)

The examples of the plants that can be grown in a Hydroponics medium are

Lettuce, Pechay, Cabbage, Mustard, some herb and some flowering plants. Farmer can

plant and harvest several time annually because those said plants requires only small

amount of space and a short period of time (Hydroponics Notebook, 2007). In the

Philippines, some farmers prefer to grow Pechay because according to Keny (1999),

Pechay or brassica rapa is a green, leafy and short rooted crop. It grows in a cool area

but still can survive in a higher temperature with an enough moisture. The Pechay

Research Technology (2005) stated that this plant is mature for about only eight to sixth

weeks and ready for harvest. In addition, the condor seeds production (2007) said that
the maturity rate for this plant is 45 to 60 days with 8 to 12 crip white stalks and a large

glossy green leaves.

HISTORY OF HYDROPONICS

This method is inspired with the hanging gardens of Babylon and the floating gardens of

the Aztecs (World History Micropedea,1999). Hydroponics is the science growing plant

without soil. The use of sand, gravel or stone which is continuously soaked in a

nutrients-rich solution is a material in growing plants. It also requires some factors like

temperature, light exposure, air exposure and pH levels that must be kept at a balance

level (What is Hydroponics?, 2003)

ABOUT HYDROPONICS

According to Harns (1989), to ensure the proper growth of the plant, the nutrient

solution used for Hydroponic medium must contain macronutrients and trace elements

same as the soil medium. In this method, plants are bathed to a solution containing the

necessary nutrients for plant growth such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

Generally, the growing medium for this method are containers with holes as the bottom

and pebbles to hold the roots in place and the plant to make it stand. Based on the time

scheduled, the container will fill with a nutrient solution, just to submerge the roots and it

will drain after some time by the use of the hole in bottom of the container (Indoor

Gardening Guide, 2008).

The utilization of this method allows the grower to have a year-round supply of different

kinds of plants which also allows several harvests during the year, depending on the

growth cycle of the crop. A common concern of consumers is the amount of chemicals
their food contains; hydroponically-grown plants are more pest-resistant so there is no

longer a need to use pesticides. It can be practiced anywhere, including places where

ordinary gardening seems impossible. Countries with non-arable land, such as Israel,

use hydroponics to grow food. An example of the application of hydroponics was during

the World War II when this method was used to grow food for the soldiers stationed in

the Pacific Islands. In some places like the Caribbean, in order to support the local

supply of fruits and vegetables, especially during the tourist season, people there grow

food hydroponically. Some countries also use hydroponics to grow flowers and

vegetables for the whole year to be sold in the urban markets (Resh, 1987).

Statement of the problem

Unfortunately, not all areas are suitable for planting Due to the fact the land is not

fertile and converted into industrial sites because of modernization. According to the

Encarta (2008), because of the growing population, the amount of available food is not

balance to the available number of people because of the said Problem. In addition,

Guevarra (2003) said that because of modernization, considering that the urban areas

are cemented and covered with buildings, people who wants to plant their own

vegetable are unable to do so.

In this study, the researchers wanted to know if hydroponics is an effective alternative

way of planting than traditional method (soil).

Sub problems:

a. What are the growth of pechay in hydroponics compared in soil method? Is there any

significant difference on their heights?

c. Is there any significant difference on the number of leaves of the plants grown

hydroponically or in soil medium upon the day of harvest?

Significance of the study

The result of this study could suggest a more sufficient way of agriculture with

regards to growth characteristics and cost effectiveness. Most helpful to the following;

Administration of the institution; This would suggest a new technique for the

benefits of their agricultural project and can make a new lesson for educational

purposes.

Teachers; It serves as their guide for their lessons especially those teachers

that was been assigned to those Agricultural Institution.

Students; It can help then for them for their studies and to inculcate in their

minds and heart the importance of Agriculture.

Researchers; It can serve as their guide for the other study that is connected

to this one. Source of idea and learnings to improve the system of agriculture in the

Philippines.

Scope and Limitation of the study

The subject of the study is pechay (Brassisca Chinensis Linn). Although there

are many kinds of plants that can be used in the experiment but, this plant was used

because it can grow fast and will meet the deadline for the experiment. The study
focused mainly on the height, number of leaves and leaf sizes of the plant after the six-

week observation period. Only nine seedlings of pechay were used for hydroponic

medium and another nine for the soil. It was divided into three set-ups and each set ups

were containing three seedlings. First for the observation of the height of the plant,

second for the number of leaves and the last was for the sizes of the leaves. A limitation

for the researchers was the purchased of the fertilizer for the plant.

Definition of Terms

Hydroponics - The cultivation of plants by placing the roots in liquid nutrients

solutions rather than in soil.

Soil Medium - The use of ground or soil as a growing medium for crops.

Pechay (Brassica Rapa)- A tender and juicy type of vegetable. A plant

related to the mustard and cabbage family.

Height - A measurement of how tall an object a person is. The distance from

bottom to the top.

Leaf Size- the measurement of the largest leaf of each sample which were

measured along the midrib – from the tip of the leaf until the petiole.

Number of leaves- the count of leaves upon the time of harvest.

Growth - A stage in the process of growing. The progressive development of

an individual or living things.

need to live and grow.

Theoretical and conceptual framework

GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS OF
EFFECTS OF HYDROPONICS
PECHAY:

a. HEIGHT
b. NUMBER OF LEAVES
c. SIZE OF THE LEAVES

According to the journal entitled What is hydroponics?

METHODOLOGY

Research Design

The researcher's use the experimental design of quantitative research. The

data information was gathered during the month of November up to the first week of

December 2018. They made use of Pechay (Brassica Chinensis Linn). Seed of the said

plant were allowed to germinate and 18 seedlings where chosen for the study. Nine of it

was planted in soil medium and the other nine was planted in hydroponics with a

nutrients solution. The growth of the seedlings was recorded weekly. The researchers

whole heartedly study this kind of case because they wanted to determine a new and

sufficient technique of planting crops.

Research Instrument

The research instrument for this study is experiment which is a type of data collection

instrument takes place in pure and applied science research. This made used of tally

sheets.
Research Locale

The researcher's study took place at Lower Tamugan National High School.

Located at Lower Tamugan, Marilog District, Davao City. This is a public institution that

gives quality education. There are approximately 1,000 students who enrolled 30 plus

teachers and staff for the school year 2018-2019. This institution is very competitive and

produces quality students that are actively engage with academic and extracurricular

activities.

Data Gathering

During the period of observation, the height of each plant were taken and

recorded weekly by the use of a ruler and tally sheets.

When the plants were harvested, the number of leaves who grown hydroponically

and in traditional one were counted separately. The sizes of the leaves were also

measured using a ruler.

Data Analysis

It took a month to collect the data through above mentioned tools. Data was

collected through some sources and analyzed quantitatively. The researchers made use

of Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), specifically the Two- way Anova which compares the

mean differences between groups that have been split on two independent variables.

The primary purpose of a two- way ANOVA is to understand if there is an interaction

between the two independent variables on the dependent variable.

A Research Presented

To the Faculty of the High School Teacher Education

Lower Tamugan National High School Davao City

Daren Jay A. Okay

Rolando A. Alvarez

February 2019