Exploring the Potential of Eggshell-based Fertilizer for Enhancing Eggplant

(Solanum melongena) Growth

PROPONENTS:

Ashley John P. Baling

Alexander Welvhon T. Dalumpines

Michael Jhade G. Demavivas

Zara Eugenie C. Necor

Mrs. Janice Mae B. Rivera

Research Capstone Project Adviser

Chapter I

RATIONALE

Fertilizer is immensely dominant and Prove recommends those ranchers are

has many components that contribute to the underapplying fertilizer; in this manner,
growth and development of plants and relinquishing productivity picks up at the
crops. The eggshell can be used in margin. On the supply side, imports have,
making fertilizer because it contains high within the past few decades, developed as
quantity of calcium. This will make the primary source of fertilizer as
the fertilizer inexpensive and residential generation has dwindled.
environmentally useable (Ajala, E. O., Eggshell is a solid waste, with
Eletta, O. A., Ajala, M. A., & Oyeniyi, S. production of several tons per day.
K. 2018). Chicken eggshell has rich amount Eggshell is mostly sent to the landfill with
of calcium and this calcium can be used a high management cost. It is economical
very effectively in various to transform the eggshell waste to create
[Link] used as a fertilizer it new values from these waste materials. The
enriched the pH and calcium content of the present article is an attempt to summarize
soil (King’Ori, A. M. 2011). the possible applications of eggshell (H.
According to Briones, R. M. (2014), Faridi, A. Arabhosseini 2018). The
fertilizer approach within the nation has eggshell is an important structure for two
evolved from unavoidable interventionism reasons. Firstly, it forms an embryonic
within the 1970s to today's market-oriented chamber for the developing chick,
administration. The government has providing mechanical protection and a
deserted cost approaches and controlled gas exchange medium. Secondly
appropriations, centering or maybe on it is a container for the market egg,
standard setting, quality control, and providing protection of the contents and a
preparation. Over the same period, unique package for a valuable food
residential requests for fertilizer have (Hunton, P. 2005).
ceaselessly been expanding, in spite of the The eggplant is one of the most
fact that, as of late, resurgent fertilizer costs important solanaceous crops and is widely
have decreased due to increased utilization. cultivated across the world for its fruits,
mainly used as a vegetable. Wild relatives sources such as minerals, animal source,
of eggplant have been shown to be sewage sludge and plant. Vegetables,
important sources for transferring tolerance animals and residue materials had a
to biotic and abiotic stresses and other contribution to improve soil organic matter
agronomically important traits in cultivated content in soil (Assefa, S. 2019).
background (Rotino, G. L., Sala, T., & Conversely, eggshell efficacy,
Toppino, L. 2013). Eggplant cultivation particularly in improving the development
and consumption have spread to almost all and productivity of eggplants, remains
parts of the world. It is ranked among the predominantly unexplored. The purpose of
top 10 vegetables for high content of this study is to find out how well eggshells
phenolic acids and antioxidant properties. work as an organic fertilizer for eggplant
Eggplants differ widely in size, shape, growth. The particular emphasis on
color, and compositional traits. The purple- eggshells and eggplants distinguishes it
colored eggplant is preferred by the from another research that concentrates on
consumers over the white and green ones various types of plants or fertilizer
(Karimi, A., Kazemi, M., Samani, S. A., & varieties. This study aims to investigate the
Simal-Gándara, J. 2021). capability of eggshell-based fertilizer to
One important aspect of soil deal with nutrient insufficiency, improve
degradation is the deterioration of soil soil health, and enrich yield in eggplant
quality. Improving soil health and crop cultivation. Through systematic
productivity in agriculture requires experimentation and investigation, this
optimizing the uptake of organic fertilizer. study endeavors to provide experimental
That, however, necessitates a thorough evidence to support the sustainability and
comprehension of crop production and soil effectiveness of eggshell-based
quality response over an organic fertilizer fertilization, particularly in eggplant
treatment gradient. The use of organic development, contributing to the innovation
fertilizers has advantage of being cheap, of eco-friendly and economically feasible
improving soil structure, texture and cultivation practices.
aeration increasing the soils water retention
abilities and stimulating healthy root
development. Organic fertilizer has many
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
6) How do these factors
1) What are the components of
influence the overall cost-
eggshells?
effectiveness of eggshells versus
2) What is the mean gain of eggshell-
chemical fertilizer?
based fertilizer to eggplant in terms of:
OBJECTIVES
a) number of leaves
a) height This study was conducted to
b) length and; determine the efficacy of eggshells as
c) width of leaves organic fertilizer for the development of
eggplant.
3) What is the effect of synthetic or
commercial fertilizer to eggplant in 1) To test and investigate the
terms of: effectiveness of an eggshell-
based fertilizer through
a) number of leaves
evaluating the effect of different
b) height
treatments on eggplant
c) length and;
a) number of leaves
d) width of leaves
b) height
c) length and;
4) What is the effect of no fertilizer to
d) width of leaves
eggplant in terms of:
2) To create an eco-friendly
a) number of leaves eggshell-based fertilizer for the
b) height development of eggplants.
c) length and; 3) To evaluate the effectiveness of
d) width of plants eggshell-based fertilizer as a
growth for eggplants compared
5) Is there a significant difference
to controls groups.
between eggshell-based fertilizer
and commercial fertilizer, tap
water, and without fertilizer?
 To the Farmers - this study may benefit
the farmers to have a new and affordable
HYPOTHESIS
fertilizer to their plants and crops.

Null Hypothesis To the consumers -this study may

benefit the consumers to give them
Ho: There is no significant
better quality of eggplant and new
difference in the growth and
organic fertilizer which was the
development of eggplants when treated
eggshells.
with eggshell-based fertilizer with
synthetic fertilizer or no fertilizer at all. To the Future Researchers - this study
can serve as a foundation for future
Alternative Hypothesis research on the same topic.

H a: There is a significant
difference in the growth and SCOPE AND DELIMITATION
development of eggplants when treated
with eggshell-based fertilizer with This research focused on

synthetic fertilizer or no fertilizer at all. investigating the effectiveness of

eggshell-based fertilizer for the
development of eggplant. This study will
be conductedon February 26- March 22,
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
2024 in the school year 2023-2024 of

The results of this study may benefit the Pigcawayan National High School .It

following: was limited to the use of different

treatments of the eggplant development
To the Department of Agriculture -
only. This study aims to investigate the
this study could be used as guide to the
capability of eggshell-based fertilizer to
Department of Agriculture that the use
deal with nutrient insufficiency, improve
of eggshells as fertilizer can also be a
soil health, and enrich yield in eggplant
good organic fertilizer for the
cultivation. The research will be
development of a plant.
conducted at Brgy. New Panay, Purok 2,
Pigcawayan, North Cotabato with
materials for eggshell-based fertilizer
experiments, and quality assessment.
The study will involve experimental
research methodologies, including
experimental setup, including treatment
groups, control groups, and variables to
be measured, preparation of eggshell
fertilizer, planting and treatment
application, data collection on plant
growth parameters, and statistical
analysis which is the t-test to determine
if there is a significant difference
between the means of eggshell-based
fertilizer and synthetic fertilizer.
Through systematic experimentation and
investigation, this study endeavors to
provide experimental evidence to
support the sustainability and
effectiveness of eggshell-based
fertilization, particularly in eggplant
development, contributing to the
innovation of eco-friendly and
economically feasible cultivation
practices.
Chapter II

METHODOLOGY 2.2 RESEARCH LOCALE

This chapter presents a This study was conducted among

description of the research techniques Necor's residents, located in Purok 2,
that will be used by the researchers to New Panay, Pigacawayan, and North
carry out the study, including the Cotabato. New Panay is one of the
research design, research locale, research barangay in the municipality of
instrument, procedure, risk and safety, Pigcawayan. This barangay has many
and statistical treatment of data. The capabilities to offer. There are lots of
objective of this study is to investigate plants you can use for educational
the efficacy of eggshell-based fertilizer purposes and daily purposes. The
in promoting the growth of eggplants location of this study is clean and well
(Solanum melongena). ventilated, which is good for our plant.
This study was conducted from February
2024 to April 2024.
2.1 RESEARCH DESIGN

This study is an experiment to

2.3 SAMPLING PROCEDURE
assess how well eggplants treated with
fertilizer based on eggshells grow when Convenience sampling was used
compared to a control group. It involves during the conduct of the study on the
implementing a controlled experiment effects of eggshell-based fertilizer on the
where it manipulates the independent development of eggplant since eggplant
variable (eggshell-based fertilizer) and sprouts were gathered based on their
observes its effects on the dependent accessibility and availability based on
variable (eggplant growth) while the locale of the study. Employing
controlling for potential confounding convenience sampling and carefully
variables. monitoring the specified parameters,
researchers assessed the effects of 2.5.2 Preparation of Materials and
eggshell-based fertilizer on the Tools:
development of eggplants.
The researchers prepared all the
2.4 RESEARCH INSTRUMENT materials that they will use before
proceeding with the experimentation
This study uses observations as
with the product. This includes the
its instrument. This research instrument
crushed eggshells, white vinegar, cups
entails assessing the growth and
(for measuring), weighing scale, ruler,
development of eggplants treated with
mortar and pestle, containers, soil, 15
varying concentrations of eggshell
soil bags, chemical fertilizer (urea), and
fertilizer, systematically recording the
15 eggplant sprouts (2–3 inches tall).
parameters such as number of leaves,
height, width, and length of leaves, 2.5.3 Preparation of Eggshell
followed by statistical analysis to Fertilizer:
determine the potential of eggshells as
Researchers collected and
an organic fertilizer compared to control
cleaned eggshells to remove any
groups, and regularly monitoring the
remaining egg residue. Dry the eggshells
plants to assess their overall health and
for about two (2) weeks. After drying,
growth throughout the experiment.
researchers crushed the eggshells into
smaller pieces using a mortar and pestle
to increase the surface area and facilitate
2.5 DATA GATHERING
decomposition. Soaking eggshells in
PROCEDURE
white vinegar includes: placing the
2.5.1 Experimental Design crushed eggshells in a container;

Design the experimental setup, measuring out the white vinegar; and

including treatment groups (eggshell- using 1 tablespoon of eggshell powder

based fertilizer, synthetic fertilizer, and for 1 cup of vinegar. But before mixing

without fertilizer), a control group them, have a container that is about three

(water), and variables to be measured. times the volume of liquid. Sheehan, L.

(2023, September 19). Adding 3 cups of
water to the container. The eggshells
soaked in the vinegar for 3 days. During
this time, the vinegar dissolves the
calcium carbonate in the eggshells,
creating a calcium-rich solution.

2.5.4 Planting and Treatment 2.6 RISK AND SAFETY

Application: In conducting this study, there

Researchers selected 15 healthy are risks and safety factors to be

eggplant sprouts, typically 2-3 inches considered.

tall. Researchers prepared planting bags 2.6.1 Salmonella contamination

with an appropriate soil mixture (400
In preparing the eggshells, clean
grams of soil), and eggplants were
them and remove any residue from them
transferred into the soil bags afterwards.
to prevent contamination. Salmonella
Applying the eggshell fertilizer to the
contamination may occur if eggshells are
designated treatment and control groups
not properly cleaned and processed.
according to the experimental design.
There is a risk of contaminating the soil
Maintaining and monitoring of treatment
and, subsequently, the eggplant.
groups daily: eggshell-based fertilizer,
Eggshells should be completely dry and
chemical fertilizer (Urea), and without
cleaned before being crushed. As a
fertilizer for comparison.
result, there is less chance of bacterial
2.5.5 Data collection on plant growth contamination. When handling
parameters eggshells, wash your hands thoroughly

Monitor plant growth parameters, to avoid infection.

including the height of plants (measured 2.6.2 Chemical Reactions

from soil level to the tallest point of the
Interaction between vinegar and
plant). Number of leaves per plant; width
eggshells can release carbon dioxide gas,
and length of leaf (measured using a
which can cause pressure buildup if
ruler in centimeters). Researchers
conducted in a closed container. This
recorded observations daily over the
may pose a risk of container rupture or
course of the experiment.
explosion if not handled properly. Also,
direct contact with chemical fertilizers or analyzing the number of leaves, height,
inhalation of fertilizer dust may pose length, and width of the leaf plants in
health risks, including skin irritation, each treatment. The main characteristics
respiratory problems, and allergic of the data would be evaluated using
reactions. descriptive statistics. To determine
whether any changes between treatment
2.6.3 Skin Irritation
groups that are observed are statistically
Direct contact with concentrated significant, inferential statistics would be
vinegar or calcium-rich solutions can used. To compare means between
cause skin irritation or chemical burns. groups, this may involve conducting two
Handling crushed eggshells may also sample t-tests to determine whether or
cause abrasions or cuts. not two population means are equal

2.6.4 Temperature Fluctuation (Bobbitt, Z). (2020). Charts and graphs

would be used to visually represent the
Extreme heat or cold might have
data analysis results. Lastly, evaluate the
an impact on eggplant development and
data analysis's conclusions. Examine if
growth. While low temperatures may
the fertilizer made of eggshells affected
hinder growth or even harm plants, high
the growth of the eggplants compared to
temperatures can cause heat stress. It can
the control groups.
be difficult to determine the true efficacy
of the eggshell-based fertilizer due to
inconsistent growth patterns or plant
stress, which compromises the validity
of the experiment findings.

2.7 STATISTICAL TREATMENT

OF DATA

This study would have collected

data on a number of factors related to the
growth of eggplants. This involved