Growth Performance of Pechay (Brassica

rapa L. ) with Application of Different

Organic Fertilizers Tea

Group 4 Members :

Love Lyn B. Aborita

Shiela Mae Ambi

Aljean Kaye Corpin

Franz Abegail Escalante

Cris Ann Noquera

BSA-2

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 CHAPTER I

Introduction

Brassica rapa L. Commonly called as Pechay and is popularly known as vegetable in

Manila, Philippines. Pechay is a leafy, shallow-rooted, cool-season crop but can stand higher

tempera-tures given it is exposed to enough moisture(Nacua, Macer, & Pascual, 2019). It is

an erect, biennial herb, cultivated as an annual about 15-30cm tall in vegetative stage. The

leaves are ovate, spirally and widely spread arranged. The petioles are enlarged and

growing vertically forming a sub cylindrical bundle. The inflorescence is a raceme with pale

yellow flowers. Plant body consist of leaves, petiole, stem and roots. It is known as one of

the oldest green vegetables in Asia. Therefore, Pechay plays an important role in the

Philippine economy as well as in the nutrition of the Filipino people. Pechay is known for its

nutritional value. In a serving of Pechay it contains calcium for strong bones, phosphorus for

bone formation, digestion, excretion, and hormonal balance, potassium for muscle control,

regulating blood pressure and preventing hypertension, as well as vitamin A for promoting

growth, reproduction, and improvising vision and provides fiber for good digestion. It keeps

your digestive system healthy, promotes healthy blood sugar and cholesterol and helps keep

the blood pressure on an even keel(Janet, 2018).

Organi fertilizers has become a popular way to grow crop better without harming

nature as much as chemical fertilizers do. According to Wang, et. al(2018), to lessen the

negative environmental impact of chemical fertilizers with more organic fertilizers for farmers

is a good choice. Additionally, organic materials and organic fertilizers improve the soil

texture allowing it to hold water longer, and increase the bacterial and fungal activity in the

soil. This means that they not only assist the crops but they also help the soil. On contrast,

synthetic fertilizers deplete the soil of its nutrients, making it unproductive(Kellogg Garden

Organics, 2017). The intensive use of inorganic fertilizer in agriculture causes numerous

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problems, such as irreversible health and environmental pollution. However, organic farming

offers a potential solution because it has the capacity to reduce or even eliminate the

harmful impacts of inorganic fertilizer on the environment and human health. By relying on

organic sources, this farming type is one of the sustainable agricultural strategies to produce

safe, healthy, and cost-effective food, including restoring soil fertility and mitigating climate

(Santoso et.al,2023).

In this study the Researchers will be focusing on using different fertilizer tea. It

includes chicken manure tea, vermitea, and kakawate tea, one of the organic farming idea

which is making a fertilizer teas from natural stuff like manure, worm casting, or plant

leftovers.

OBJECTIVES :

To evaluate the growth performance of pechay (Brassica rapa L.) with the application of the

different types of organic fertilizer.

 Chicken manure tea

 Kakawate leaves tea

 Vermitea

Specific :

1. To determine the growth performance of pechay.

2. To determine which treatment of organic fertilizer tea give the highest yield of

pechay.

Hypothesis :

H1: There is an increase number of leaves, plant height, and width of leaves.

H2: Vermitea gives the best highest yield of pechay.

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 CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

The use of organic fertilizers has advantage of being cheap, improving soil structure,

texture and aeration increasing the soils water retention abilities and stimulating healthy root

development. Organic fertilizer has many sources such as minerals, animal source, sewage

sludge and plant. Vegetables, animals and residue materials had a contribution to improve

soil organic matter content in soil. Therefore it is recommended that, using integrated

nutrient management is a continuous improvement of soil productivity on longer term basis

through appropriate use of organic fertilizers (i.e. animal manure, plants residue and sewage

sludge) and their scientific management for increments of optimum growth, yield and quality

of different crops.

Compost teas are liquid versions of the solid compost material. They contain soluble

plant nutrients and a complex community of beneficial microorganisms. While there are an

infinite number of ways to prepare compost teas, basically all teas begin by mixing compost

in water in order to extract plant nutrients and microorganisms(Carr, 2020). Additionally,

Compost teas are distinguished from compost extracts both in method of production and in

the way they are used. Compost teas are actively brewed with microbial food and catalyst

sources added to the solution, and a sump pump bubbles and aerates the solution supplying

plenty of much-needed oxygen. The aim of the brewing process is to extract beneficial

microbes from the compost itself(Calrecycle,2023).

According to Tilley(2022), Using manure tea on crops is a popular practice in many

home gardens. Manure tea, which is similar in nature to compost tea, enriches the soil and

adds much needed nutrients for healthy plant growth. The nutrients found in manure tea

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make it an ideal fertilizer for garden plants. The nutrients from manure dissolve easily in

water where it can be added to a sprayer or watering can. Manure-based extracts are a

soluble nutrient source made from raw, no disinfected animal manure soaked in water. For

all practical purposes, manure tea is prepared in the same way as the compost extracts

described above. However, the manure is placed in a burlap sack and suspended in a barrel

of water for 7 to 14 days. The primary benefit of the manure tea will be a supply of soluble

nutrients which can be used as a liquid fertilizer.

In her study Alcate(2017) stated that vermitea is a lateral product of vermicomposting

process which contains nitrogen, phosphorous and many micronutrients, hormones; etc.

Also it contains earthworm enzyme and promote plant growth and yield and increase

resistance of plant to disease and pests. It also contains dissolved nutrient, some organic

acids and earthworm mucus. vermitea is a new technology in agriculture which is practiced

in the country. It is done on a domestic, farm or industrial scale in waste-processing facilities

and could be sited near residential areas, minimizing waste and fertilizer transportation

costs. It is believed that soluble mineral nutrients, organic acids and water soluble plant

growth regulators extracted in the tea have positive effects on initial root development and

plant growth with both foliar and soil application. Living microorganisms present in compost

tea may also induce disease resistance as well as stimulate nutrient uptake and plant

growth. Alcate(2017) concluded that Application of optimum level of dilution (1%) of vermitea

(1L vermitea:100L water) could be used as an alternative growth enhancers of sweet corn

considering that it significantly enhances the vegetative growth of the plants in terms of plant

height, number of leaves and diameter of stalk.

Similarly, vermi tea contain essential mineral nutrients, such as N, K and P at

increasing concentrations of vermi tea. Also, the test plant showed a positive response

to vermi tea by increasing the growth parameters of S. oleracea with respect to leaf

numbers, leaf area and height. Following these results, it is highly likely that vermi tea can

improve the growth of S. oleracea and possibly similar herbaceous plant species.

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Therefore, this study suggests the commercial production of vermi tea as an effective

organic fertilizer(Musa et al.)

Kakawate leaves tea, a multi-purpose tree is popularly known to many farmers

because of its high mineral composition that provides nutrients to crops, and chemical

compounds that help control the insects and decrease population of soil-borne

pathogens(Villegas-Pangga, 2010).

According to the World Agroforestry Centre (2020), Madre de Cacao increases soil

organic matter, which focuses on soil function and quality. In terms of recycling of soil

nutrients, Kakawate produces much litter that is enough for soil. It also adds tolerance to the

substantial dehydration of a plant.

Kakawate or Madre de Cacao is a nitrogen-fixing tree that has a potential of restoring

and maintaining soil fertility. It has also phosphorus and potassium that is also an ideal for

growth enhancer (Diouf 2008).