A Comparative Study
A Comparative Study on The Effects of DriedCarica papaya (Papaya) Leaves as Mulch for Solanum lycopersicum (Tomato) ABSTRACT Mulching in agricultural provides a safe yet equally profitable method of enriching and fertilizing the soil planted with crops. Most often-used mulches are of organic composition, such as dry leaves and barks. These organic mulches pose no or little damage to the soil and crops.
This study deals with the effectiveness of dried papaya leaves as organic mulch for tomato.This study further aims to evaluate the results and compare it to the synthetic fertilizers. Picking the leaves of the papaya and some tomatoes did the preparation of the product. The main focus of the study is to produce organic mulch from natural materials in our country. It was concluded that papaya mulch significantly promoted height increase of tomato plants and inhibited the growth of weeds.
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
In our modern civilization, farmers are using chemical products such as fertilizers and pesticides to make our agriculture more productive.Fertilizers are chemical compounds applied to the soil to promote plant growth. Herbicides and pesticides are chemicals that are sprayed to the weeds and crops to prevent the growth of weeds and occurrence of pests. However, these products are very expensive, causing disease to an individual, may bring unnecessary things that may destroy the environment. To give solutions to these problems, researchers are trying to find out some alternative ways which are safe to an individual’s health, cheap and effective in promoting plant growth without affecting the environment.
Mulching is one way to ease these problems. It is a method in which a layer of material is placed on the soil surface around the plant. In agriculture, it has proven to enrich the soil, help to provide better growing crops, prevent the growth of weeds and minimize pest infestation.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Some people who have used dried papaya leaves as organic mulch for tomato plants state that they have found it to be very useful. They say that it increases the height of their tomato plants as well as producing high quality fruit.
Apparently this is due to papaya plants and tomato plants having the same pH soil preferences.
HYPOTHESIS
If dried Carica Papaya (papaya) leaves are used as organic mulch for Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) plants, then tomato plants will grow faster and healthier as compared to the use of synthetic fertilizers.
SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY
In the world today, most people are having a very hard time dealing with everyday life due to the global economic crisis. People have been very much affected with all of these problems thus evoking us to become more thrifty and resourceful people.Mulching, one of the simplest and most beneficial practices used in the garden, is done to enrich and fertilize the soil.
Mulch is simply a protective layer of either organic or inorganic material that is spread on top of the soil. The mulch provides the soil with more nutrients and it also increases soil fertility. Dried papaya leaves is one of the most common plants in the Philippines with its leaves falling as the tree grows, as organic mulch would be more beneficial to tomato plants as compared to the use of synthetic fertilizers.For unlike synthetic fertilizers and herbicides, these organic mulches pose no or little damage to the soil and crops furthermore providing good rooting conditions and a supply of micronutrients. These organic mulches may enhance the growth of their crops, and therefore the farmers can earn more money.
This research, quite possible could help the whole country by means of raising the economy if a scientific breakthrough is made. Through mulching, farmers could increase the condition of the soil and make plants healthier, papaya leaves as mulch, in general, may be able to be used not only on tomato plants but also other plants as well.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
- Dried papaya leaves –used as organic mulch for tomato plants as they provide all the nutrients required by the plant
- Organic Mulch – can be made from any kind of plant or animal matter and papaya leaves are perfect for this.
INPUT: Tomato Plants Dried Papaya Leaves Clay Pot Garden Soil Synthetic Fertilizers
CONCEPTUAL PARADIGM PROCESS:
1. Pat dry any moisture on the papaya leaves2.
Hang them up and leave to air in a dark and dry place. This could take several weeks depending on the climate.3. Prepare the mulch by burying the papaya leaves in garden soil for 2 weeks4. Prepare clay pots filled halfway with garden soil in each5. Plant one tomato plant in each clay pot6.
Put mulch in the first two pots and synthetic fertilizer in the next two but don’t put any kind of fertilizer in the last two pots.7. Observe the changes for 3 weeks*Don’t forget to water the plants with the same amount of H20OUTPUT: Faster Growing and Healthy Tomato Plants
CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF REALATED LITERATURE
The Papaya tree (Carica Papaya) grows rapidly and seldom lives for more than 5 years. Its straight trunk may reach a height of 30 feet.It has large deeply lobed leaves on long leafstalks. The fruit clusters close to the trunk at the base of leaves, and may be round or oblong and from 3 to 20 inches long.
It is greenish-yellow or orange on the outside when mature and the flesh matches in color the milky fluid of the fruit. The fruit’s taste is vaguely similar to pineapple and peach, although much milder without the tartness. The tree’s leaves and trunk contain an enzyme called papain which is used as a remedy for digestive troubles. This enzyme is also used as a meat tenderizer because it has the ability to break down tough meat fibers.It is also used as a home remedy treatment for jellyfish, bee, yellow jacket (wasps) stings, mosquito bites, and possibly stingray wounds, breaking down the protein toxins in the venom.
Papaya is a good source of nutrients and some phyto-chemicals such as beta-cryptoxanthin and benzyl isothiocyanates. It is believed that these phytochemicals may offer benefits on certain chronic conditions such as cancers. Papayas are also rich sources of vitamin A and C. It is alsolow in calories, fat free, cholesterol free, and a good source of potassium, folate, and fiber.On the other hand, tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) contain compounds that have been proven to help prevent cancer, heart disease cataracts and many others.
Tomatoes contain large amounts of vitamin C, providing 40 percent of the daily value (DV). They also contain 15 percent DV of vitamin A, 8 percent DV of potassium, and 7 percent of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of iron for women and 10 percent RDA for men. Tomatoes contain a red pigment called lycopene. This compound appears to act as an antioxidant, neutralizing free radicals that can damage cells in the body.Also, Israeli researchers have found that lycopene is a powerful inhibitor of lung, breast, and endometrial cancer cells. A new research is beginning to indicate that tomatoes may be used to help prevent lung cancer.
Two powerful compounds found in tomatoes-coumaric acid and chlorogenic acid-are thought to block the effects of nitrosamines (cancer-causing matter). These are compounds that not only are formed naturally in the body, but also are the strongest carcinogen in tobacco smoke. By blocking the effects of these nitrosamines, the chances of lung cancer are reduced significantly.Research has also indicated that the lycopene in Tomatoes can help older people stay active longer. These plants have leaves which are organs borne by the stem.
Leaves range in length from less than one inch (a few millimeters) in duckweeds to more than 50 fee (15m) in some plants. The principal function of leaves is to absorb sunlight for the manufacturing of plant sugars in a process called photosynthesis (food-making process). Leaves also free the plants of excess moisture. In some plants, leaves also trap insects which are used as food.Some plants reproduce themselves by means of leaves.
Leaves develop as a flattened surface in order to present a large area for efficient absorption of light energy. The leaf is supported away from the stem by a stem-like appendage called a petiole. The base of the petiole is attached to the stem at the node. The small angle formed between the petiole and the stem is called the leaf axil. An active or dormant bud or cluster of buds is usually located in the axil.
The blade of a leaf is the expanded, thin structure on either side of the midrib.The blade is usually the largest and most conspicuous part of a leaf. The petiole is the stalk which supports the leaf blade. It varies in length and may be lacking entirely in some cases where the leaf blade is described as sessile or stalkless In growing plants such as the tomato and papaya plants, fertilizers should be used judiciously as too much nitrogen stimulates such vigorous growth that the flowers do not set fruit very well and the crop will be light or late. Though nitrogen is essential for plant nutrition, studies show that too much of it causes imbalances in the plants growth.Researchers discovered that some plants disappeared because it could not handle the extra nitrogen.
Too much nitrogen can “burn” plants and damage the leaves by increasing the mineral salt concentration in the soil. It also discourages flowering and leafy growth. The extra nitrogen not used by the plants may seep into groundwater in the form of nitrate, a common pollutant. Artificial fertilizers should also be avoided because they make plants grow luxuriantly for a time but may cause the plants to turn brown and die.So, the group thinks that organic fertilizer would be better for a plant’s growth.
Mulch is one kind of organic fertilizer. Mulches are used to maintain soil temperatures and to prevent erosion. Organic Mulches also feed the different living organisms in the soil like earthworms and microbes. These organisms need energy but they can’t collect energy directly like green plants so they feed on the energy released from the decaying mulch. As these organisms digest the organic materials, they give off a sticky substance that glues soil particles into a crumb-like structure.
This structure allows water to soak in better thus preventing the soil from eroding. Also, soils that have lost their structure need mulch cover to re-build. Mulches also break the force of rain and other outside forces thereby preventing erosion. Mulch also lowers soil temperature. It insulates and protects the soil from drying up due to the evaporation of water from soil exposed to the hot rays of the sun and winds.
Research says that mulched soils have a cooler temperature than that of non-mulched soils.Once normal soil temperature is achieved and maintained and less evaporation occurs in the soil, the plant will grow evenly and better.
CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Materials needed: Tomato plants Clay pots Papaya leaves Synthetic fertilizer Garden soil Ruler Variables: Controlled: Kind of soil (loam), Clay Pot (size), amount of sunlight, amount of water Manipulated: Fertilizer Responding: Growth and condition of tomato plants Procedure: Pat dry any moisture on the papaya leaves Hang them up and leave to air in a dark and dry place.This could take several weeks depending on the climate. Prepare the mulch by burying the papaya leaves in garden soil for 2 weeks Prepare clay pots filled halfway with garden soil in each Plant one tomato plant in each clay pot Put mulch in the first two pots and synthetic fertilizer in the next two but don’t put any kind of fertilizer in the last two pots.
Observe the changes for 3 weeks *Don’t forget to water the plants with the same amount of H20BIBLIOGRAPHY
- http://www. blurtit. com
- http://www. ehow. co.
uk.
- http://www. howdowegetsolarenergy. info
- http://www. knowledgebank. irri.
org
