Reviewing for Mock Defense

Cherry Tomato Germination

The process of growing cherry tomato seeds in standard soil depths for a specific duration to encourage germination before transplanting.

Measuring of Agronomic Parameters

The assessment of cherry tomato growth parameters such as plant height, stem girth, number of fruits, and leaf area at regular intervals; ending after six weeks of observation.

Soil Sampling

The collection of soil samples at the beginning and end of the experiment, including composite sampling and destructive sampling for analysis.

Testing of Soil Samples

The separation of soil samples for NPK and pH level testing, water retention testing, and microbiome testing in specific laboratories. All tests will be conducted in the University of the Philippines Los Baños.

Two-Factor Factorial MANOVA

The test that will be used for statistical data through comparison of means and standard deviation

La Salle Botanical Gardens

lahar-laden soil will be collected from this area

Ramgo Seeds

Cherry tomato seeds will be obtained from this distributor

UPLB Museum of Natural History

 The grown desmodium will be sourced from Pampanga and then will be identified in this area

PlantCulture

Rice hull will be acquired from this area

Two barrel metal retort method

Rice hull biochar will be created through pyrolysis using this method

Control Group

lahar-laden soil and cherry tomatoes

Treatment Groups

• lahar-laden soil, cherry tomatoes, and desmodium

• lahar-laden soil, cherry tomatoes, and rice hull biochar

• lahar-laden soil, cherry tomatoes, rice hull biochar, and desmodium

30 Samples and 3 Samples

Amount of samples from each control and treatment group, which results to 120 samples; however for microbiome X samples will be taken which results to 12 samples

The Issues of Lahar-Laden Soil

• poor water retention

• lacking microbiome

• low fertility

The reason for using companion planting desmodium with cherry tomatoes

This study aims to explore if companion planting desmodium with cherry tomatoes will provide new findings or similar results as the aforementioned papers

The 4 Elements of the Research

• Lahar-Laden Soil

• Cherry Tomatoes

• Desmodium

• Rice hull biochar

The aim of the use of biochar

The effects of rice hull biochar on a companion plant system of desmodium-cherry tomato.

The Impacts of Desmodium as a Companion Plant for Cherry Tomato and the Application of Rice Hull Biochar on the Soil Quality of Lahar-laden Sandy Soil.

The Title of the Research

The Limits of the Research

• testing will be limited to lahar-laden soil

• biochar will be the only type of soil ammendment used

• rice hull will be the only material for the biochar

• companion planting will be the only planting technique utilized

• only cherry tomatoes and desmodium will be used for companion planting

The Data expected

• increase the agronomic parameter measurements of the cherry tomatoes

• increase the abundance of both bacteria and fungi within lahar-laden soil

• increase the soil nutrient content of N, P, K in lahar-laden soil

• optimize the soil pH in lahar-laden soil

Independent Variables

Companion Planting and Biochar

Dependent Variables

• Soil Microbiome

• Water Retention

• NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium)

• Agronomic Parameters

• pH levels

Research Objective

Observe the effects of utilizing rice hull biochar and companion planting desmodium with cherry tomatoes on the water retention, microbiome, fertility, and nutrient uptake

Research Question

How can a desmodium-cherry tomato companion planting system with rice-hull biochar improve the soil quality of lahar-laden soil?

5 Weeks

The amount of time the cherry tomato seeds will be left to germinate

3-5 cm

The standard soil depth for the cherry tomato seeds

Daily

Amount of times the cherry tomato seeds will be watered in order to encourage germination

1.2% and 3 days

Biochar will be evenly mixed with a mass rate of X% on lahar-laden soil and will be left for X days before transplanting

5 leaves

Seedlings with X leaves will be selected for the potted experiment after germination

30 cm

The distance between the grown desmodium and cherry tomato seedlings

20 cm

Before planting samples will be randomly collected from the lahar-laden soil at a depth of X cm

12 weeks and destructive sampling

At X weeks, after planting, X sampling will be done to collect rhizosphere soil samples from the uprooted cherry tomato plants.

Composite Sampling

X sampling will be done

Sterile Bottles

the soil samples will be contained in this

2 weeks

Agronomic parameters of the cherry tomatoes will be measured every X weeks after transplanting.

• Plant Height

• Stem Girth

• Number of fruits

• Leaf area

Agronomic parameters will consist of these features

2 mm mesh

Soil Samples will be sieved using this

Randomized Complete Block Design

This will be conducted as a potted experiment through X with one control group and three treatment groups

Adebajo et al., 2020

The pyrolysis via the two-barrel metal retort method came from this source as well as the measuring of the Agronomic Parameters and Cherry Tomato Germination

Harbur et al., 2023

The randomized complete block design with one control group and three treatment groups came from this source

He et al., 2021 & Shi et al., 2020

only cherry tomato seedlings with five leaves will be chosen for the transplant as it signifies the plant’s first set of true leaves, these sources came from these people; as well was the Setting-up of Control and Treatment Groups

Chinakwe et al., 2019

This source is where the process of Cherry Tomato Germination unfolds as well as soil samples being collected in sterile bottles

Angeles & Cinense, 2022

This source established the soil depths of cherry tomato seeds, collection of rhizosphere soil samples, and the use of a 2 mm mesh to sieve collected soil

True Experimental

The research will be carried out as a X research design in order to obtain quantitative data

Order of Methods

• Research Design

• Material Sourcing

• Cherry Tomato Germnation

• Setting-up of Control and Treatment Groups

• Measuring of Argonomic Parameters

• Soil Sampling

• Sample Sizes

• Testing of Soil Samples

• Data Analysis

30 samples and 3 samples

All of the variables will be tested via X amount of samples from each control and treatment group, resulting in 120 samples with the exception of microbiome. The sampling size for microbiome will be X samples randomly selected from the X samples from the control and treatment resulting in a total of 12 samples.

Soil Monitor, UPLB, Agricultural Systems Institute, Institute of Biological Sciences

The types of testing for soil samples