ECLARO ACADEMY

THE EFFECTS OF ORGANIC FERTILIZER FROM MEALWORM-DIGESTED PAPER

WASTE ON TOMATO PLANT

A Research Proposal
Presented to the
Faculty of Senior High School Department
Eclaro Academy

Researcher:
Aliponga, Mark Gabriel
Cuanico, Farra S.
Feria, Angelica joy o
Gasiong, Jovenal G.
Galve, Sherlyn S.
Jasmin, Jariel R.
Ohao, Layo E.
Mananquil, Leann O.
Mendez, Abby.
Negrido, Adrian .
Nota, Zyre Onaire.
Villorejo, Maia Jasmin B.
Virtucio, Arche.
Yaba, Franchesca.
11- STEM 2A
Academic Year 2023-2024
 CHAPTER 1
PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND INTRODUCTION
The escalating global demand for food production is met with growing concerns over the
adverse environmental impacts and soil health degradation associated with
conventional chemical fertilizers (FAO, 2021). While organic alternatives are gaining
momentum, sourcing sustainable and efficient fertilizers remains a challenge.

global demand for food production is met with growing concerns over the

adverse environmental impacts and soil health degradation associated with

momentum, sourcing sustainable and efficient fertilizers remains a challenge.

In recent years, research has highlighted the potential of insect frass as a biofertilizer.
Studies reveal that frass from mealworms is abundant in essential nutrients like
nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK), often comparable to commercial fertilizers
(Basta et al., 2019; Houben et al., 2020). Furthermore, there are indications that frass
may harbor beneficial microbes that stimulate plant growth (Böök, et al., 2022).

Despite promising findings, there remains a significant gap in understanding the

effectiveness of mealworm frass specifically derived from digested waste paper on
tomato plant growth.

This study seeks to advance scientific knowledge by exploring the utilization of waste
products and insect farming for sustainable agriculture. It presents an engaging project
for students to delve into science, ecology, and environmental solutions.

The findings could offer valuable insights for organic farmers seeking eco-friendly and
potentially cost-effective fertilizer alternatives. Additionally, the research contributes to
the development of sustainable practices for waste management and food production,
thereby potentially influencing global food security.

The primary objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of organic fertilizer derived
from mealworm frass produced from digested waste paper on tomato plant growth. By
comparing plant growth parameters between treatments with frass fertilizer and
controls, we aim to provide valuable data to enhance understanding in the field of
sustainable agriculture.
The findings could offer valuable insights for organic farmers seeking eco-friendly and
potentially cost-effective fertilizer alternatives. Additionally, the research contributes to
the development of sustainable practices for waste management and food production,
thereby potentially influencing global food security.

The primary objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of organic fertilizer derived
from mealworm frass produced from digested waste paper on tomato plant growth. By
comparing plant growth parameters between treatments with frass fertilizer and
controls, we aim to provide valuable data to enhance understanding in the field of
sustainable agriculture.

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Current agricultural methods heavily rely on chemical fertilizers, raising concerns about
environmental pollution and potential health risks. This has led to a growing interest in
exploring sustainable and organic alternatives for plant nutrition. Vermicomposting, a
well-established technique that uses worms to break down organic waste into nutrient-
rich castings, is a prime example. Research has shown the effectiveness of worm
castings as fertilizer for various plants, including tomatoes. However, there's a
knowledge gap regarding the use of mealworms specifically. While vermicomposting
offers a proven solution, the impact of mealworms on the nutritional content of digested
waste paper and its subsequent effectiveness as fertilizer remains unclear.

This study holds significance for teachers, students, and farmers alike. For teachers and
students, it provides an opportunity to engage in hands-on research that addresses
real-world agricultural challenges. It allows them to deepen their understanding of
sustainable farming practices and contribute to knowledge gaps

in the field. For farmers, the studies allow to offer insights into the potential of
mealworms as a sustainable alternative for nutrient-rich fertilizer production, potentially
reducing reliance on chemical fertilizers and mitigating environmental impacts

in the field. For farmers, the studies allow to offer insights into the potential of
mealworms as a sustainable alternative for nutrient-rich fertilizer production, potentially
reducing reliance on chemical fertilizers and mitigating environmental impacts

The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of mealworms on the nutritional
content of digested waste paper and assess its effectiveness as fertilizer compared to
traditional vermicomposting.methods.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

This study compares the growth of tomato with the used of organic fertilizer from meal-
worm digested waste paper on tomato plant.

1.What is the development of the tomato plant with the use of mealworm frass as a
fertilizer in terms of:

1.1 height

2. time

2.2 What is the development of the tomato plant without the use of mealworm frass as a
fertilizer in terms of:

2.3 height

2.4 weight

3.What are the difference between the growth of tomato plant with natural growth and
mealworm frass as a fertilizer?

OBJECTIVES

This study has the following objectives:

1. The researcher would like to differentiate the growth of tomato with naturally
growth and with mealworm frass as a fertilizer.

2. To determine the nutrients level in the soil when growing tomato plant with
mealworm frass as fertilizer compared to naturally grown tomato plant.

3. To determine the environment friendly aspects of growing tomato plants with

mealworm frass

4. To determine the effectiveness of mealworm frass as a fertilizer

 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

Frass as a Biostimulant for Plants

Liu and associates (2019) Plant biostimulants are chemical substances, whether natural
or synthetic, that without providing major nutrients, enhance a plant's ability to withstand
stress, develop, and efficiently absorb nutrients. They may function in a number of
ways, such as by promoting the growth of advantageous soil microorganisms, affecting
the synthesis of plant hormones, or enhancing plant defense mechanisms.

Nitrogen, phosphorus, and organic matter belong to the nutrients found in straw that can
positively impact plant growth.

According to their research, frass may trigger defensive mechanisms in plants even
when there is no immediate threat, therefore increasing the plants' resistance to
pathogen attacks in the future. This is consistent with the idea that plants are primed for
greater stress tolerance by biostimulants.

By investigating these properties of frass, the study strengthens the idea that it can act
as more than just a simple fertilizer but also as a potential tool for promoting plant health
through additional mechanisms. This aligns with the broader theory of plant
biostimulants and their role in sustainable agriculture
 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

The researcher used Input-Process-Output(IPO MODEL) method to show the process

done in the research.

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

Profile of the student: Title defense

1. Age Chapter 1-3 The Effects Of

Organic Fertilizer
2. Gender Mocked defense
From Mealworm-
This study compares the Survey Digested Paper
growth of tomato with Waste On Tomato
the used of organic Final defense Plant
fertilizer from meal-
worm digested waste
paper on tomato plant.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study is examining the effects of organic fertilizer from mealworm-digested paper
waste on tomato plants and contributes to scientific knowledge also offers valuable
benefits for students, teachers, and school administration. It promotes sustainability,
hands-on learning, and environmental awareness within the school community.

Students - In this study Students can gain practical experience in conducting

experiments, understanding the process of composting, and observing the impact of
organic fertilizers on plant growth.

Teachers - This study can use as a real-life example to teach students about the
importance of organic farming, waste management, and sustainable agriculture.

School Administration - It can foster community engagement by showcasing the

school's efforts towards environmental conservation and sustainable practices.

Future Researchers - This study will be one of the source or references of the future
researchers whose focus is on the same field of the study.
 SCOPE AND DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The research study focuses on investigating the impact of using organic fertilizer from
mealworm-digested paper waste specifically on tomato plants. The field experiment
conducted at Area 1 Peacock, Street Sitio Veterans, Bagong Bantay Silangan, Quezon
City on March 2024.

The research goal is to investigate how this fertilizer influences the growth, yield, and
overall health of tomato plants, considering factors of nutrient and plant development.
The scope of the study will be limited to the effects on tomato plants exclusively,
excluding other types of plants or crops Thus, the study will explore into the
environmental benefits and sustainability implications in outlining these boundaries, the
study will sustain a clear and targeted concentration on the specific relationship
between the organic fertilizer from mealworm-digested paper waste and tomato plants,
ensuring accuracy and importance in the study outcomes.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

The definitions of the following terms are interpret based on the researcher's used within
the study.

Scientific knowledge- It is a collection of reliable new information about the physical

world.

Sustainable - refers to maintain or improve the state and availability of desirable

materials or conditions over the long term.

Showcasing- It refers to presenting and displaying something to highlight its strengths or

features effectively.

Premises- It refers to the physical location of the school where these environmental
conservation efforts are taking place.

Sustainable - refers to maintain or improve the state and availability of desirable

materials or conditions over the long term.

Mealworm-digested paper - It refers to paper that has been broken down into shredded
paper and digested by mealworm

Excluding - it refers of making a conscious decision to reject or to disregard something

from a set of possibilities
Factors - It refers to a circumstance that contribute to a outcome, it is vital for problem-
solving or analysis

CHAPTER 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

foreign

(Poveda et al., 2019)

Frass from the insect Tenebrio molitor can be applied as an organic fertilizer due to its
nutritional content. In this study insects were fed on different types of food producing excrement
with different compositions. This allowed us to compare the potential effect of the excrement on
plant growth promotion and to test its ability to increase tolerance to abiotic stresses such as
drought, excess water and salinity. The best results were obtained when the insects were fed a
diet low in fat and starch content. Moreover, a microbiological study using the excrement
produced showed that the presence of microorganisms improved plant growth parameters, in
the absence or presence of stress conditions. The analysis of the microbiome through massive
parallel sequencing, as well as the analysis of the capacity of several microbial isolates to
promote plant growth, showed that several microorganisms present in the excrement are plant
growth promoters (PGPs). Our findings indicate that the frass produced by these insects, due to
its nutritional content and associated microbiota, can be potentially used as a biofertilizer in
organic farming. However, this potential dramatically varies according to the insect's diet.
Further analyses should be performed to set the optimal time and amount of application for the
different aimed plant.

(foreign)

(Poveda et al., 2019)

Frass from the insect Tenebrio molitor can be applied as an organic fertilizer due to its
nutritional
content. In this study insects were fed on different types of food producing excrement with
different compositions. This allowed us to compare the potential effect of the excrement on plant

growth promotion and to test its ability to increase tolerance to abiotic stresses such as drought,
excess water and salinity. The best results were obtained when the insects were fed a diet low
in fat and starch content. Moreover, a microbiological study using the excrement produced

showed that the presence of microorganisms improved plant growth parameters, in the absence
 or presence of stress conditions. The analysis of the microbiome through massive parallel
sequencing, as well as the analysis of the capacity of several microbial isolates to promote plant
growth, showed that several microorganisms present in the excrement are plant growth
promoters (PGPs). Our findings indicate that the frass produced by these insects, due to its

nutritional content and associated microbiota, can be potentially used as a biofertilizer in organic
farming. However, this potential dramatically varies according to the insect's diet. Further
analyses should be performed to set the optimal time and amount of application for the different
aimed plants.

(foreign)

(Castilla et al., 2008)

A preliminary screening test was performed to examine whether fertilizers or herbicides

commonly used by farmers affect the development and mortality of the grain beetle Tenebrio
molitor (mealworms). Mealworms (n = 300) were exposed for four weeks to four different
treatments: organic liquid fertilizer (pig manure), organic solid fertilizer (turkey litter), mineral
fertilizer (nitrates), and herbicides (a mixture of glyphosate and 2,4-D). After four weeks in direct
contact with all treatments, mealworm mortality ranged from 74 % to 88 %. Surprisingly, control
mealworms placed in the same room with the other treatments also experienced high mortality
(72 %) while mortality of control-isolated mealworms was low (8 %), suggesting that volatile
compounds from tested products can be noxious to larval insects. Because Tenebrio larvae and
other insects are the main food source for many birds, lizards and other wildlife, organic
fertilizers from farms should be adequately treated before being dispersed in the field. Also,
mineral fertilizers and herbicides should be used with moderation and in the prescribed
proportions.

CHAPTER 3

METHOD OF RESEARCH USED

The methodology employed by researchers in this study entails using mealworms to

digest waste paper leading to a nutrient-rich organic fertilizer. Tomato plants will then be
treated with this type of fertilizer as well as other growth parameters including plant
height, leaf size, fruit yield and nutrient content being measured and compared against
control groups. The experiment was set up with standard fertilizers used in the control
group while different concentrations of the organic fertilizer were administered in the
treatment groups. At regular intervals data will be collected to evaluate if there has been
any remarkable effect in terms of tomato plant development and health as a result of
applying organic fertilizers

RESEARCH TOOL

Local investigations successfully have researched the organic fertilizer’s impact on

plants’ development, the novel methods of which are to include mealworms feeding off
waste paper as a sustainable option. To illustrate, for example, researcher analyzed
the effect of organic fertilizer that are usually not used by farmers for a better growth of
tomato plants and high quality of tomato fruit. In the same way, Food waste wastes like
mealworm from waste paper is a fertilizer improved the nutrient uptake and overall plant
health according to the study carried out by researcher Moreover, Researcher stressed
the environmental merits of the organic fertilizers that they mentioned as materials that
could contribute to decreased chemical substances in agriculture and fostering
sustainable agriculture. This study carried out in a local context by various researchers
in fact show that the application of organic fertilizers from mealworm-eaten but recycled
waste paper might improve the plant growth, yield, and sustainability of the local tomato
agriculture system.

RESPONDENT OF THE STUDY

The respondent of the study were Grade 11 all strand students of Eclaro Academy
School conducted on 20th of January, 2024. One of the vital processes to keep this
study successful. All of these participants were selected through random sampling. This
sampling method is conducted where each member of a population has a capability to
become part of the sample.

The chosen respondent are composed of one hundred (100) respondents from
randomly selected students of Eclaro Academy School in Grade 11 level. The
respondent are 45 - male and 55 – female

RESEARCH INSTRUMENT

The instrument used are questionnaires that used to survey the STEM student in Eclaro
Academy about The Effects of Organic Fertilizer from Mealworm-Digested paper waste
on Tomato plant. The questionnaires are consisted of five (5), This questionnaires about
the effects of organic fertilizer from mealworm-digested paper waste on tomato plant.
The respondent answered this questions using of like scale

1 - Strongly agree, 2 - Agree, 3 - Disagree and 4 - Strongly Disagree.

 DATA GATHERING

The data gathering at the study meeting on the influence of the organic fertilizer
produced from the digested paper waste of the mealworm on the tomato plant usually
involves the collection of various sorts of data to look through the impact of the fertilizer
on plant growth and development. This procedure can involve the measurement of
different parameters e.g. plant height, leaf size, fruit yield, and nutrient content of soil or
plants, besides Assessing the overall health and disease resistance of tomato plants.
The data may be harvested at the selected intervals throughout the plant growth period
to check the rate of progress and reflect the organic fertilizing efficiency. Statistical
analysis is usually used to analyze the collected data and draw conclusions concerning
the profit from utilizing mealworm-digested paper waste as an organic fertilizer for
tomato crops.