Propagating Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) using Indigenous Microorganism in Automatic Watering Container without using Electricity

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

A hydroponic system is a type of gardening method in which the plants grow in chemical rich liquid media. Due to the expensiveness of materials and equipment for the components of the original hydroponics system, the researchers decided to innovate the system. The project turns into an alternative version that results in an Automatic Watering Container System without using electricity. The researchers decided to use the remodeled system with Indigenous Microorganism (IMO) as fertigation to produce healthy organic plants as a livelihood gardening project to propagate tomatoes. The Grow Bed Culture is the researchers' version of the system where the substrate or media was replaced by coconut husk, rice hull and sawdust to make gardening.

METHODS

For this research, observation using the experimental set-up was used. The materials used by the researchers in propagating tomatoes are coconut husk, sawdust, and recyclable polyethylene terephthalate bottles that lead to the construction of the Automatic Watering Container System without using electricity.

RESULTS

The researchers chose Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) as the specimen under investigation. The materials used in constructing Automatic Watering Container System were coconut husk, sawdust, and recyclable polyethylene terephthalate bottles, and silicon tube. Within five weeks of observation, the tomatoes with IMO continuously increased its heights and number of leaves with an average of 2 to 3 leaves per week and its height with an average of 8.25 cm. Tomatoes planted without IMO resulted in an average number of 1 to 2 leaves per week and height with an average of 7.6 cm. Moreover, this system was found to conserve space efficiently and labor because it did not require soil in raising plants. Automatic Watering Container System is a recirculating method where it waters the plant by itself for about 8 hours without the use of electricity because of the pressure accumulated inside the water reservoir that pushes the liquid up to the system which lessens the cost of production.

DISCUSSIONS

Based on the data gathered by the researchers, tomatoes with indigenous microorganism were able to survive in Grow Bed Culture Hydroponics System using Automatic Watering Container Set-Up specifically in Laiya National High School. This study is relevant and timely to help the social problem about the land area because of industrialization. By this study, the community will be able to provide food for all and use the available land space effectively.