Abstract:
The present study was aimed to formulate organic liquid fertilizers using
banana pseudostem and to assess their potential use in the germination
of selected seeds (i.e., chilli, curry chilli, lettuce, and water spinach),
and growth and yield of chilli (Capsicum frutescens L.), in combination
with either organic (cattle manure - CM) or inorganic fertilizers (IF).
The formulations were banana pseudostem extract with decomposed
solution (banana formulation- BF) and banana pseudostem extract
with 2% Panchagavya (BP). The nutrient content (NPK) of formulations
were analyzed. In the germination test, control (distilled water T1) was
compared with BF (T2) and BP (T3). The pot experiment was conducted
in a complete randomized design with six treatments and four replicates.
The treatments were T1 (100% IF), T2 (100% CM), T3 (50% IF + 50% BF),
T4 (50% CM + 50% BF), T5 (50% IF + 50% BP) and T6 (50% CM + 50%
BP). The liquid formulations were applied at the rate of 250 Lha-1. Growth parameters namely the number of leaves per plant, plant height and yield
were measured. Results of nutrient analysis of formulations indicate that
BF had 365 ppm N, 1320 ppm P, and 8097 ppm K, while BP had 601 ppm
N, 1930 ppm P, and 8619 ppm K. The results indicated that the highest
germination percentage was recorded in T2 (BF) in all selected seeds.
Vigour index was higher in T2 (BF) and T3 (BP) treatments than in the
control. Significant differences among treatments in plant height of chilli
were only observed at the second and sixth week. However, the number
of leaves showed significant differences during the second, fourth and
sixth weeks. Among the treatments, the highest yield was recorded in T6.
Moreover, all foliar treatments T3, T4, T5, and T6 performed better than
T1.
