Document Type
Paper presentation
School Name
Saint Louis College
School Code
00029
Abstract / Executive Summary
This study focuses on creating hydrogel from goat manure (Capra aegagrus hircus) as a sustainable solution to help farmers mitigate the effects of El Niño. Goat manure is a rich natural fertilizer containing essential nutrients such as organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, phosphorus pentoxide, and potassium oxide that support healthy crop & plant growth. The research aimed to create a fertilizing absorbent hydrogel using goat manure and assess its impact on plant height, number of fruits, and soil water-holding capacity. In this study, the researchers used an experimental research design aligned with descriptive quantitative approach, and the study was conducted at Saint Louis College, Carlatan, San Fernando City, La Union. The statistical tools used for analysis were mean and ANOVA. Different hydrogel formulations were tested, and the best-performing one was compared with a commercial hydrogel and a controlled formulation. Results showed that the amount of goat manure significantly influenced plant height and water retention capacity. Specifically, higher concentrations of goat manure resulted in greater yield and improved soil moisture absorption, although a moderate amount showed the most notable increase in plant height. There was a significant difference between the experimental and control groups, but no significant difference between the experimental and commercial hydrogel and controlled and commercialized treatments. These findings suggest that goat manure-based hydrogel can serve as an effective and eco-friendly alternative to commercial hydrogels. It was recommended that the farmers should utilize this product as an alternative to commercialized hydrogel for their crops.
Keywords:
Goat manure; hydrogel; plant yields; soil; water capacity
Goat (Capra aegagrus hircus) manure as a fertilizing absorbent hydrogel for sustainable soil agriculture
This study focuses on creating hydrogel from goat manure (Capra aegagrus hircus) as a sustainable solution to help farmers mitigate the effects of El Niño. Goat manure is a rich natural fertilizer containing essential nutrients such as organic carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, phosphorus pentoxide, and potassium oxide that support healthy crop & plant growth. The research aimed to create a fertilizing absorbent hydrogel using goat manure and assess its impact on plant height, number of fruits, and soil water-holding capacity. In this study, the researchers used an experimental research design aligned with descriptive quantitative approach, and the study was conducted at Saint Louis College, Carlatan, San Fernando City, La Union. The statistical tools used for analysis were mean and ANOVA. Different hydrogel formulations were tested, and the best-performing one was compared with a commercial hydrogel and a controlled formulation. Results showed that the amount of goat manure significantly influenced plant height and water retention capacity. Specifically, higher concentrations of goat manure resulted in greater yield and improved soil moisture absorption, although a moderate amount showed the most notable increase in plant height. There was a significant difference between the experimental and control groups, but no significant difference between the experimental and commercial hydrogel and controlled and commercialized treatments. These findings suggest that goat manure-based hydrogel can serve as an effective and eco-friendly alternative to commercial hydrogels. It was recommended that the farmers should utilize this product as an alternative to commercialized hydrogel for their crops.
