INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Agriculture has been the traditional backbone of the Philippines’ economy and

farming is still by far the most common form of employment in the country. The major

agricultural land utilization by area harvested is devoted to rice, corn, coconut, fruits and

vegetables (Amongo, 2011). Among the provinces in CAR, Benguet is known as the

major producer of vegetables. One of the popular vegetable crops produced by the

farmers in Benguet is romaine lettuce.

Romaine (Lactuva sativa), also known as “Cos”, is a lettuce that produces

elongated heads. It is exceptionally crisp, slightly bitter, and is characterized by long,

narrow leaves with thick ribs. The name romaine suggests the lettuce was discovered in

Rome, and the lettuce does well growing in the Mediterranean climate. Romaine lettuce

is being cooked and is being eaten raw, and it is one ingredient of sandwich wraps and

salads. It has high demand due to its health benefits and nutrient richness.

Producing romaine lettuce with a variety of green tower organically will sustain

the good quality of the crop. Organic farming is preferred as it battles pest and weeds in a

non-toxic manner, involves less input costs for cultivation and preserves the ecologic

balance while promoting biological diversity and protection of the environment. Organic

agriculture is a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people.

Mokusaku is one of the few organic produced that can enhance vegetable production.

Mokusaku, also known as 'wood vinegar', is a liquid produced from a composting

mixture of wood, coconut shell, bamboo, grass, and other plants. It can be used as

pesticide, insecticide, or soil conditioner.

Application of organic fertilizer improves the physical, chemical and biological

properties of the soil with direct impact on moisture retention, root growth, nutrient

conservation, etc. The cost of inorganic fertilizers can be reduced by using traditional

application of organic manures such silkworm litter as manure. Silkworm waste compost

contains approximately 2.00-2.24% N, 0.93-1.00% P, and 1.5-1.8% K besides Zn, Fe, Mn

and Cu as micronutrients. Rajendran (2012) stated that application of silkworm manure is

better compared to biogas slurry fertilizer.

As Susan Patterson stated, addition of molasses to organic liquid fertilizers,

compost tea, alfalfa meal tea and kelp provides food for the healthy microbes in the soil.

The greater amount of microbial activity in the soil, the healthier plants will be. She also

add that adding molasses at a rate of 1 to 3 tablespoons to 1 gallon of organic liquid

fertilizer gives the fertilizer a tremendous boost. The addition of molasses to these

fertilizers helps to balance out the carbon nitrogen ratio and provide a good balance of

vital nutrients to plants and the soil.

With the application of silkworm manure, increases plant nutrient and Vitamin C

contents, decrease the plant nitrate content, improve the soil pH value, and increase the

soil available nutrients, organic matter contents and soil enzymes activities (Chen et al.,

2011).

Today, several countries are producing silk on a commercial scale, mostly in Asia

that is also the traditional source of the world. In the Philippines, the Department of

Science and Technology (DOST) established silkworm production projects in the region.
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Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) is in line with this project

wherein they are the source of silkworms being grown by the farmers in CAR to produce

cocoons for making silk.

With the growing production of silkworms and cocoons in the region can made

the production of organic fertilizers through silkworm manure possible. According to the

PhiFIDA in La Trinidad, Benguet, a ten thousand silkworms can produce 250 kg of

manure in just one to two months until the silkworms form cocoons. But because it is not

known as fertilizer, this manure are just being thrown. So a research were conducted to

address this problem and the manure capability as organic fertilizer.

According to Bhardwaj, et al. (2012), drip irrigation delivers water directly to

plants through small plastic tubes. International Development Enterprises (IDE) states

that through drip irrigation, water losses due to run-off and deep percolation are

minimized and water savings of 50-80% are achieved when compared to most traditional

surface irrigation methods. In addition, Sela, G. stated that drip irrigation allows for

flexibility in the application of fertilizers, since fertilizers can be easily applied through

the irrigation water (fertigation). This way nutrients are delivered with the irrigation

water, directly to the active root zone of the plants.

Statement of the Problem

Farmers practice in Benguet is chemical-based farming. Farmers are not

considering the negative effect of the chemicals to the soil, to the environment and to

human health. Because of continues and inappropriate application of chemical fertilizers,

the soil fertility decline and the soil diseases were born which causes the decrease in crop

yield.

Inorganic fertilizer cost in the province of Benguet is ranging from Php. 1,100 to

Php. 1,500. Application of nitrogenous fertilizers for a longer period of time also lead to

the increase of salts in the soil, change pH of the soil solution as well as soil biogeny of

those microbes that are important for soil fertility (Tilman et al. 1998). The intensive use

of chemicals in the conventional agricultural production is one of the factors that affect

the reduction in biodiversity, nitrogen leaching, soils and water contaminations (Kennedy

et al. 2004). As such, fertilization is present day crop production though imminent but

identified as dangerous from the aspect of pollution of the environment (Kennedy et al.

2004).

Silkworm manures are just thrown by the farmers yet it is beneficial to the soil

fertility. Fertigation is also a practice of farmers in Benguet but usually using synthetic

fertilizers. So to maintain the soil fertility, silkworm manure tea will be used to fertigate

crop like romaine. Sivanappan (2002) added that fertigation systems add the correct

amount of fertilizer according to the plants’ nutrient deficiencies.

Objectives of the Study

The general objective of the study is to determine the effects of different

concentrations of the silkworm manure tea on the growth and yield of drip-fertigated

romaine lettuce.

It specifically aims:
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1. To evaluate the effect of different concentration of silkworm manure tea on the

growth of romaine lettuce based on weekly plant height, and weekly leaf

proliferation.

2. To evaluate the effect of different concentration of silkworm manure tea on the

yield of romaine lettuce based on plant height, harvested weight, and marketable

yield.

3. To perform a simple cost analysis of the drip fertigation system.

Significance of the Study

The importance of the study is to introduce the silkworm manure to use to

fertigate plants, and will strengthen more the culture of organic farming and to lead

farmers to lessen the application of synthetic fertilizers. Silkworm manure could be used

as a nitrogen source in replacing chemical fertilizers for vegetable crop production

(Madan, 1989).

Using organic fertilizer could improve soil fertility, reduction in dependency or

utilization of inorganic fertilizer and possible additional income for vegetable growers.

Also, utilization of silkworm manure could increase the income of silkworm growers.

Fertigation method helps in achieving saving in irrigation water, increased water-

use efficiency, higher quality products, increased crop yields and higher fertilizer-use

efficiency (Qureshi et al., 2001).

Scope and Limitation of the Study

This study was limited only on the growth and yield of drip-fertigated romaine

lettuce as affected by different concentration of silkworm manure tea.

Time and Place of the Study

This study was conducted at Barangay Shilan, La Trinidad, Benguet from

February 2019 to April 2019.