INTRODUCTION

Background of the Study

Helianthus or sunflower is a genus of plants comprising about 70

species. Except for three species in South America, all Helianthus species

are native to North America. Sunflowers are cultivated

in temperate regions and some tropical regions as food crops for humans,

cattle, and poultry, and as ornamental plants (Shorter Oxford English

Dictionary, 2008).

Sunflower oil is a valued and healthy vegetable oil and sunflower

seeds are enjoyed as a healthy, tasty snack and nutritious ingredient to

many foods. Sunflower is an important agricultural crop choice for US

producers in the northern plains of the Dakotas to the panhandle of

Texas (National Sunflower Association, 2010). While in the Philippines

Sunflower is produced at the northern most part of the country for its

aesthetic and various uses.

Vermicasting also called worm castings, worm humus, worm

manure, or worm feces is the end-product of the breakdown of organic

matter by earthworms. These castings have been shown to contain

reduced levels of contaminants and a higher saturation of nutrients than

the organic materials before vermicomposting (Ndegwa et al., 2015).

Fermented Fruit Juice (FFJ) is an artificial honey. It is a nutritional

activation enzyme and is very effective in natural farming. FFJ is a kind of

FPJ that only uses fruits as its main ingredients. It is used to revitalize

crops, livestock and humans. As the main fruit ingredients we can use

Banana, Papaya, Mango, Grape, Melon, Apple etc. The fruits must be

sweet (South Asia Rural Reconstruction Association, 2015).

This liquid have nutritional activation enzymes and help to

increase nutrients in the soil and therefore in the plants growing in it,

especially potassium levels. It is commonly used as a foliar spray to

enhance flowering and fruiting stage (Cavite State University, 2016).

The cultivation of Sunflower in the Philippines is being done via

conventional method by the means of readily available synthetic fertilizer

from the farm supplies, in return which contributes to the acidity of the

soil. Concoctions Such as FFJ are gaining much popularity and

reputation in aiding the productivity of the crops especially to those

farmers who are in Organic Farming Production.

Currently there is no research conducted studying the performance

of sunflower applied with vermicompost and FFJ. Knowing the beneficial

effect of FFJ in the plant, this study will be conducted.

 Objectives of the Study

Generally, this study aims to assess the performance of sunflower as

influenced by FFJ Concoction.

Specifically, this study will be conducted to:

1. determine the growth performance of sunflower as influenced by

Fermented Fruit Juice (FFJ) Concoction.

2. determine the yield performance of sunflower as influenced by

Fermented Fruit Juice (FFJ) Concoction.

3. evaluate the cost and return analysis of sunflower as influenced by

Fermented Fruit Juice (FFJ) Concoction.

Significance of the Study

The result of this study will give information about the effect of the

Fermented Fruit Juice (FFJ) Concoction to the growth, yield and

development of sunflower as most farmers in Agusan del Sur do not have

much knowledge about concoctions. Hence, this study is being conducted

to benefit farmers about this new kind of technology and become a

reference to new researchers.

Scope and Delimitation of the Study

The study will be delimited only on the growth and yield

performance of sunflower as influenced by Fermented Fruit Juice (FFJ)

Concoction.
 Time and Place of the Study

The study will be conducted at Agusan del Sur State College of

Agriculture and Technology, Vegetable Plantation Area on the month of

August year 2019.

Operational Definitions of Terms

Concoctions are a tonic solution for plant made from fish, plant parts

or fruit that are mixed with sugar or molasses that are fermented in an

earthen jar.

Fermentation is the process in which a substance breaks down into a

simpler substance. Microorganisms like yeast and bacteria usually

play a role in the fermentation process, creating beer, wine, bread,

kimchi, yogurt, and other foods.

Fermented Fruit Juice is a nutritional activation enzyme produced

from fermenting sweet ripe fruits with sugar or molasses and is very

effective in natural farming for flowering and fruit set to plants.

Florets a group of flower buds that are part of a plant.

Flower the part of a plant that is often brightly colored, that usually

lasts a short time, and from which the seed or fruit develops.

Foliar Spray a process of fertilizing via foliage application.

Irrigation refers to the watering of land by artificial means to foster

plant growth.

Sunflower a tall plant that has very large yellow flowers and that

produces seeds which can be eaten.

Vermicast is the product of vermicasting which utilizes earthworms in

decomposing organic materials.

Vermicasting Vermicasting, also called vermicomposting, is the

processing of organic wastes through earthworms.

Yield is the amount of the harvest produced by the plant e.g fruits.
 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Botany of Sunflower

The plant has an erect rough-hairy stem, reaching typical heights of

3 meters (9.8 ft). The tallest sunflower on record achieved 9.17 meters

(Adam, 2011). Sunflower leaves are broad, coarsely toothed, rough and

mostly alternate. What is often called the "flower" of the sunflower is

actually a "flower head" or pseudanthium of numerous small individual

five-petaled flowers ("florets"). The outer flowers, which resemble petals,

are called ray flowers. Each "petal" consists of a ligule composed of fused

petals of an asymmetrical ray flower. They are sexually sterile and may be

yellow, red, orange, or other colors (Knott, 2009). The flowers in the center

of the head are called disk flowers. These mature into fruit (sunflower

"seeds"). The disk flowers are arranged spirally. Generally, each floret is

oriented toward the next by approximately the golden angle, 137.5°,

producing a pattern of interconnecting spirals, where the number of left

spirals and the number of right spirals are successive Fibonacci numbers.

Typically, there are 34 spirals in one direction and 55 in the other;

however, in a very large sunflower head, there could be 89 in one

direction and 144 in the other (Knott, 2009). This pattern produces the

most efficient packing of seeds mathematically possible within the flower

head (Motloch, 2012).

 Vermicompost

Vermicompost is a dark brown/black humus like coarse materials,

soft and feel and free from any foul smell, live weed seeds, and other

contaminations. Mucus types substance coated on each particle that

increases aeration in the soil provides excellent water retention properties

and improves the drainage in heavy soils. It contains sufficient moisture

(25-35%) at the time of packing. Vermicast on subsequent use has been

found to provide at least 20-30 percent more nutrients. This ability can

continuously reduce the quantities of vermicast used in the field over long

durations (Karmayog, 2015).

Nutrient Contents of FFJ

FFJ is used as a fertilizer to enhance fruit quality, as a feed

supplement for animals, and as a food supplement for humans. In

general, FFJ is generally used more during the flowering and fruiting

stage.

This is a sample in the nutrient content of Organic Banana used as FFJ

(Selisana, 2016).

Nutrient (mg/Kg) FFJ

Nitrogen (N) 429.47
Phosphorus (P) 61.87
Potassium (K) 120.17
Calcium (Ca) 307.23
Magnesium (Mg) 119.55
Sodium (Na) 51.15
Iron (Fe) 15.07
Copper (Cu) 0.75
Manganese (Mn) 2.19
Zinc (Zn) 1.97
 Association of FFJ and FPJ

The experiment consisted of five treatments of fermented plant juice

(FPJ) and fermented fruit juice (FFJ). The treated plants with FPJ and FFJ

produced early flowers and fruits compared to untreated plants due to the

enhanced production of auxin and essential nutrients. Total soluble solids

were also observed to increase after 10 weeks of FPJ and FFJ application.

Photosynthesis rate increased in all treatments except T3; while

transpiration rate increased only at T4 compared to control. The findings

we clearly suggested to use both combinations as FPJ water spinach for

enhancing the vegetative growth of tomato plants than FPJ bamboo

shoots (T3 and T5), while FFJ pineapple for better reproductive

development of tomato plants rather than FFJ banana (T5) for ensuring

future sustainable eco-friendly agriculture practices (Bangladesh Journal

of Bothany, 2017).

Other Studies of Fermented Fruit Juice

Results from this single experiment revealed a positive response to

the application of this organic fertilizer for seven out of ten evaluated

variables. Root fresh weight was the most responsive with an increment of

64% over the control, followed by leaf area (50% plus), leaf fresh weight

(48% plus) and leaf dry weight (46% plus). Height, diameter, and stem dry

weight were also 21%, 29% and 45% higher (P < 0.05) than the control,

respectively. Leaf number, and stem fresh and dry weight were not

significantly different between the treated plants and the control. Based
on these results, it is concluded that the fermented fruit waste solution

may be used as a fertilizer to promote growth of leaf and root biomass in

nursery seedlings, and may be a valuable fertilization resource in organic

agriculture after testing its effects on different crops under different

conditions (Russo, 2014).