NICOLAS L.

GALVEZ MEMORIAL INTEGRATED

NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
San Antonio Bay, Laguna

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Comparison Between Kitchen Leftovers and Animal Manure as Source of

Nutrients for African Night Crawler Earthworms (Eudrilus eugeniae) and its Effect
in Soil Quality and Growth of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) Plant

Christielyn Jhernella R. Gozo

Grade 12 – Gregorio Y. Zara (STEM)

October 28, 2021

A research paper submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements in

Practical Research under Mr. Arvin C. Diamante, S.Y. 2021-2022.
 NICOLAS L. GALVEZ MEMORIAL INTEGRATED
NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
San Antonio Bay, Laguna

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Introduction

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a herbaceous plant from the family

Solanaceae that grow with edible fruit. It is a good source of vitamin A, B, C, K,
potassium, fiber, antioxidant, beta-carotene and lycopene which can reduce risk
of cancer and heart disease. It can grow with short or long spreading stems
covered with tiny hairs. It has yellow flowers where a cyme can develop and usually
a round fleshy and smooth-skinned fruit. It can be red, pink, purple, brown, orange,
or yellow in color. It can grow up to 2.3ft to 6ft and can be harvested after growing
in one season. Tomatoes grow best in cooler climate but very adaptable and can
still survive in summer. Growing tomato plant needs a deep, loamy, nutritious and
good quality soil.

Organic farming practices are built on the foundation of soil health. Plants
require essential nutrients from fertile soil, which also supports a diversified and
active biotic community that aids in the soil's resistance to environmental
degradation. When it comes to controlling soil productivity, organic farmers face
many obstacles or difficulties. The current nutrient management requirements for
organic farmers are rather broad in scope. Organic farmers make selections
regarding the number and types of soil amendments to apply based on intuition
and observation, vendor advice, conventional soil tests, and their own experience.
As a result, there is tremendous variability in both the quantities of nutrients applied
and the resulting soil fertility status on organically managed farms. Crop rotations,
animal and green manures, and cover crops are all used by organic farmers to
"build the soil" or improve its natural fertility.

However, soil compaction so often causes problems after construction. It

has been the problem in the Philippines. The problem is aggravated by heavy
rainfall, improper land use and management, excessive and improper logging,
 NICOLAS L. GALVEZ MEMORIAL INTEGRATED
NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
San Antonio Bay, Laguna

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

shifting cultivation and road construction. Due to this, a decline in crop-yield

productions happen in the country.

Due to the existing problem about soil degradation, the use of organic waste
materials as a soil conditioner are introduced. It is said that the suitable and
efficient way to repair polluted soils is by composting and vermiculture. Compost
is made from agro-industrial wastes such garden grasses, vegetable wastes, tree
leaves, crop straws, and animal manures, which are humified and microbiologically
processed. On the other hand, the use of Earthworms or vermicompost that has
also been introduced to the farmers and gardeners with problems in terms of soil
maintenance and quality is worm castings or digested excretions that are widely
utilized as a soil amendment by gardeners and landscapers. These worm castings
are made from organic items that the worms eat. Microorganisms that live on
organic matter and in soil material provide them with food. Earthworms create
tubular pathways or burrows as they crawl through the dirt eating. Burrows like
these can last a long period in the soil. Earthworm burrows enhance soil porosity,
allowing more air and water to penetrate the soil. Porosity improves root
development while lowering bulk density. Because it contains nitrogen, phosphate,
potassium, and magnesium, earthworm feces or castings improve soil fertility.
Microorganisms thrive in the intestines of earthworms, and their abundance
increases as organic matter is digested. Plant growth is aided by the cycling of
nutrients from organic materials and the proliferation of microbes. Earthworm
castings, as well as earthworm-released binding agents, improve soil structure and
aggregate stability.

Kitchen leftovers and animal manure are good source of nutrients and food
for earthworms. Kitchen leftovers are organic wastes such as fruit and vegetables
leftovers, meat, fish, egg shells, peelings and more. It can be a good food for
earthworms since it is rich in nutrients and carbon which can be added to the
 NICOLAS L. GALVEZ MEMORIAL INTEGRATED
NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
San Antonio Bay, Laguna

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

richness of nutrients of worm casts. While animal manure is also an excellent food
material for earthworms but manure itself is not very rich in nutrients, slowly
absorbed by plants, and provides a lot of humus in soil.

Statement of the Problem

1. What is the height of the tomato plant?

2. What is the length of the leaves of the tomato plant?
3. Is there any significant difference in the stem height of tomato plant that
grows separately on soil with kitchen waste and soil with animal manure?
4. Is there any significant difference on the length of the leaves of tomato plant
that grows separately on soil with kitchen waste and soil with animal
manure?
5. Is there any significant difference in terms of quality and fertility between
soil with earthworms that feed on kitchen wastes and soil with earthworms
that feed on animal manure?

Hypotheses

Ho - There is no significant difference in the stem height of tomato plant that grows
separately on soil with kitchen waste and soil with animal manure.

Ha - There is a significant difference in the stem height of tomato plant that grows
separately on soil with kitchen waste and soil with animal manure.

Ho - There is no significant difference in the length of the leaves of tomato plant

that grows separately on soil with kitchen waste and soil with animal manure.

Ha - There is a significant difference on the length of the leaves of tomato plant that
grows separately on soil with kitchen waste and soil with animal manure
 NICOLAS L. GALVEZ MEMORIAL INTEGRATED
NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
San Antonio Bay, Laguna

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

Ho - There is no significant difference in terms of quality and fertility between soil

with earthworms that feed on kitchen wastes and soil with earthworms that feed
on animal manure.

Ha - There is a significant difference in terms of quality and fertility between soil

with earthworms that feed on kitchen wastes and soil with earthworms that feed
on animal manure.

Significance of the Study

This study will be conducted to compare kitchen leftovers and animal

manure as source of nutrients for earthworms (Lumbricus terrestis) and its effect
in soil quality and growth of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) Plant. This study will
give interest to the following:

TO THE STUDENTS. This study will be a great help to the students who
are interested in vermiculture as well as vermicompost. The result of the study will
help them to gain a better understanding about the main focus of this research.

TO THE AGRICULTURISTS. This study will be very beneficial to the

farmers, agriculturists, and gardeners that are interested in using earthworms for
crop production and for those who are experiencing soil degradation. It will also
help them to decide between kitchen leftovers and animal manure as source of
nutrients for earthworms that will help the growth of potato plant. Furthermore,
assessment of nutrient dynamics and different food type of earthworm burrows and
the influence of in-soil casts on plant growth would be extremely beneficial to the
agriculturists in gaining a better understanding of the ecological impact of in-soil
casts.
 NICOLAS L. GALVEZ MEMORIAL INTEGRATED
NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
San Antonio Bay, Laguna

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

TO THE RESEARCHER. The result of the study will help the researchers
to satisfy their curiosity in terms of vermiculture and vermicompost. It will help the
researcher to gain experience, skills, and knowledge in the field of agriculture.

TO THE FUTURE RESEARCHERS. This research could be useful in the

future. Furthermore, future researchers can conduct additional experiments
related to this study and make this paper as their basis.

Materials and Methods

1. Animal manure, kitchen leftovers, earthworms, tomato seeds, degraded soil,

and plant pot will be gathered. Two experiments will be conducted, first is the
process of turning degraded soil into fertile and loamy soil. Then, the second will
be the application process wherein tomato seeds will be used. Three pots will be
needed wherein same type of tomato seeds will be planted. The first set will be
soil with earthworms feed on animal manure. Set B will be soil with earthworms
feed on kitchen wastes then, Set C will be regular loam soil without earthworms.

2. The significant difference in stem length and soil fertility will be determined after
the application process through observing and comparing the three setups.
 NICOLAS L. GALVEZ MEMORIAL INTEGRATED
NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
San Antonio Bay, Laguna

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

References:

Story, E. N., Kopec, R. E., Schwartz, S. J., & Harris, G. K. (2010). An update on
the health effects of tomato lycopene. Annual review of food science and
technology, 1, 189–210. [Link]

Doran, J.W.; Zeiss, M.R. Soil health and sustainability: Managing the biotic
component of soil quality. Appl. Soil Ecol. 2000, 15, 3–11.

Pathma, J., & Sakthivel, N. (2012). Microbial diversity of vermicompost bacteria

that exhibit useful agricultural traits and waste management potential.
SpringerPlus, 1,26. [Link]