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INTRODUCTION

This innovation revolves around the concept of hydroponic farming. The built system is

comprised of recyclable materials such plastic bottles and plastic cups. It utilizes a produced

nutrient solution made from banana peel extract and aloe vera gel to house the growth of the

petchay (Brassica rappa) seedlings. The plant's roots are infused into a sponge, which aids in the

absorption of nutrients necessary for its growth and development.

Hydroponics is a method for cultivating plants in a solution of nutrients with or without

the use of an artificial medium that provides support through mechanical means (Sanchez et al.

2023). Hydroponically produced vegetables can be of high quality and need little washing; soil

preparation and weeding are reduced; and it is possible to produce very high yields of vegetables

in a small area because an environment optimal for plant growth is created. All of the nutrients

and water that plants require are always available, and they do not require good soil to develop

crops. Moreover, pollution of soil with unused nutrients is significantly reduced (Rahman 2023).

A heating planet has created conditions for pests to enter and breed in new regions,

allowing them to expand through and devour ever largest areas. Furthermore, armyworms that

consume crops have infested a half-hectare field in the Pangasinan province since 2016. The

increase in temperature sparked the infestation of these pests, which distraught the farmers'

livelihood and hundreds of acres of land (Inquirer.net 2022). The extreme heat brought by global

warming is not a proper environment for crops to grow and it only worsens the problem about

pests’ adaptation to extreme environments allowing them to infest crops regardless of the

extreme weather.
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The growing problem of insect and pest infestations on crops as well as the abnormal

climate brought by global warming which negatively affects the traditional way of farming

inspired the researcher to develop this invention. Hydroponic farming has the ability to greatly

reduce the environmental stress brought on by weather and pests. The creation of a hydroponic

system with a nutrient solution makes sure that plants are getting the exact nutrients they need.

This innovation will not only improve the growth of crops but also cultivate productivity through

faster growth and higher yields.

The production of the nutrient solution was based on the study of Harinuyo et.al entitled

“Effectiveness of Banana Peel-Based Liquid Organic Fertilizer Application as Potassium Source

for Eggplant Growth and Yield”, which emphasized that banana peel is an organic waste that

contains nutrients that are beneficial to plants. Moreover, a research showed that applying 200

mL/liter liquid fertilizer made from banana peel waste had significant effects on plant height,

fresh tuber weight, tuber diameter, and dried weight onion bulbs. This section of the banana

offers several benefits since liquid fertilizer made from banana peel waste contains more

potassium than the other components (Harinuyo et al. 2021, 1).

Aloe vera plant contains macronutrients like Magnesium (Mg), Potassium (K), and

Phosphorus (P); and micronutrients like Chlorine (Cl), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), and Manganese

(Mn) (World Health Organization n.d., 41). The micro and macronutrients mentioned above are

included in the 17 essential nutrients that plants need for growth and development (University of
Minnesota n.d.). Furthermore, aloe vera as fertilizer can encourage seed germination and rapid

root development, improved cell strength, and contribute to overall superior plant health, growth,

and vigor (Deanna 2021). The increase in the root growth and allows the root system to absorb

more nutrients, which makes the plant grow better.

With the concept of hydroponic farming together with the nutrient solution made from

banana peels extract and aloe vera gel, this will be efficient in terms of growing plants in soilless

media.
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REFERENCES:
Deanna. 2021. “Homemade Fertilizer with Aloe Vera: Soil Drench or Foliar Spray” Homestead
and Chill, April 8, 2021. https://homesteadandchill.com/homemade-aloe-vera-
fertilizer/#:~:text=Aloe%20vera%20fertilizer%20can%20encourage%20seed
%20germination%20and,used%20to%20help%20plant%20cuttings%20establish
%20new%20roots.
Hariyuno, Mulyono, Ayunin. 2021. “Effectiveness of Banana Peel-Based Liquid Organic
Fertilizer Application as Potassium Source for Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) Growth
and Yield.” Iop Science, IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci. 752 012022.
(1)https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1755-1315/752/1/012022
Inquirer.net. 2022. “Lives destroyed as armyworms invade Philippine ‘onion capital’.”
Inquirer.net, September 29,2022. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1672739/lives-destroyed-
as-armyworms-invade-philippine-onion-capital
Rahman Mosaddekur Md. 2023. “Definition of hydroponic farming with pros and cons” Basic
Agricultural Study. https://agriculturistmusa.com/hydroponic-farming/
Sánchez Elsa, Berghage Robert, Di Gioia Franceso, Ford Thomas. 2023. “Hydroponics Systems
and Principles Of Plant Nutrition: Essential Nutrients, Function, Deficiency, and Excess”
PennState Extension. Last Modified May 1, 2023. https://extension.psu.edu/hydroponics-
systems-and-principles-of-plant-nutrition-essential-nutrients-function-deficiency-and-
excess
University of Minnesota Extension. n.d. “Quick Guide to Fertilizing Plants.” University of
Minnesota Extension, n.d. https://extension.umn.edu/manage-soil-nutrients/quick-guide-
fertilizing-plants
World Health Organization. n.d. “Aloe Vera” World Heart Organization, n.d. Aloe Vera (41).
https://monographs.iarc.who.int/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/mono108-01.pdf
PLANT-BASED HYDROPONIC SYSTEM FOR SUSTAINABLE FOOD PRODUCTION

An Invention Report
Presented to
THE PROJECT PANEL
2023 LEYTE DIVISION SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY QUEST
TANAUAN, LEYTE

JAN LIGAYAN
 May 2023

i
Table of Contents

Table of Contents …………………………………………………………………………….i

Introduction ………………….……………………………………………………………….1
Methodology …………………………………………………………………………………3
Results and Discussion ……………………………………………………………………….6
Conclusion ……………………………………………………………………………………7
Acknowledgement ……………………………………………………………………………8
References …………………………………………………………………………………….9