TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER I: The Problem and Its Background

Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 5
Background of the Study……………………………………………………………………………………………… 5
Statement of the Problem…………………………………………………………………………………………… 6
Objective of the Problem……………………………………………………………………………………………. 7
Significance of the Study…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 7
Scope of the Study……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 7
Limitation of the Study……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 7
Definition of Terms ………………………………………………………………………………………………… 8

CHAPTER II: Review of the Related Literature

Ingredients ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 10

CHAPTER III: Methodology ………………………………………………………………………................... 16

Collection and Preparation of Materials………………………………………………………………………. 16

Preparation of Materials……………………………………………………………………………………………… 17
Preparation of Two Set-Ups ……………………………………………………………………………………… 18
Comparison of Results ……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 20

Chapter IV: Results and Discussion 21

Data Gathering and Analysis ……………………………………………………………………………………… 21
Results ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 22
Table …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 23
Graph …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 24

Chapter V: Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 25
Recommendation………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 26
Bibiliography …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 27
 Using Chicken (Gallus Gallus) Eggshells

and Chopped-up Cardaba Banana (Musa Acuminata Balbisiana) Peels

As Organic Fertilizer for Lemons (Citrus Limon)

An Investigatory Project

Presented By:
Putatan Elementary School
Grade VI-SSES

Researcher:
Sophie Lexine A. Coprada

Adviser:
Mrs. Catherine V. Obra
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

In performing our project, we had to take the help and guideline of some respected

persons, who deserve our greatest gratitude. The completion of this project gives us much

pleasure. We would like to show our gratitude to our class adviser, Mrs. Lenelyn F. Querubin,

for giving us the opportunity to do this research project and for continuously supporting,

motivating and sharing her knowledge.

Many people, especially our classmates who have made valuable comments and

suggestions on this proposal which gave us an inspiration to improve our project. We thank

all the people for their help especially Mr. Domingo Acosta (Lexine’s neighbor), who

kindheartedly allow us to collect lemongrass from their garden. We would also like to expand

our deepest gratitude to all those who have directly and indirectly guided us in completing

this project.

Nobody has been more important to us in the pursuit of this project than the members

of our family. We would like to thank our parents, Mr. and Mrs Arlan E. Coprada and Mr. And

Mrs Jerry D. Buyante, whose love and guidance are with us in whatever we pursue. They are

the ultimate role models.

Last but not the least, we would like to thank our God Almighty for guiding us in the

right path on finishing this project.

 CHAPTER I

The Problem and Its Background

INTRODUCTION

Fertilizers provides plants with all sorts of nutrients that they need to grow strong and

healthy. These nutrients include nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. That’s why farmers all

over the world, in countries rich or poor, put fertilizers on their crops.

Fertilizer comes in many forms, from chemical products to old grass clipping. Since so

many people are using chemical fertilizers nowadays, it will harm not only the plant, but also

whoever consumes it.

Potassium is an essential plant nutrient and is important for strong rooting, flowering,

and fruit development of plants. It is considered second only to nitrogen, when it comes to

nutrients needed by plants, and is commonly considered as the “quality nutrient.” Plants are

heavy users of potassium and the lack of it can result in stunted plant growth and delay in

plant development. If the leaves of your plant turn a purplish hue, the plant needs potassium.

People often think of the term pesticide as referring only to something that kills

insects, but "pesticide" is a broad term and includes products that don't kill anything, such as

insect repellents. Products labelled as repellents are not designed to eliminate pests. For

example, in the case of the skin-applied repellents, the product makes people less attractive

to the pest. Insect repellents applied to the skin are often what we think of when we want to

avoid insect bites. These are the most broadly useful, since they stay with you regardless of

your movements.

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

 Lemongrass is a very popular and used for medicinal, food and insect repellent

products. The lemongrass oils are used in cosmetic, soaps, perfumes, dyes, and odorizes

along with thousands of other products. Lemon grass has thin stems, and the flowers are

white, cream or green. It grows around 8 feet in height in some cases with the majority of

species tapering off at 4 feet. Lemongrass is mainly found in tropical Asian countries such as

India, Malaysia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea and Philippines. It can also be found in

countries like Brazil, Guatemala, Madagascar, Mauritius and countries in Africa and South

America. In the Philippines, it has a local name known as “tanglad”

Many repellent products pertaining chemical compound like DEET (N,N –Diethyl-

meta-toluamide) used as an active chemical ingredient in insect repellent, are now turn to all

natural ingredients as more and more negative data is released. Lemongrass is extremely safe

and is listed on EPA’s GRAS list (generally regarded as safe). It is used as a natural insect

repellent and helps in preventing the occurrence of insects. Studies have provided supporting

evidence regarding the anti-malarial and anti-protozoan properties of lemongrass, which

makes lemongrass oil an effective ingredient in mosquito repellents.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Preventing insects in thriving in food products is one of the concerns of any household

and food business. In this regard, insecticides are manufactured to eliminate common insects.

Because of this situation, the researchers looked for materials available in own backyard to

help in preventing insects, specifically common black ants (Lasius niger) in coming near the

food.

This study aims to answer these questions:

1. Can lemongrass oil be an effective natural ant repellent?

 2. How to determine the longevity of its effect.

3. Will this product be as effective and safer to use rather than commercialized

repellent?

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROBLEM

A. General Objective

The general objective of this study is to determine the effectiveness of lemongrass as

natural insect repellent.

B. Specific Objective

To observe the effectiveness of lemongrass oil using two candies, one candy is treated

with lemongrass oil and the other candy without lemongrass oil

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This project is important in order for us to know whether or not the lemongrass oil

can be an effective ant repellent.

SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The focus of this study is to create an alternative ant repellent made of lemongrass

stalks. Materials used to produce the oil are available at the researchers’ houses. The

researchers would like to determine the effectiveness of lemongrass oil as ant repellent.

Investigating the performance of these can be described by observation of two candies. One

candy will be treated with lemongrass oil and another candy without lemongrass oil.

LIMTATION OF THE STUDY

The study is performed during rainy season thus not all kinds of ants will be tried and

tested. The data used in the research is gathered through observation and hot infusion
technique. While only olive oil are brought from the market. This study is limited only to the

use of bundle of lemongrass stalks and olive oil.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Lemongrass - Cymbopogon, better known as lemongrass, is a genus

of Asian, African, Australian, and tropical island plants in the grass family.[5][6][7][8]

Some species (particularly Cymbopogon citratus) are commonly cultivated as culinary and

medicinal herbs because of their scent, resembling that of lemons (Citrus limon). Common

names include lemon grass, lemongrass, barbed wire grass, silky heads, citronella grass, cha

de Dartigalongue, fever grass, tanglad, hierba Luisa, or gavati chahapati, amongst many

others.

Olive oil - Olive oil is a liquid fat obtained from olives (the fruit of Olea europaea;

family Oleaceae), a traditional tree crop of the Mediterranean Basin. The oil is produced by

pressing whole olives. It is commonly used in cooking, whether for frying or as a salad

dressing. It is also used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and soaps, and as a fuel for

traditional oil lamps, and has additional uses in some religions. There is limited evidence of

its possible health benefits.

Repellent – a substance used to repel something; serving or tending to drive away or

ward off —often used in combination.

Pesticides - In general, a pesticide is a chemical or biological agent (such as a virus, bacterium,

or fungus) that deters, incapacitates, kills, or otherwise discourages pests. Target pests can

include insects, plant pathogens,

weeds, molluscs, birds, mammals, fish, nematodes (roundworms), and microbes that
destroy property, cause nuisance, or spread disease, or are disease vectors. Although

pesticides have benefits, some also have drawbacks, such as potential toxicity to humans and

other species.

Insecticides -Insecticides are substances used to kill insects.[1] They include ovicides

and larvicides used against insect eggs and larvae, respectively. Insecticides are used

in agriculture, medicine, industry and by consumers. Insecticides are claimed to be a major

factor behind the increase in the 20th-century's agricultural productivity.[2] Nearly all

insecticides have the potential to significantly alter ecosystems; many are toxic to humans

and/or animals; some become concentrated as they spread along the food chain.

Insecticides can be classified into two major groups: systemic insecticides, which
have residual or long term activity; and contact insecticides, which have no residual activity.

CHAPTER II

Review of the Related Literature

INGREDIENTS

1.1. Lemongrass – scientific name “Cymbopogon citrates”

Uses of Lemongrass:

The leaves and base of this tender perennial are used as food flavouring, particularly

in fish and poultry dishes, and its essential oils are used medicinally. Its distinctive flavour
balances hot chillies and contributes to the elaborate, multi-layered flavours of many dishes

in South East Asian cuisine.

As the long, thin, grey-green leaves are tough and fibrous, the outside leaves and the

tips are usually chopped very finely or discarded from the dish before it is served. The base is

often ground. Citral, an essential oil also found in lemon peel, is the constituent responsible

for its taste and aroma. Citronella grass (Cymbopogon nardus), which is native to South East

Asia, yields citronella oil, which is used in perfume, cosmetics, and insect repellents. Its

repellent properties are also utilized in preparations used in dog and cat control. Fractional

distillation of the oil may be used to produce menthol, which has medicinal uses.

Lemon grass, also known as Sweet Rush and sometimes called Fever Grass in the

Caribbean, can be used as a remedy for ague, fevers, and colds, and is utilized in the

manufacture of synthetic violet perfume. Other varieties of aromatic oil-bearing grasses

include Rosha grass (Cymbopogon martini), which is grown in India; East Indian lemon grass

(Cymbopogon flexuosus), a native of South India; and camel grass (Cymbopogon

schoenanthus), which originates in the Middle East.

AUTHORS:

1. Sprengel, Curt (Kurt, Curtius) Polycarp Joachim 1815. Plantarum Minus Cognitarum Pugillus 2: 14
2. Jump up^ lectotype designated by N.L. Britton & P. Wilson, Bot. Porto Rico 1: 27 (1923)
3. ^ Jump up to:a b c Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
4. Jump up^ Bor, N. L. 1960. Grass. Burma, Ceylon, India & Pakistan i–767. Pergamon Press, Oxford
5. Jump up^ Shadab, Q., Hanif, M. & Chaudhary, F.M. (1992) Antifungal activity by lemongrass
essential oils. Pak. J. Sci. Ind. Res. 35, 246-249.
6. Jump up^ Wikibooks:Beekeeping/Guide to Essential Oils
7. Jump up^ Takeguma, Massahiro. "Gowing Citronella". Retrieved 12 June 2013.
8. Jump up^ Blanco MM, Costa CA, Freire AO, Santos JG, Costa M (March 2009). "Neurobehavioral
effect of essential oil of Cymbopogon citratus in mice". Phytomedicine. 16 (2–3): 265–
70. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2007.04.007. PMID 17561386.
9. Jump up^ Leite JR, Seabra Mde L, Maluf E, et al. (July 1986). "Pharmacology of lemongrass
(Cymbopogon citratus Stapf). III. Assessment of eventual toxic, hypnotic and anxiolytic effects on
humans". J Ethnopharmacol. 17 (1): 75–83. doi:10.1016/0378-8741(86)90074-7. PMID 2429120.
 10. Jump up^ Bleasel N, Tate B, Rademaker M (August 2002). "Allergic contact dermatitis following
exposure to essential oils". Australas. J. Dermatol. 43 (3): 211–3. doi:10.1046/j.1440-
0960.2002.00598.x. PMID 12121401.

1.2 Olive Oil – ccientific name “Olea europaea”

USES OF OLIVE OIL

Culinary use:

Olive oil is an important cooking oil in countries surrounding the Mediterranean, and

it forms one of the three staple food plants of Mediterranean cuisine, the other two

being wheat (as in pasta, bread, and couscous) and the grape, used as a dessert fruit and

for wine.[38]

Extra virgin olive oil is mostly used as a salad dressing and as an ingredient in salad dressings.

It is also used with foods to be eaten cold. If uncompromised by heat, the flavor is stronger.

It also can be used for sautéing.

When extra virgin olive oil is heated above 210–216 °C (410–421 °F), depending on its

free fatty acid content, the unrefined particles within the oil are burned. This leads to

deteriorated taste. Also, most consumers do not like the pronounced taste of extra virgin

olive oil for deep fried foods. Refined olive oils are suited for deep frying.

Choosing a cold-pressed olive oil can be similar to selecting a wine. The flavor of these

oils varies considerably and a particular oil may be more suited for a particular dish.

Fresh oil, as available in an oil producing region, tastes noticeably different from the

older oils available elsewhere. In time, oils deteriorate and become stale. One-year-old oil
may be still pleasant to the taste, but it is less fragrant than fresh oil. After the first year, olive

oil is more suitable for cooking than serving raw.

The taste of the olive oil is influenced by the varietals used to produce the oil and by

the moment when the olives are harvested and ground (less ripe olives give more bitter and

spicy flavors – riper olives give a sweeter sensation in the oil).

Religious use

Christianity

The Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Anglican churches use olive oil for the Oil of

Catechumens (used to bless and strengthen those preparing for Baptism) and Oil of the Sick

(used to confer the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick or Unction). Olive oil mixed with a

perfuming agent such as balsam is consecrated by bishops as Sacred Chrism, which is used to

confer the sacrament of Confirmation (as a symbol of the strengthening of the Holy Spirit), in

the rites of Baptism and the ordination of priests and bishops, in the consecration

of altars and churches, and, traditionally, in the anointing of monarchs at their coronation.

Eastern Orthodox Christians still use oil lamps in their churches, home prayer corners

and in the cemeteries. A vigil lamp consists of a votive glass containing a half-inch of water

and filled the rest with olive oil. The glass has a metal holder that hangs from a bracket on the

wall or sits on a table. A cork float with a lit wick floats on the oil. To douse the flame, the

float is carefully pressed down into the oil. Makeshift oil lamps can easily be made by soaking

a ball of cotton in olive oil and forming it into a peak. The peak is lit and then burns until all

the oil is consumed, whereupon the rest of the cotton burns out. Olive oil is a usual offering

to churches and cemeteries.

 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints uses virgin olive oil that has been

blessed by the priesthood. This consecrated oil is used for anointing the sick.

Judaism

In Jewish observance, olive oil was the only fuel allowed to be used in the seven-

branched menorah in the Mishkan service during the Exodus of the tribes

of Israel from Egypt, and later in the permanent Temple in Jerusalem. It was obtained by using

only the first drop from a squeezed olive and was consecrated for use only in the Temple by

the priests and stored in special containers. Although candles can be used to light

the hanukkiah, oil containers are preferred, to imitate the original menorah. Another use of

oil in Jewish religion was for anointing the kings of the Kingdom of Israel, originating from

King David. Tzidkiyahu was the last anointed King of Israel.

Skin care

Olive oil has a long history of being used as a home skincare remedy. Egyptians used

it alongside beeswax as a cleanser, moisturizer, and antibacterial agent since pharaonic

times. In ancient Greece, olive oil was used during massage, to prevent sports injuries and

relieve muscle fatigue. In 2000, Japan was the top importer of olive oil in Asia (13,000 tons

annually) because consumers there believe both the ingestion and topical application of olive

oil to be good for skin and health.

Olive oil is popular for use in massaging infants and toddlers, but scientific evidence

of its efficacy is mixed. One analysis of olive oil versus mineral oil found that, when used for

infant massage, olive oil can be considered a safe alternative to sunflower, grapeseed and

fractionated coconut oils. This stands true particularly when it is mixed with a lighter oil like

sunflower, which would have the further effect of reducing the already low levels of free fatty
acids present in olive oil". Another trial stated that olive oil lowered the risk of dermatitis for

infants in all gestational stages when compared with emollient cream. However, yet another

study on adults found that topical treatment with olive oil "significantly damages the skin

barrier" when compared to sunflower oil, and that it may make existing atopic

dermatitis worse. The researchers concluded that due to the negative outcome in adults, they

do not recommend the use of olive oil for the treatment of dry skin and infant massage.

Applying olive oil to the skin does not help prevent or reduce stretch marks.

Other

Olive oil is also a natural and safe lubricant, and can be used to lubricate kitchen

machinery (grinders, blenders, cookware, etc.). It can also be used for illumination (oil lamps)

or as the base for soaps and detergents. Some cosmetics also use olive oil as their base. Olive

oil may be used in soap making, as lamp oil, a lubricant, or as a substitute for machine

oil.[49][50][51] Olive oil has also been used as both solvent and ligand in the synthesis of cadmium

selenide quantum dots.

Authors:

1. Jump up^ Commission, European. "Authentication of olive oil". ec.europa.eu. Retrieved 2017-10-
19.
2. Jump up^ "EU Offers €5m to Fight Olive Oil Fraud". Olive Oil Times. 2014-01-20. Retrieved 2017-
10-19.
3. Jump up^ Putinja, Isobel (10 July 2015). "Tunisian Olive Oil Exports Reach Record High". Olive
Oil Times. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
4. Jump up^ "Tunisia Seeks Renewal Through the Olive Tree". Olive Oil Times. Retrieved 24
February 2018.
5. Jump up^ Sarah Schwager (August 31, 2010). "Australia Charts Five-Year Course for Olive Oil
Industry". Olive Oil Times.
6. Jump up^ Margaret Chidgey (18 December 2017). "IOC flags big increase in consumption of
Australian olive oil". The Olive Review. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
7. Jump up^ Ramin, F. Martin (October 18, 2013). "The Best Olive Oils Made in the U.S." Wall
Street Journal. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
8. Jump up^ Essid, Mohamed Yassine (2012). Chapter 2. History of Mediterranean
Food. MediTerra: The Mediterranean Diet for Sustainable Regional Development. Presses de
Sciences Po. pp. 51–69. ISBN 9782724612486.
9. Jump up^ Oaks, Dallin H. "Healing the Sick - Dallin H. Oaks". www.lds.org.
 10. Jump up^ Grossman, A. J. (September 27, 2007). "Behind a Mysterious Balm, a Self-Made
Pharaoh". The New York Times. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
11. Jump up^ Nomikos NN, Nomikos GN, Kores DS (2010). "The use of deep friction massage with
olive oil as a means of prevention and treatment of sports injuries in ancient times". Arch Med
Sci. 6 (5): 642–5. doi:10.5114/aoms.2010.17074. PMC 3298328  . PMID 22419918.
12. Jump up^ Kiechl-Kohlendorfer, U.; Berger, C.; Inzinger, R. (2008). "The Effect of Daily Treatment
with an Olive Oil/Lanolin Emollient on Skin Integrity in Preterm Infants: A Randomized Controlled
Trial". Pediatric Dermatology. 25 (2): 174–178. doi:10.1111/j.1525-
1470.2008.00627.x. PMID 18429773.
13. Jump up^ Danby, S. G.; Alenezi, T.; Sultan, A.; Lavender, T.; Chittock, J.; Brown, K.; Cork, M. J.
(2013). "Effect of Olive and Sunflower Seed Oil on the Adult Skin Barrier: Implications for
Neonatal Skin Care". Pediatric Dermatology. 30 (1): 42–50. doi:10.1111/j.1525-
1470.2012.01865.x. PMID 22995032.
14. Jump up^ Moore J, Kelsberg G, Safranek S (December 2012). "Clinical Inquiry: Do any topical
agents help prevent or reduce stretch marks?". J Fam Pract. 61 (12): 757–8. PMID 23313995.

CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

Collection and Preparation of Materials

Twenty pieces (20) of lemongrass stalk were collected at the neighbourhoods’ garden

in Parkhomes Subdivision Tunasan, Muntinlupa City. Fresh and green stalks are being

collected, it should be clean and dry. Just in case the stalks are wet let it air dry before doing

the procedure.
 A B

Figure 1 : A. Shows the location of the lemon grass at the neighbourhoods’ garden in Parkhomes

Subdivision Tunasan, Muntinlupa City

B. Shows the researchers gathering the lemongrass they needed for the study.

Preparation of Materials

Take a few lemongrass stalks, remove the outer layer and wash it using warm water

to clean. Let it air dry. Pour 1 cup of extra virgin olive oil into the top pan of a double boiler.

Do not cover the pot. Crush half a stalk of lemongrass, chopping if necessary

A B

Figure 2 : A. Shows the researchers removing the outer layer of the lemongrass.
B. Shows the researchers washing the lemongrass in warm water.
 Figure 3: Shows the researchers cutting the lemon grass

PREPARATION OF TWO SET UPS

Homemade Lemongrass Oil

Two popular methods, tincturing and hot infusion, result in a medicinal oil to be taken

orally in hot tea or straight onto the tongue or as therapeutic, topical oil. In this study the

researchers will use hot infusion.

Get the lemongrass stalks and place it in the oil. Do not let any water get into the oil

or it will ruin the infusion. Wash the lemongrass before you put it in the pot. Let it dry before

placing it in the oil. Heat the double boiler until the water on the bottom begins to steam.

Turn it down to a gentle simmer. Infuse the lemongrass in the oil for at least an hour, but the

longer the better. Be sure to check on the water in the bottom pan to make sure it hasn't all

evaporated. Cool the oil down and strain the herbs through a mesh strainer. Use the oil as a

topical ointment or as soothing massage oil. Repeat the procedure to obtain the desired

aroma.
 Figure 4: Shows the first trial boiling of the oil

Figure 5: Shows the second set of the procedure to get the desired aroma.

Commercialized Lemongrass Oil

 Steam distillation is the preferred method for the large scale lemongrass oil

production. First of all, you will need to produce the steam in a boiler. Then introduce the

steam into the vessel which contains the leaves and water.

Then locate the leaves on a grid placed at a certain distance above the level of the

water which fills the bottom of the vessel. The water is vaporized indirectly by steam

flowing in a pipe coil submerged to the water.

The water vapor plus the distilled oil coming from the evaporator vessel is recovered

in a separate water cooled condenser. Then separate the mixture flowing out of the

condenser by decantation in a Florentine flask.

The lemongrass oil floats at the top. Here you can separate it easily. However, the

distilled water still contains some soluble parts of the oil and therefore is sent back to the

evaporator. The ratio of oil to leaves is equal to 0.348%. Therefore, you will need to procure

about 288 kg og lemon grass to produce 1 kg of essential lemongrass oil.

 Figure 6. Schematic of a batch process for lemon grass oil distillation

COMPARISON OF RESULTS

It is important to know that what you make at home will not have the same potency

as what you can buy. This is because the essential oil that you purchase has been made

through a steam distilling process, which cannot be imitated at home without the same

complicated and expensive machinery. While there are home steam distillers, it is often

advised against as without proper training high quality oil will not be produced.
 CHAPTER IV

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Data Gathering and Analysis

Using two candies as the controlled variables, Candy A has no lemon grass oil while

Candy B has lemon grass oil. Put in the area were ants are present to observe easily.

Figure 6: Shows Candy A without lemongrass oil and Candy B with lemongrass oil

Based on observation, Candy A was approached by ants after a few minutes after it is placed

in the location. Candy B was approached by ants but moved away. After an hour Candy B still

has no ants. After three hours of observation Candy B still has no ants.
Figure 7: Shows the controlled variables after one hour. Candy A shows that the ants are starting to
approach the candy without lemongrass oil while Candy B has no ants.

Figure 8: Shows the Controlled Variables after three hours. Candy A which has no lemongrass oil has
many ants now while Candy B with lemongrass oil still has no ants.

RESULTS

Time it took the ants to approach the candy

(in minutes) MEAN
TRIAL 1 TRIAL 2 TRIAL 3
WITHOUT
4 5 3 4
LEMON GRASS
WITH LEMON
0 0 0 0
GRASS

Table 1: Tabular presentation of the time it took the ants to approach the candies

Without With
Lemon Lemon
Grass Grass
Mean 4 0
Variance 1 0
Observations 3 3
Hypothesized Mean Difference 0
Df 2
t Stat 6.928203
P(T<=t) one-tail 0.010102
t Critical one-tail 2.919986
P(T<=t) two-tail 0.020204
t Critical two-tail 4.302653
Table 2: Statistical Results for the time it took the ants to approach the candies using T-test
 Chart Title

4
5
3 4
2 3
1

0
TRIAL 1 TRIAL 2 TRIAL 3

Time it took the ants to approach the candy WITHOUT LEMON GRASS
Time it took the ants to approach the candy WITH LEMON GRASS

DISCUSSION

A summary of the three (3) trials was seen on the results. The time it took the ants to

approach the candies showed that there is an effect of the lemon grass as repellent.
 Chapter 5

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

CONCLUSION

After the trials, the researchers found out that lemongrass can repel common black ants.

It can be a good source of natural insect repellent. Its effect can last for three hours (3 hours).

The researches therefore conclude that lemongrass oil can be an effective alternative for

commercially sold insect repellents because of the following:

 The goal of the research was achieved by the product.

 The product has successfully repelled the ants during the test.

 The effectiveness of the oil was able to be on par with commercially sold repellents.

 The natural lemongrass oil ant repellent could last up to 24 hours.

RECOMMENDATIONS

 Usage of another material or ingredient that can help increase the effectiveness of

the oil.

 Trying a different method in creating the oil.

 Test the product in different surroundings (e.g. public parks with numerous bushes

and trees).
 Bibiliography:

Journal:

Hilary Lebow. Lemongrass:The All Natural Insect Repellant. August 2, 2016

Catapang, Merlie . Lemongrass Oil as an Alternative Insect Repellent. February 15, 2015

Shah G, Shri R, Panchal V, Sharma N, Singh B and Mann A S. Scientific basis for the

therapeutic use of Cymbopogon citratus, stapf (Lemongrass). J Adv Pharm Technol Res. 2011

Jan-Mar; 2 (1): 3-8.

Internet

Alternative health: natural insect repellents. Retrieved from www.essortment.com

Types of essential oils. Retrieved from www.alembics.co.nz

Beyond Pesticides. (-). West nile virus/mosquito management. Retrieved from

www.beyondpesticides.org

Department of Export Agriculture. (2014). Lemongrass. Retrieved

from www.exportagridept.gov.lk

Department of Health. (-). Insect repellents. Retrieved from www.healthvermont.gov

Environmental Protection Agency. (-). DEET. Retrieved from www.epa.gov

Environmental Protection Agency. (-). Using insect repellents safety and effectively. Retrieved
from www.epa.gov

Extraction of essential oils. Retrieved from www.essentialoils.co

FDA. (-). Insect repellent use and safety in children. Retrieved from www.fda.gov

Lemongrass essential oil information. Retrieved from www.essentialoils.co

Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus). Retrieved from www.nassau.ifas.ufl.edu

National Association for Holistic Aromatheraphy. (-). How are essential oils extracted.
Retrieved from www.naha.org

Organic Facts. (-). Health benefits of lemongrass essential oil. Retrieved from
www.organicfacts.net

Organic Facts. (-). Lists of essential oils. Retrieved from www.organicfacts.net

Simone, E. (July 9, 2013). Essential oils, a natural alternative to insect repellant. Retrieved on
www.ottawamommyclub.ca

The University of Maine. (-). Insect repellents. Retrieved from www.extention.umaine.ed