Acknowledgement

The team would like to thank wholeheartedly the following persons who had given much
of their helping hand:
I would like to thank our families for giving us strength, guidance, and support for our
research. We appreciate their love and care.
To Mr. Jeffrey Policarpio for assisting, critiquing and making this research possible.
To Ms. Princeville Lanza, our research adviser, for giving us knowledge and guidance for
our research.
To Mr. Jose Juan Presingular V, for giving us guidance for our preliminary defense.
To our subject teachers, for understanding us and lending our time to finish our research.
To our classmates, for helping and supporting us even in every little way.
Lastly, to God, for we owe and thank him for everything. This is all for You, for we are
discovering and improving Your creations.

ABSTRACT
Nitrogen, Sulfur, and Potassium are the primary needs of plants. Nitrogen, being present both
in the atmosphere and in land, is essential for building up the plant tissue and cell materials. The
chlorophyll, the pigment responsible for the color of the leaves, also needs Nitrogen to carry out
its function.
Sulfur is another element that plants need. It helps plants to lessen the sodium level in plants,
maintain soil level, and provide seed oil.
Another one is the Potassium which is required the large amounts for proper growth and
reproduction of plants. Potassium deficiency might cause abnormalities in plants. It is commonly
considered as the quality nutrient.
The Metro Manila is covered with asphalted and cemented sidewalks and roads. Knowing this, only a
little area of this urban place is plant-able. This is a problem, for there is only a little number of plants
which provide fresh air and counter the smog the vehicles produce. Commercial soils are sold and put
inside pots so people can grow their plants, but not all people can afford this soil.

The group conducted a preliminary experimentation, whereas there are two containers,
namely container A and container B. With the same amount of peanut shells, banana peelings and
water, these containers differ in size and container B will receive a home-made insecticide,
which contains a piece of red birds eye chili pepper (Labuyo) in a 75 ml water and put inside a
spray bottle (this was to prove if the substitute soil would grow molds or will be attacked by
insects).

The researchers will the T-test method to determine the effectiveness of the substitute soil by
means of comparing the number of leaves and the length of the stem to another set-up, which is
the commercial soil.

Chapter I
THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND
A. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Nitrogen, Sulfur, and Potassium are the primary needs of plants. Nitrogen, being present
both in the atmosphere and in land, is essential for building up the plant tissue and cell
materials. The chlorophyll, the pigment responsible for the color of the leaves, also needs
Nitrogen to carry out its function.
Sulfur is another element that plants need. It helps plants to lessen the sodium level in
plants, maintain soil level, and provide seed oil.
Another one is the Potassium which is required the large amounts for proper growth and
reproduction of plants. Potassium deficiency might cause abnormalities in plants. It is commonly
considered as the quality nutrient.
The Metro Manila is covered with asphalted and cemented sidewalks and roads. Knowing this, only a
little area of this urban place is plant-able. This is a problem, for there is only a little number of plants
which provide fresh air and counter the smog the vehicles produce. Commercial soils are sold and put
inside pots so people can grow their plants, but not all people can afford this soil.
Banana peelings and peanuts are a waste a part of plant which cannot be eaten. Luckily, these can
be used as a compost or a fertilizer that boosts plant growth.

There are no studies conducted, but hypothetically, banana peelings and peanut shells can be planted,
even without the presence of soil.

B. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The study is conducted whether the substitute soil will not be as effective, as effective, or
more effective that commercial soil.
The study attempts to answer the following questions:
1. Is the substitute soil as effective as the commercial soil?
2. How will the substitute soil affect the plant, in terms of:
a. Number of leaves produced?
b. Length of the stems produced?
C. HYPOTHESES
H: The substitute soil is as effective as or more effective than commercial soil.
Ho: The substitute soil is not as effective as commercial soil.

D. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The problem is in urban places like in Metro Manila, soil is limited. Almost the whole
place is covered with cemented and asphalted roads, which hinders our capability to
plant. Some people with green thumbs have to buy commercial and plant-able soils,
which they put in pots then grow whatever plants they want to grow. But this soil is,
undeniably, expensive and much harder to access.
The study focuses on the effectiveness of the substitute soil so people in urban places
can access and can grow their plants.

E. SCOPE AND DELIMITATIONS

1. The problem is only limited in determining the effectiveness of the substitute soil.
2. The experimentation will only employ two set-ups wherein monggo seeds are planted in
a container; one container with the substitute soil and another with a commercial soil.
3. Each set-up will receive the same amount of elements (water, air & sunlight) needed for
plant growth.
F. DEFINITION OF TERMS
Nitrogen
Though nitrogen is abundant in the air, it can be readily used by plants. Nitrogen is an
important component of many important, structural, genetic and metabolic compounds in
plant cells. It is a major component of chlorophyll, the compound by which plants use
sunlight energy to produce sugars from water and carbon dioxide. Finally, nitrogen is a
significant component of nucleic acids such as DNA, the genetic material that allows cells
(and eventually the whole plant) to grow and reproduce.
Sulfur
Found mostly near and in volcanoes, Sulfur is another primary element needed by plants. It
helps lessen the plants sodium content. It also assists the seed oil production, and helps
maintain soil levels.
Potassium
Required the large amounts for proper growth and reproduction of plants. Potassium
deficiency might cause abnormalities in plants. It is commonly considered as the quality
nutrient.

Banana peelings

Banana peelings have a high concentration of Potassium, one of the primary needs of plants.
These were usually used for fertilizer, but in the experiment, it will be used as a substitute
soil.
Peanut Shells
Peanut shells behave like wood shavings. It possess certain nutrients, like Sulfur and
Nitrogen, which are essential for plants.
Substitute soil
This is the soil that is composed of banana peelings and peanuts shells which will be used as
a replacement for a commercial soil.

Chapter II
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Banana is a very popular fruit. It is essential for humans, for it is a good source of potassium
our body needs. Here in the Philippines, banana is cultivated widespread so widespread that the
country exports it on other countries including Japan and some parts in Europe.
Peanuts are a good source of nitrogen and, and sometimes called the vegetarians meat for
it is also a good source of protein. These plants are fast-growing and easy to cultivate. They are
made into several types of products; Peanut butter, which are used for sandwich filling, is an
example.
The problem is in urban places like in Metro Manila, soil is limited. Almost the whole place
is covered with cemented and asphalted roads, which hinders our capability to plant. Some
people with green thumbs have to buy commercial and plant-able soils, which they put in pots
then grow whatever plants they want to grow. But this soil is, undeniably, expensive and much
harder to access.
These plants leave wastes, such as peanut shells and banana peelings. But these can be used
as a compost a fertilizer to boost plants growth. Banana peelings have a high concentration of
Potassium (K), while peanut shells possess Sulfur (S) and Nitrogen (N); those three elements are
the most essential nutrients needed by plants. Reusing these waste will drastically decrease the
spaces in landfills.
The banana peelings and peanuts shells can be used as an alternative soil, whereas it can
provide the three essential nutrients without the presence of the soil. Using it as a substitute will
eradicate the need of people in urban areas to access commercial soil.

The following terms will help you understand the components of the substitute soil:
Nitrogen
Though nitrogen is abundant in the air, it can be readily used by plants. Nitrogen is an
important component of many important, structural, genetic and metabolic compounds in plant
cells. It is a major component of chlorophyll, the compound by which plants use sunlight energy
to produce sugars from water and carbon dioxide. Finally, nitrogen is a significant component of
nucleic acids such as DNA, the genetic material that allows cells (and eventually the whole
plant) to grow and reproduce.
Sulfur
Found mostly near and in volcanoes, Sulfur is another primary element needed by plants. It
helps lessen the plants sodium content. It also assists the seed oil production, and helps maintain
soil levels.
Potassium
Required the large amounts for proper growth and reproduction of plants. Potassium
deficiency might cause abnormalities in plants. It is commonly considered as the quality nutrient.
Banana peelings

Banana peelings have a high concentration of Potassium, one of the primary needs of plants.
These were usually used for fertilizer, but in the experiment, it will be used as a substitute soil.
Peanut Shells
Peanut shells behave like wood shavings. It possess certain nutrients, like Sulfur and
Nitrogen, which are essential for plants.

Chapter III
METHODOLOGY
A. Research Design
The experimental design will be used in the study.
The descriptive method will be used in the research work. The principal aim is to know
whether the substitute soil will be an effective replacement for a commercial soil. The amount of
banana peelings and peanut shells was also stressed in the conducted experiment.
In addition, the study will involve the feasibility of a certain plant to grow on this substitute
soil. Identifying the effects of this experiment to plants is significant.
B. Procedures
The group conducted a preliminary experimentation, whereas there are two containers,
namely container A and container B. With the same amount of peanut shells, banana peelings and
water, these containers differ in size and container B will receive a home-made insecticide,
which contains a piece of red birds eye chili pepper (Labuyo) in a 75 ml water and put inside a
spray bottle (this was to prove if the substitute soil would grow molds or will be attacked by
insects).
All set-ups were exposed to sunlight and were given 3 cups of water, but only when they are
dry. The researchers observed each set-up for a week (October 5 October 9). Plants are
measured on Sunday.

C. Variables used in the experiment

The independent variables are the amount of banana peelings and peanuts shells, and the
amount of commercial soil to be used. While the dependent variables are the length of the
plant and the number of its leaves. The constant variables were the amount of water, air and
sunlight.
D. Statistical treatment of data
The researchers will the T-test method to determine the effectiveness of the substitute soil
by means of comparing the number of leaves and the length of the stem to another set-up,
which is the commercial soil.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

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