Testing the effectiveness of mulch paper as

fertilizer on the growth rate of mung bean

A Quantitative Research
presented to
BALAYAN SENIOR HIGHSCHOOL
Caloocan, Balayan, Batangas

In partial fulfillment of requirements in

Brennan C. Castromero
Isabela D. Rivera

STEM 12 ISABELO DELOS REYES

Irish Joy Inciong

This study explored the capabilities of mulch paper as an alternative to traditional fertilizer in

increasing growth of Mung bean (Vigna radiata). To test this, two plant pots were quartered with each

quarter having enough space to sow the Mung bean seeds. One set up was assigned without mulch

paper (Set up A), and the other set up with mulch paper (Set up B); each was watered daily with one

tablespoon and the height and leaf count were recorded for one week. Through the use of paired t-

tests, it was determined that there was a significant difference between the height and leaf count of set

up A compared to set up B, with a significant value of 0.042 for plant height difference and 0.036 for

plant leaf count, it was concluded that there was a significant difference with the presence of mulch

paper. Nonetheless, the testing had flaws such as one quarter of set up A, without mulch paper, not

sprouting. This could have caused a problem in the statistics, therefore it needed another set of

experimentation, however with the limited time it considered impossible by the researchers.
 Chapter I

Introduction

Background of the study

Paper is a common household material used in many products as a biodegradable alternative to

plastic, as such any product that is mainly made of paper has the property to be broken down naturally

by micro-organisms through composting, aerobic digestion, anaerobic digestion and other similar

processes.

People have used a variety of instruments for the growth and development of their crops,

leading to a larger, more abundant, and healthier harvest overall. The most common technique is to use

commercial products such as fertilizers. The major problem with chemical fertilizers is groundwater

contamination. Nitrogen fertilizers breakdown into nitrates, which are easily absorbed by the soil. The

addition of more nitrogen over time has an accumulative effect since it is water soluble and can remain

in groundwater for years. (Sustainablebabysteps.com, 2017).

Mulch is used in commercial crop production and in gardening to improve the soil productivity

by retaining moisture in the soil, suppress weeds, and keep the soil cool, organic mulches also help

improve the soil’s structure, drainage, and nutrient-holding capacity as they decompose.

It would mean that paper, a material with biodegradable properties, can be used as mulch and it

could help the increase growth of plants by being an alternative to chemical fertilizers.

Statement of the Problem

Paper waste is a main issue most school and office settings face, with no other place to reuse

paper products, it is segregated and discarded accordingly by the municipal agents to be made into

compost or processed to create a new product made of biodegradable materials.

Reusing biodegradable materials, especially food waste, can only be made into several

materials, compost being the most common and useful to the common consumer, however in situations
where paper is more abundant than food waste, the options are very limited when it comes to the

common consumer.

In order to test the effectiveness of mulch paper as an alternative to fertilizer, it will be tested

on mung beans (Vigna radiata) and measure the growth through plant height and amount of leaves

present.

The study aims to answer the following questions:

• Does the mulch paper effectively act as a fertilizer on the growth of mung beans, and

how significant are the effects?

• How much can be attributed to the mulch paper acting as fertilizer?

Scope and Limitations

The study entitled The Effectiveness of Mulch Paper as Fertilizer on the Growth of Mung

Bean (Vigna radiata) is intended mainly to test the feasibility of mulch paper as an alternative

fertilizer for plant growth. The researchers were primarily concerned with using mung bean (Vigna

radiata) as the research variable due to its quick germination, affordability, and availability.

Discarded pieces of A4 size bond paper and crafting paper were the chief resource used in the

study collected from students' educational resources, such as modules and scratch sheets, which

were then shredded and used as a component of the alternative fertilizer. In this experiment, the

effectiveness of mulch paper was predetermined by the height of the plants and the number of

leaves only. The use of mulch paper as an alternative fertilizer will directly benefit the agricultural

sector, particularly farmers, gardeners, and even local residents, by producing abundant, healthy

crops at an economical and easily accessible price. Mulch paper is also biodegradable, emitting

less harmful chemicals, making it an efficient source of natural plant nutrients that contributes

significantly to the environment.

The analysis on the viability of using mulch paper as an alternative fertilizer for crop and

plant growth offers an alternative product for a much more affordable and accessible fertilizer that

will considerably aid the agricultural sector, including farmers, gardeners, and even local residents,

in terms of growing healthy crops and producing a bountiful harvest. The study's findings propose

a solution to the country's waste disposal management problem through an environmentally

beneficial approach, notably recycling, because vast amounts of discarded paper accumulate in

schools, offices, and other niches left without effective management. Future researchers will

benefit from this work by providing ideas for refining this research and creating further solutions

to environmental challenges.

Conceptual Framework

Material
gathering

Shredding of
used paper

Sowing mung Sowing mung

Mulch paper
affectivity
assay

Statistical
analysis

Conclusion
Definition of terms

Mulch – material spread around or over a plant to enrich or insulate the soil.

Fertilizer – a chemical or natural substance added to soil or land to increase its fertility.

Mung bean – an erect bushy annual bean that is widely cultivated in warm regions for its edible usually

green or yellow seeds

Biodegradable – a substance or object capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other living

organisms.

Agriculture – the science or practice of farming, including cultivation of the soil for the growing of crops

and the rearing of animals to provide food.

Review of related literature

Introduction

Paper is one of the wastes generated in schools, offices, and other facilities that piles up and

contributes to trash pollution in the Philippines.

This research could benefit the society and the environment by recycling paper waste into an

organic plant fertilizer, which could also aid in the production of better crops, which is useful to the

agricultural industry.

The researchers are all interested in the topic since it may be used to develop a strategy for

safeguarding the environment while also producing high-quality agricultural products.

The use of mulch on the growth of garlic

Garlic is sensitive to drastic changes in temperature and moisture levels, greatly affecting the

yield by at least 60%. And when compared to garlic grown in bare soil and wheat and straw mulch, bare

soil had a garlic survival rate of 85% in the winter and the mulch with 95% survival rate. (Yimer, 2020).

Mulching, especially done on plants that have stricter needs compared to other, can have a

more positive effect on their growth and yield, as well as helping some plants survive changes in climate

and temperature by retaining the soil moisture and temperature.

Improving soil quality through mulching

Soil quality, such as soil water, organic carbon and nitrogen, determines the growth of plants in

terms of being able to produce or retain more nutrients and water, most agricultural areas lose

nutrients after multiple seasons, which means crop yields acfter consecutive seasons decrease without

proper treatment or care.

According to a study done by Dong, Q., Yang, Y., Yu, K., and Feng, H in 2018 entitled “Effects of

straw mulching and plastic film mulching on improving soil organic carbon and nitrogen fractions, crop
yield and water use efficiency in the Loess Plateau, China” there was an increase in soil water in both the

straw and plastic mulch. There was also an increase in microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen

concentrations, however there was a decrease of dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen in plastic mulch

but an increase in straw mulch.

Organic compost made from paper

Paper is a common biodegradable material used in many products, it is commonly found in

schools and office environments. Since it is made of organic material, it typically contains 90–99%

cellulose fibers which is the primary structural element of paper, that means it can break down and

release energy back as it decomposes.

Certain elements and nutrients can be released back into the soil when organic matter

breaksdown and decomposes such as in the study of Souza, R., Frazão, L., Veloso, M., Sampaio, R., and

Fernandes, L entitled “Successive crops of lettuce fertilized with organic compost produced from

cellulose paper residues” where there was an increase in Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium and

Magnesium, as well as an increase in pH and soil organic carbon which lead to highter soil fertility.

Increasing Poplar yield using paper byproduct

Fibercake residuals or paper mill biosolids are solid wastes composed of organic matter that

came from the pulping of wood during the production of paper from paper mills. Once broken down and

it decomposes, these residuals can provide necessary nutrients back to increase the yield of a plant.

According to a study done by Rogers, E., Zalesny, R., Benzel, T., and Wiese, A. Entitled

“Establishment of poplars in soils amended with fibercake residuals from paper and containerboard

production” the fiber cake residuals was able to provide amount of Nitrogen that can lead to an increase

of Poplar yield.
 Synthesis

Mulch, in general, limits the growth of undesirable weeds while enriching the soil, allowing plants to

thrive. According to the findings presented, mulching as an agriculture approach promotes plant growth

and productivity while also assisting some plants in surviving changes in environment and temperature

by conserving soil moisture and temperature. Furthermore, mulching enhances microbial biomass

carbon and nitrogen concentrations, which act as the plant's nutrient soil. In recent years, paper is a

potential nutrient-rich fertilizer that improves overall plant quality. Paper mulch has been discovered to

improve components such as Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium, and Magnesium, as well as pH and soil

organic carbon, resulting in higher soil fertility. In general, upcycling paper as plant fertilizer through

mulching successfully promotes plant development and nourishment, which will considerably assist

agriculture as well as the environment by reducing waste generated in facilities such as schools and

offices.

Hypotheses

Null Hypothesis:

• There is no significant difference in the number of leaves and plant height of mung beans (Vigna

radiata) from the implementation of mulch paper as an alternative to fertilizer.

Alternative Hypothesis:

• There is a significant difference in the number of leaves and plant height of mung beans (Vigna

radiata) from the implementation of mulch paper as an alternative to fertilizer.

Methodology

Materials

The following materials were used in the experiment: two (2) plant pots, one (1) measuring

spoon, mung beans, shredded used paper, donated by a friend of the researchers, and loam soil.

The experiment was conducted on Plaza Burgos St. Balayan, Batangas for one (1) week

measuring the height of the plant and the number of leaves it grew every day for seven (7) days and

collecting the data to be then analyzed.

General Procedure

1. Material Gathering

The shredded paper was first collected from a colleague of the researchers that was willing to

donate shredded used craft paper and paper used in school modules for distance learning. The mung

beans were planted in pairs in the plant pot in 2cm holes, with the pot being quartered into four (4)

equal spaces using cardboard. There are two set ups for the experiment, one had soil alone, and the

other had mulch paper on top of the surrounding soil.

The constant factors observed in the study were the amount of sunlight, amount of water and

the same type of plant material in the pots, the only independent factor was the presence of mulch

paper in one of the set ups.

2. Paper mulch affectivity assey

In order to test the effectiveness of the mulch paper in promoting plant growth of mung bean

plants, 2cm holes were dug in the soil of the pot, in one set up it had no presence of mulch paper, on the

other, the surrounding soil was covered in 2-3cm high paper mulch in a 1cm radius of the hole the mung

bean was sowed into.

2 independent t tests were used for plant height and number of leaves separately to determine

if there was a significant difference in the effectiveness of the mulch paper on average plant growth

measured in terms of height and leaf count of said plant.

Results and Discussions

Results

In order to test the effectivity of mulch paper in promoting growth in the mung beans, the

experiment only lasted for one (1) week due to time constraints that would possibly hinder the

completion of the paper on time. The experiment started on January 13, 2022 and data collection lasted

until January 20, 2022, measurements of the plants’ height and leaf count was done every day. The

results were summarized below

Day1 Day2 Day3 Day4 Day5 Day6 Day7

Set up A 0cm 0cm 0.4cm 2.1cm 5cm 7.1cm 9.3cm

(No mulch

paper)

Setup B 0cm 0cm 0.6cm 4.2cm 7.9cm 10.4cm 14.6cm

(Mulch

paper)

(This table shows the average height difference of set up A and B within the week)

Day1 Day2 Day3 Day4 Day5 Day6 Day7

Set up A 0 leaves 0 leaves 0 leaves 0.5 leaves 1.25 1.75 2.5 leaves

(No mulch leaves leaves

paper)

Setup B 0 leaves 0 leaves 0.25 1.25 3.25 4 leaves 4 leaves

(Mulch leaves leaves leaves

(This table shows the average difference in number of leaves in set up A and B within the week)
 It can be noted that while all the of the plant material in Set up B sprouted, one quarter of the

pot did not sprout any plants which could affect the data analysis of the study. However, it can be

noticed that the mung beans that had mulch paper had a much larger yield in terms of height and

number of leaves.

In order to determine if there is a significant difference between the height in set up A and B

and a significant difference between the leaf count of set up A and B, the data underwent a paired

samples t-test. It was determined that there was a significant difference among the height and leaf

count of the two set ups as indicated by significant value of 0.042 for plant height between set up A and

B and a significant value of 0.036 for leaf count between set ups. It can be then inferred that by the

presence of mulch paper, there is a significant increase in plant height.

Discussion

Based on the results, the set up with the presence of mulch paper had a significant difference in

terms of height compared to the set up without the presence of mulch paper, however the data could

have been skewed as one plot in set up A, without mulch, did not sprout any mung beans even after the

week had passed which could be an error on the researcher’s part, however there is still a considerable

height difference in the mung beans that had sprouted in set up A compared to set up B.

The presence of mulch paper acted as a traditional mulch as well, providing protection to

competitors that might be in the soil and trapping any moisture that is present in the soil that might be

unused. While the time constraints might have limited the amount of paper mulch that is allowed to

decompose, the ones that did already had boosted the growth of the mung beans within the time

frame.
 Chapter V
Conclusion and Recommendations

Conclusion

To conclude the findings:

1. The presence of mulch paper had increased the growth rate of Mung beans (Vigna radiata)

significantly improving the height and leaf count earlier to be able to provide nutrients to the

plant.

2. Within the time frame, the researchers’ could not determine how much of the paper mulch

material had decomposed and given nutrients to the plant.

Recommendations

While the presence of mulch paper had increased the growth rate of Mung beans, it had not

been determined if mulch paper was more effective in promoting plant growth compared to chemical or

organic fertilizers or if the presence of ink in the used paper had an effect on the plants as well. In the

limited time frame it could also be determined that not all of the paper material had decomposed, the

following recommendations can be explored:

1. Comparing mulch paper to traditional chemical fertilizers or organic fertilizers.

2. Comparing mulch paper to traditional mulch used in agriculture.

3. Bigger sample size and longer exposure time.

4. Test the effectiveness of mulch paper on different plant species.

5. Test if the presence of ink in used paper contributed to growth increase or growth decrease in

plants.
 Appendices

Appendix I Material gathering

Appendix II Mulch paper affectivity assay

 Sustainablebabysteps.com. (2017). Effects of Chemical Fertilizers - Sustainable Baby Steps.

[online] Available at: http://www.sustainablebabysteps.com/effects-of-chemical-fertilizers.html

[Accessed 3 Mar. 2019].

 Yimer, O. (2020). Different mulch material on growth, performance and yield of garlic: A Review.

International Journal Of Food Science And Agriculture, 4(1), 38-42. doi:

10.26855/ijfsa.2020.03.007

 Dong, Q., Yang, Y., Yu, K., & Feng, H. (2018). Effects of straw mulching and plastic film mulching

on improving soil organic carbon and nitrogen fractions, crop yield and water use efficiency in

the Loess Plateau, China. Agricultural Water Management, 201, 133-143. doi:

10.1016/j.agwat.2018.01.021

 Souza, R., Frazão, L., Veloso, M., Sampaio, R., & Fernandes, L. (2021). Successive crops of lettuce

fertilized with organic compost produced from cellulose paper residues. Caderno De Ciências

Agrárias, 13, 1-7. doi: 10.35699/2447-6218.2021.29084

 Rogers, E., Zalesny, R., Benzel, T., & Wiese, A. (2021). Establishment of poplars in soils amended

with fibercake residuals from paper and containerboard production. Agroforestry Systems,

95(8), 1719-1733. doi: 10.1007/s10457-021-00680-0