COMPARISON OF USING HYDROPONICS AND

SOIL FOR GROWING PECHAY

___________________________________

An Investigatory Project of

Science, Technology and Engineering (STE) Program

of

PRENZA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

___________________________________

ALFONSO MIGUEL MERCADO PAREÑA

ELISHA ANNE GONZALES GALURA

FRANCHESCA LOZANO OCAMPO

GRACE DULCEA PINPIN GUANTERO

REINHART DIZON MAGDAONG

Student-Researchers

MARION RODRIGO DIAZ MARIÑAS III

Research Adviser
 2

ABSTRACT

The Philippines is greatly affected by hunger and poverty. There are still families in need

of help and support against this crisis. Degradation of soil in the country has also become a major

problem in the country, in which soil erosion is the most widespread and studied type of soil

degradation, while very few studies have been done on other types. With the addition of other

recent calamities, there is a need to help in decreasing further problems and make needs more

affordable for families so that they no longer experience starvation and poverty.

Hydroponics is said to have helped in situations like these, where instead of using

traditional soil to grow crops, a nutrient-rich solution is used to grow crops with the same quality

of plants grown in soil. It is said that hydroponically grown plants have increased yields, with

crops grown fast in good quality, which can contribute immediate support to areas where poverty

and famine is present.

This study focuses on the effects and differences of growing pechay (Brassica rapa) in

hydroponics and soil in terms of number of leaves, height, wet weight, dry weight, and percent of

moisture. The hydroponics set-up was built with recycled materials, while the soil set-up was

grown in seedling bags. Results had shown that pechay grown in hydroponics had better effects

than in soil, where the plants had more leaves, taller height, and heavier weight than soil-grown

pechay, because the nutrients in hydroponics was more secured and controlled than in soil.
 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE

Abstract ……………………………………………………………………………. 2

Table of Contents ……………………………………………………………………. 3

RESEARCH PROPER (IMRAD Format)

Introduction

Background of the Study …………………………………………………. 4-5

Research Problems …………………………………………………………. 5-6

Research Hypothesis …………………………………………………. 6-7

Significance of the Study …………………………………………………. 7-8

Scope and Limitations of the Study …………………………………. 8-9

Materials and Methods ………………………………………………………. 10-14

Results ………………………………………………………………………. 14-19

Discussions ………………………………………………………………………. 20-22

Conclusion ………………………………………………………………………. 22-23

Recommendations ………………………………………………………….. 23

REFERENCES ……………………………………………………………………..... 24-26

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INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

The Philippines is a country rich with many products and resources. But as of today, the

country is still being greatly affected by hunger and poverty. An estimated 3.1 million Filipino

families experienced hunger at least once during the fourth quarter of the year 2016 based on a

Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey reported (Gavilan, 2016). The SWS held again a survey,

stating that fewer Filipino families experienced hunger in the first quarter of 2017, with 2.7

million still experiencing famine (Gonzales, 2017). Although already a big decrease, there are

still families that need help and support against this crisis.

Availability of good-quality soil in the Philippines is gradually decreasing as well.

Degradation of soil has become a major ecological and agricultural problem to both urban and

provincial areas in the country. It has been confirmed that soil erosion is the most widespread

and studied type of soil degradation processes in the Philippines but estimates of the rate of soil

loss are greatly variable due to the different methodologies used and the varying environmental

factors. Very few studies have been done on other types of soil degradation such as chemical and

physical soil degradation (Asio, Jahn, Perez, Navarrete & Abit, 2009).

With the addition of calamities, such as Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), which still

after four years is a problem, and the Battle of Marawi City that had people loss homes, there

have been studies, plans, and practices that had been done by many more people and are now on

track to help decrease further problems and make needs for them more affordable until families

shall experience starvation and poverty no longer.

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Hydroponics has been part of the efforts done to help these situations. It is an alternative

farming method where instead of using soil to grow plants, a nutrient water solution and a

growing medium to anchor the plants is used. Hydroponics broadly means growing plants

without soil (Santos & Ocampo, 2009). In Swaziland, a study was made to make hydroponics

more low-cost and as a solution to food shortages in areas under conditions of poverty. Through

this study, people managed to produce large quantities of crops for relatively small areas using

waste materials and without using harmful chemicals, increasing food production and thus

decreasing shortages of food (Mahlalela & Shongwe, 2012).

With the conduct of this study, the researchers must make clear that there is a necessity to

compare whether or not hydroponics will serve as a better alternative or traditional soil-growing

will remain superior. The determination of the effects hydroponics will exhibit in this study may

benefit people in areas of poverty and may finally solve starvation of families as well here in the

Philippines.

Research Problems

This study also focused on the following research problems, namely:

1. What are the effects of the hydroponically grown Pechay in terms of the

following variables?

A. Number of leaves;

B. Plant weight (dry and wet);

C. Plant height; and,

D. Percent of Moisture
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2. What are the effects of the traditionally grown (grown in soil) Pechay in terms

of the following variables?

A. Number of leaves;

B. Plant weight (dry and wet);

C. Plant height; and,

D. Percent of Moisture

3. What are the differences between the Pechay grown in hydroponics and in soil

in terms of the following variables?

A. Number of leaves;

B. Plant weight (dry and wet);

C. Plant height; and,

D. Percent of Moisture

Research Hypothesis

The following are the hypothesis derived from the research problems of this study:

1. There are no significant effects on the hydroponically grown Pechay in terms of

the following variables:

A. Number of leaves;

B. Plant weight (dry and wet);

C. Plant height; and,

D. Percent of Moisture
 7

2. There are no significant effects on the traditionally grown (grown in soil)

Pechay in terms of the following variables:

A. Number of leaves;

B. Plant weight (dry and wet);

C. Plant height; and,

D. Percent of Moisture

3. There are no significant differences between the Pechay grown in hydroponics

and in soil in terms of the following variables.

A. Number of leaves;

B. Plant weight (dry and wet);

C. Plant height; and

D. Percent of Moisture

Significance of the Study

Using hydroponics may help solve hunger and poverty crises in the Philippines by

providing immediate food supply for people to consume. Plants may be grown in urban areas

without getting damaged, with fewer pests and less diseases, and can also be placed indoors or

out. Nutrients can be controlled in hydroponically-planted crops.

Hydroponics may also help lessen the expenses of growing plants because it does not

need the use of soil or fertilizers. Setting up a hydroponics system requires minimum input and

materials used can be found locally or at home. Materials can also be recycled, which may help

reduce much cost. It may also support in problems fast because rapid growth can be observed
 8

and more quality harvest may be collected, in which it may be benefitted by people who were

greatly affected by calamities that are in need of enough food supply.

Aside from the advantage of less pests and diseases in plants, hydroponics can be

considered as environment-friendly due to the use of less water and without any use of

pesticides, which is as applied as necessary in traditional soil planting. The Simple Nutrient

Addition Program® or SNAP® Hydroponics Nutrient Solution used in our study is not harmful

to humans, animals, and plants, were proportioned just enough for the nutritional requirements of

plants, and is not toxic unless misused. SNAP® Hydroponics is also the simplest hydroponics

system so far in the country. Moreover, crops grown hydroponically are deemed safe and

equally nutritious for human consumption.

Lastly, hydroponics may help improve certain areas of business, agriculture and economy

in the Philippines, all of which are greatly focused in the country and in need of further

development. Thus, hydroponics may well serve as a more efficient, safe, and affordable

alternative to grow plants when traditional soil is a scarce resource.

Scope and Limitations

This study mainly focuses on the effects of both hydroponics and traditional soil growing

based on the number of true leaves, height, wet weight, dry weight, and moisture content of the

test organism. Pechay (Brassica rapa) shall only be used as the test organism for both methods

of plant growing for its use as a model organism in other studies. The study is limited only to the

growth of pechay on hydroponics and soil.

This study shall also be observed for a maximum of forty-five (45) days, and some

equipment used are recycled, collected locally or at home, and improvised. General materials
 9

include the nutrient solution for hydroponics (SNAP® Hydroponics Nutrient Solution),

styrofoam boxes and cups collected from local fruit shops, loam soil, the growing media for

hydroponics (coco peat), garbage bags, a weighing scale, and a medicine cup used for vitamins

and cough syrups (improvised). Materials should always be clean and undamaged before use to

avoid risks of leaks and other circumstances.

Twenty-five (25) millilitres of Nutrient Solutions A and B for hydroponics must be

measured with the medicine cup before being poured into the water used for the set-up.

Replenishing of the hydroponics set-up with the nutrient solutions should only be around the

amount of twelve and a half (12.5) millilitres or half-strength of the initial volumes each and

must only be done when necessary. Both solutions should only be mixed into the water

separately.

Each seedling plug and seedling bag of both the hydroponics and soil set-ups respectively

must contain only one pechay plant. Each pechay seedling must have true leaves before being

transplanted to the seedling plugs or seedling bags.

In the collection of data, the weighing scale that shall be utilized to collect the wet weight

and dry weight of each grown pechay plant must be digital. The data for both weights can be

collected from local fruit and vegetable shops where digital weighing scales are given permission

to use.

The location of the hydroponics set-up must receive sunlight but must also be covered

from rain. An umbrella was used only as temporary cover for the hydroponically-grown pechay.
 10

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Establishment of Seedlings

Pechay (Brassica rapa) seedlings were germinated for three (3) weeks on a sowing tray

containing one (1) inch thick growing media (Coco Peat Bricks) and water. Twenty-four (24) of

the seedlings were used for the experiment.

Assembly of Growing Boxes

Growing boxes for the hydroponics set-up of the experiment were assembled to hold the

hydroponics-grown pechay plants. Two (2) styrofoam boxes collected from local fruit shops and

polyethylene garbage bags bought from a hardware shop were the materials used for this

assembly. The lids of the boxes were punched with an empty tin can of big evaporated milk, with

both sides of the can opened from top and bottom, to form six (6) holes on the lids which will

later hold seedling plugs (See Diagram I). The garbage bags were used as liners for the bottom

halves of the styrofoam boxes.

Diagram I. Hole Punching of Styrofoam Box Lid

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Preparation of Seedling Plugs and Seedling Bags

Seedling plugs were prepared to hold hydroponics-grown pechay plants, while seedling

bags were prepared to hold soil-grown pechay plants. Twelve (12) styrofoam cups bought from a

local wet market were used as the plugs, with eight (8) holes sawed off by the sides of each cup

with a hacksaw or cutter , and were filled with half (1/2) inch thick of growing media (See

Pictures 1, 2, and 3). Meanwhile, twelve (12) seedling bags that were bought from local garden

shops were filled with loam soil. A one (1) inch gap between the soil and the top of each seedling

bag served as the allowance. The germinated pechay seedlings were transplanted to each

seedling plug and seedling bag and watered lightly. The seedling bags, now designated as the

soil set-up of the experiment, were ready for observation.

Picture 1. Sawing of styrofoam cups Picture 2. Filling of Cups With Growing Media

Picture 3. Finished Seedling Plugs

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Running of Hydroponics Set-Up

The hydroponics set-up was placed where sunlight and cover form rain can be received.

With the growing boxes arranged there, each box were filled ten (10) litres of water and twenty-

five (25) millilitres of SNAP® Hydroponics Nutrient Solutions A and B that were ordered

online. The solutions were mixed separately to the water, the hole-punched lids of the boxes

were placed after, and the seedling plugs were placed to each hole of the lids. Each styrofoam

cup was “plugged” evenly and the bottom of each touched the nutrient-rich water by a half (1/2)

inch deep, not any deeper or shallower. Troubleshooting for any leaks was done as much as

possible before proceeding for observation. (See Diagram II)

Diagram II. Illustration of Hydroponics System

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Observation and Data Gathering

Both set-ups finished, with twelve (12) pechay plants for the hydroponics set-up and

twelve (12) pechay plants for the soil set-up (See Diagram III), were constantly observed every

morning and afternoon. Replenishments were given, with water for soil-grown plants every

morning and afternoon, while half strength (12.5) millilitres of fresh SNAP® Hydroponics

Nutrient Solution A and B for hydroponics-grown plants only when needed. The number of true

leaves of each pechay served as data measured and was faithfully recorded. Five (5) weeks was

allotted for observance and gathering of data.

Diagram III. Layout of Set Ups

Final Collection and Analysis of Data

Final gathering and analysis of collected data started on the last day of observation. All

pechay of both set-ups had leaves counted individually, measured with a ruler for height, were

uprooted and weighed to measure the wet weight of each plant. After, the pechay were dried for
 14

one (1) week and weighed again to collect the dry weight per plant. Collected data for the wet

and dry weights were calculated to identify the percent of moisture of each plant by percentage.

All different data had been tallied and presented in tables as shown in in the results.

RESULTS

Table 1. Number Of Leaves

Figure 1. Average Number Of Leaves
Plant Hydroponics Soil
A - 3 8
B 7 3 7
C 6 2
6
D 8 -
No. of Leaves

E 8 3 5
F 7 3 4
G 6 3
3
H 8 -
I 6 3 2
J 7 3 1
K 7 2
0
L 9 2 Hydroponics Soil
Total 79 27 Set-up
Average 7 3

Table 1 shows the number of leaves of each pechay. The total and average amount of

leaves grown in hydroponics was greater in quantity than of soil. The average amount of leaves

in hydroponics was around seven (7), while in soil the average was only around three (3). The

number of leaves most pechay had grown in hydroponics was greater in amount, showing better

effect than pechay grown in soil (See Pictures 4, 5, and 6). The trend of the average amount of

leaves grown both in hydroponics and soil is as shown in Figure 1.

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Table 2. Height (cm)

Figure 2. Average Height (cm)
Plant Hydroponics Soil
12
A - 3
B 9 6.5 10
C 8.5 6
D 8 - 8

Height (cm)
E 11 6
F 9 6 6
G 9 4.5
H 11.5 - 4
I 9 4
J 10 5.5 2
K 14.5 7
0
L 13 1 Hydroponics Soil
Total 112.5 49.5 Set-up
Average 10 5

The height of each pechay plant was measured with a ruler in centimeters (cm). The

average height of hydroponically-grown pechay, which measured ten (10) centimeters, was

higher than soil-grown pechay, which measured around five (5) centimeters. The total and

average height of plants in hydroponics was greater than of plants grown in soil, as shown in

Table 2. Most pechay grown in hydroponics were taller than pechay grown in soil. Figure 2

shows the trend.

After being uprooted, each pechay plant was immediately weighed for the wet weights of

the individual plants, shown in Table 3. Most pechay in hydroponics, as with the number of

leaves and height, were heavier than the pechay grown in soil, altogether weighing four (4)

kilograms against the zero (0) kilogram total weight in soil. The average wet weight of pechay

grown in hydroponics was also heavier than in soil. The tendency of the weights is shown in

Figure 3, with plants grown in soil virtually weighing nothing at all.

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Table 3. Wet Weight (kg) Figure 3. Average Wet Weight (kg)

Plant Hydroponics Soil
0.45
A - 0
B 0.25 0 0.4

C 0.25 0 0.35
D 0.25 - 0.3

Weight (kg)
E 0.5 0
0.25
F 0.25 0
0.2
G 0.25 0
H 0.5 - 0.15
I 0.25 0 0.1
J 0.5 0 0.05
K 0.5 0
0
L 0.5 0 Hydroponics Soil
Total 4 0 Set-up
Average 0.4 0

Table 4. Dry Weight (kg)

Figure 4. Average Dry Weight (kg)
Plant Hydroponics Soil
0.12
A - 0
B 0.1 0
0.1
C 0.1 0
D 0.1 - 0.08
Weight (kg)

E 0.1 0
F 0.1 0 0.06
G 0.1 0
H 0.1 - 0.04
I 0.1 0
J 0.1 0 0.02

K 0.1 0
0
L 0.1 0 Hydroponics Soil
Total 1.1 0 Set-up
Average 0.1 0
 17

After getting the wet weight, the individual plants were dried and weighed again to

collect the dry weight. As shown on Table 4, after being dried, the weight of each plant grown on

hydroponics went from an average of two-fifth (0.4) kilograms down to one-tenth (0.1)

kilograms. The total weight in hydroponics went down from four (4) kilograms to one and one-

tenth (1.1) kilograms. However, the total and average dry weight of plants grown in hydroponics

was still heavier thanpechay grown in soil. In Figure 4, most pechay in hydroponics still had

weight, while pechay grown in soil still virtually weighed nothing.

Table 5. Moisture Content (%) Figure 5. Average Moisture Content

Plant Hydroponics Soil (%)
A - 0 80
B 60 0
70
C 60 0
Moisture Content (%)

D 60 - 60
E 80 0 50
F 60 0
40
G 60 0
H 80 - 30
I 80 0 20
J 60 0
10
K 80 0
L 80 0 0
Total 760 0 Hydroponics Soil
Set-up
Average 69 0

Percent of moisture of each pechay was calculated after the collection of the wet and dry

weights as tallied in Table 5. The formula used to identify the percent of moisture of each plant

by percent (%) is as followed:

(Wet Weight – Dry Weight/ Wet Weight)*100

 18

The percent of moisture of most pechay plants grown in hydroponics was greater than of

pechay plants grown in soil. With the average of sixty-nine percent (69%), plants that had grown

in hydroponics have greater moisture content compared to plants grown in soil. Figure 5 shows

the total and average moisture content of pechay grown in hydroponics was still in greater

amount, as with the other variables, against pechay grown in soil.

All data have supported that there were significant effects both on hydroponically grown

plants and traditionally grown plants. The data have also supported that there were significant

differences between pechay grown in hydroponics and in soil in terms of the number of leaves,

wet and dry weight, height, and moisture content of each plant, whereas hydroponically grown

plants showed better effect in all variables than traditionally grown plants.

Picture 4. Hydroponics Set-Up 1 (Plants A-F), Day 45

 19

Picture 5. Hydroponics Set-Up 2 (Plants G-L), Day 45

Picture 6. Soil Set-Up (Plants A-L), Day 45

 20

DISCUSSION

This study focuses on the effects and differences of using hydroponics and soil in

planting pechay. The results showed that there were significant effects and differences between

using hydroponics and soil, in which hydroponics had shown better effect in terms of the number

of leaves, height, wet weight, dry weight, and moisture content of pechay grown than compared

to soil.

The effects of hydroponics in pechay were observed to see if whether or not the growing

technique works on the first place. The hypothesis that there are no significant effects in

hydroponics were proven false, which should be as hydroponics was developed to produce crops

with the same quality when grown in soil. Because all nutrient elements are available to the

plants in plenty (Jain, Pandey, & Singh, 2009), stored in a secured container, and conditions in

the environment such as weather and sunlight being adequate for plants to grow on, pechay had

grown properly in the set-up. This also proves that hydroponics can be grown in areas where soil

is a scarce resource, as long as the conditions for growing plants are good.

Pechay were also grown in soil to see if there were effects and differences of using this

technique compared to hydroponics. There were significant effects in using soil and there were

great differences between the two methods. Within the forty-five (45) days allotted for observing

the set-ups, it was collected that while hydroponically grown pechay had an average of seven (7)

leaves, ten centimeters (10) height, and weight before and after being dried, traditionally grown

pechay only had an average of three (3) leaves, five centimeters (5) height, and virtually had no

weight even before being dried. It was expected that the pechay grown in soil would have lesser

values than compared to hydroponics in terms of the variables, as hydroponics have the nutrients
 21

for the plants to grow on more secured than in soil. However, it was not expected that the data

would be too low, as conditions in the environment were met just enough for plants to grow on.

The pechay in hydroponics having grown better than in soil, based on the variables

tested, was because the nutrients in hydroponics is more controlled than soil. While the

hydroponics set-up had nutrients secured in growing boxes and in plenty for plants to grow on,

being able to be in optimum growing conditions at all times (Omaye & Treftz, 2015), the soil

set-up is not secured. Soil has the tendency to change due to activities caused by people and the

environment. As soil material is displaced, nutrients is loosed as well, causing constraints for

plant growth such as low organic matter and nutrient content (Asio, Jahn, Perez, Navarrete &

Abit, 2009), which is why the pechay grown in soil happened to be less developed than in

hydroponics.

Picture 7. Roots of Hydroponically Grown Pechay

Hydroponics also requires less growing time as there is no mechanical impediment to

roots (See Picture 7). Soil-less culture, including hydroponics, have nutrients fed directly to the
 22

roots of the plants, and as a result grow faster and lead to better quality produce (Admane &

Sadare, 2013). Because of the nutrients being more controlled and easier for the plants to

consume, the growth of pechay in hydroponics was rapid and had more quality produce within

the allotted days for the experiment than compared to soil. Within the forty-five (45) days of

observation, the crops in hydroponics had grown more developed than the crops in soil,

supporting that hydroponics can be an immediate source of good quality food supply for areas

affected by hunger, poverty, and calamities.

Conclusion

This study had proven that there are significant effects of using hydroponics for planting

crops. The plants, when compared to soil, were taller, heavier, and had more leaves because all

nutrient elements are available to the plants, secured for more control over the nutrients, and

conditions in the environment being adequate for plants to grow on. Hydroponics proved that the

method can be used in areas where soil is degrading or uncommon, as long as conditions for

growing crops are good.

This study also had proven that there are significant effects when planting in soil.

However, the plants grown had less leaves, were short in height, and virtually weighed nothing

when compared to hydroponically grown pechay even after forty five (45) days of observation

and conditions in the environment being enough for plants to grow on. This was because

hydroponics has nutrients for plants to grow on more secured and controlled than in soil.

In this research, it is concluded that using hydroponics for planting crops is better than

using soil. Hydroponics is proven that it can be used for immediate and quality food supply
 23

especially in areas affected by hunger, poverty, and calamities since hydroponics produce quality

crops at a fast rate.

Recommendations

 The hydroponics set-up should be covered with mosquito nets against pests from

affecting the nutrient solution and plants grown.

 A more proper shelter for hydroponically grown plants should be considered as well.

 More time for observance of set-ups may be allotted.

 A more proper facility for plants in hydroponics to be grown on must be settled.

 Other plants aside from pechay can be used for hydroponics. Lettuce, tomatoes, and herbs

are some examples that can be grown.

 24

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 25

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ahjzfnnjawvuy2vmywlyltiwmtjydwssb1byb2ply3qypagsda

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hunger-urban-agriculture

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and Limitations. New Delhi: Division of Plant Physiology, Indian Agricultural

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