The Effect of Dried Papaya Leaves as Organic Mulch on the Growth of Tomato Plant (Lycopersicon esculentum)

By: Giolo Cadhit, Lorenzo Torres, Josh Banayad 2N

Problem Statement:How does the presence of dried papaya leaf mulch affect the growth rate of tomato plants?

HYPOTHESISIf there is a relationship between the presence of dried papaya leaves and the growth of Lycopersicon esculentum, then the growth rate of the tomato plant will be at its best when dried papaya leaves used as organic mulch are given to it in moderation. 

Significance of the study

This study aims to benefit farmers and the economy.

It will help put the papaya leaves to good use instead of burning it.

It will also pave the way into “organic farming” which is a healthier more earth-friendly way to farm.

We hope to be able to find a cheaper means of farming but still reliable.

Significance of the Study (cont.)

Can benefit households that plant their own vegetables. Can also benefit gardening in general. Papaya leaves

are organic are always readily available. Mulches are environment-friendly and are not

poisonous to both humans and the environment. This study will directly benefit farming, particularly those

that do it on a small scale basis. The researchers believe that based on this experiment,

the same principle can be applied to mulches in general.

Objectives

To the relation between papaya leaf mulch and the growth rate of tomato plants

To measure the height of the plants precisely

To compare the set-up of plants with and without dried papaya leaf mulch

Scope and Limitations

This study will only test the growth of the plant in terms of its colour and height.

We will only test the presence of dried papaya leaves as mulch.

We will not test how the amount of mulch or the thickness of its leaves will affect the growth.

We will only use tomato plants for this experiment.

The experiment will only last for 5 weeks only.

Background of the study

Mulches are any material used to cover the surface of soil. It is used for insulation, cleanliness and controlling unwanted plants such as weeds. Mulches can help improve the quality of the plants planted in them. In our IP we will use a natural mulch taken from dried papaya leaves on a tomato plant. Research suggests that using grass/ leaves as a mulch, is highly recommended for tomato plants. This is because they add nutrients to the soil as they decompose. We hope that this will help the growth of the plant.

Background of the Study (cont.)

Tomato is today the most popular garden vegetable in America. For many years, however, tomatoes (then called "love apples") were considered poisonous and were grown solely for their ornamental value. Tomatoes are usually easy to grow and a few plants provide an adequate harvest for most families. The quality of fruit picked in the garden when fully ripe far surpasses anything available on the market, even in season. The tomato plant is a tender, warm-season perennial that is grown as an annual in summer gardens all over the continental United States. Spring and fall freezes limit the outdoor growing season.

Background of the Study (cont.)

Papaya leaves (Carica papaya) comes from tropical trees with a straight stem marked by scars where leaves have fallen directly from. It contains many nutrients like calcium, carpain and vitamin C. It is also slightly alkaline in pH level (7.5-8.5). We wanted to test if its pH level would be effective in helping the tomato plant grow faster.

Materials

100g dried papaya leavesLabeling materials (marker and tape)500g loam soilMortar and pestle10-500g pots12 cm ruler10-2cm tomato plantWater

Methodology

20g of crushed leaves were sprinkled atop each of the pots labeled “B”.

The dried papaya leaves were crushed and grounded using the mortar and pestle

5 of the pots were labeled “A”, while 5 other pots were labeled “B”

The 10-2cm tomato plants were placed into each pot

500g of loam soil was put into the 10 pots

The materials were gathered.

Methodology(cont.)

The plants were watered twice a day for 5 weeks.

The data was recorded and observe.

The plants were measured after the end of every week.(in cm)

Qualitative Observations on the Tomato Plant Set-ups

Set-up Parts Before Mulch

Exposure

After One Week

Tomato Plant Light Green leafs (8) Dark Green leafs (2-3),

taller

Dried Papaya Leaf

Mulch

Damp Dry, bad smell

Plant Set-up A (Plants without Mulch)

Plant Initial

Oct. 14

(cm)

Week 1

Oct. 21

(cm)

Week 2

Oct. 28

(cm)

Week 3

Nov. 4

(cm)

Week 4

Nov. 11

(cm)

Week 5

Nov. 18

(cm)

A1 1.512.45 3.01 3.77 5.42 7.79

A2 1.653.81 4.00 4.31 7.37 8.89

A3 2.494.93 5.25 5.96 8.00 9.55

A4 2.152.57 2.78 3.39 5.00 7.14

A5 2.314.10 4.44 4.88 7.18 8.30

A Ave. 2.0223.572 3.896 4.462 6.596 8.334

Plant Set-up B (Plants with 20g Mulch)

Plant Initial

Oct. 14

(cm)

Week 1

Oct. 21

(cm)

Week 2

Oct. 28

(cm)

Week 3

Nov. 4

(cm)

Week 4

Nov. 11

(cm)

Week 5

Nov. 18

(cm)

B1 2.004.62 5.13 5.79 7.56 9.56

B2 2.315.36 5.87 6.34 9.12 10.27

B3 1.724.78 5.28 5.76 8.23 9.71

B4 3.005.61 6.21 7.07 9.66 10.53

B5 1.903.67 4.26 4.99 6.95 8.86

B Ave. 2.1864.808 5.350 5.990 8.304 9.786

Growth Rate of Tomato Plants

Height of plant (cm)

Number of weeks

Summary of Data and Observations

All plants are still healthy because of the color of their leaves. By week 5, the average height of the A plants is 8.334 cm (6.312 cm more than initial average height). The average height of the B plants by week 5 is 9.786 cm (7.600 cm more than initial average height).

Analysis of Data

As the data shows, the average growth of plants in set-up B was about an inch and a half higher. This proves that the dried papaya leaf mulch was effective in making plants grow taller. The observation that states that both plants had vibrant green leaves prove that both plants were healthy despite set-up A plants having a slower growth rate compared to its counterpart.

Discussion of Results

Based on the data the researchers have gathered, we can see how the set-ups with dried papaya leaf mulch had a higher growth rate than those without. After the allotted time for the experiment, all the plants from the mulch set-up grew at least 7cm higher with the highest growing 8cm higher. On the other hand the set-ups without mulch only grew at least 5cm taller with the highest growing only 7cm taller.

Pictures of Tomato Plant Set-ups(all pictures were taken on nov. 12, 2012)

Plant A3 (without mulch) is pale green and grew 3.47 cm since initial measuring.

Pictures (cont.)

Plant B1 (with 20 g mulch) is dark green and grew 3.79 cm since initial measuring. The mulch is damp.

Pictures (cont.)

Josh Banayad is measuring Plant B5. It is dark green & grew 3.09 cm since initial measuring.

The mulch is also damp (newly changed).

Conlusion

The researchers therefore conclude that using dried papaya leaves as mulch for tomato plant helps in its growth rate. Dried papaya leaves have nutrients that help nurture the soil so that it will be more favourable conditions for the growth of tomato plants. Also, the researchers found out that dried papaya leaves are basic and therefore help make the soil in which tomato plants grow more neutral. This is important because studies by Matt Goasdone, Jamie Dufault, and Andrew Charlton (students who made similar experiment) have shown that neutral pH levels of soil are the most favourable conditions for a tomato plant to grow in.

Recommendations

1. All plants could be at the same initial height at the start of the experiment to have more consistent data and to see the growth with more precision.

2. Based on the researcher’s further research, testing dried papaya leafs as insect repellants would be a more effective topic than testing its characteristic as alkaline mulch.

3. There could have been a set-up in which a commercial fertilizer was used to be able to compare the mulch's attributes to fertilizers used by farmers all around the country.

4. The set-ups could have been observed for at least two more weeks to check if the growth rate for both set-ups would have remained constant or changed over time.

Sources

Papaya Leaf (http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/learn/papaya_leaf.php)

Tomato (http://urbanext.illinois.edu/veggies/tomato.cfm) Mulching (http://homeguides.sfgate.com/procedures-using-

dried-papaya-leaves-organic-mulch-tomato-plants-59227.html)

How to Make Mulch (http://www.ehow.com/how_2292947_make-mulch.html)

www.ehow.com/how_2292947_make-mulch.html www.investigatoryprojectexample.com/science/dried-papaya-leaves-as-organic-mulch-for-tomato-plants.html www.msucares.com/lawn/garden/vegetables/mulching/ http://homeguides.sfgate.com/procedures-using-dried-papaya-leaves-organic-mulch-