Fermented biofertilizer from banana fruit waste: It’s role in the Integrated Nutrient Management System for Abelmoschus esculentus (Ladies Finger) vegetative growth

Abstract

Agronomic practices using organic manure to restore soil fertility and increase crop yield are the need of the hour. Recycling organic wastes into biofertilizers is a nutrient recovery strategy in waste management. Banana waste (peels and pulp) was converted into biofertilizer using cow’s urine and cow dung. The inclusion of organic biofertilizer along with chemical fertilizer forms the Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) concept, which aids in the increment of crop yield and the quality of soil properties. Taking the aforementioned information into consideration, a pot research was carried out to evaluate the impact of the nutrient management system on the growth ofAbelmoschus esculentus(Ladies finger), a vegetable of economic importance and the NPK status of the soil. Four treatments were included in the experimental design: Group 1- water control; Group 2 - Recommended dose of Chemical Fertilizer (RDCF) -NPK (120–60–80 kg ha–1); Group 3 − 1:100 diluted Fermented Biofertilizer made from Banana Fruit Waste (FB-BW); and Group 4–50% (RDCF + FB-BW) integrated nutrient management (INM). Among the different treatments, the ladies finger plant height, leaf area, stem girth and lateral root growth have increased and well developed when FB-BW and chemical fertilizer are combined. Along with soil macronutrients,Abelmoschus esculentusleaf photosynthetic pigment levels and protein content improved in Group 4. Thus, the combined application of chemical fertilizer and fermented banana fruit waste could enhance the soil quality and productivity ofAbelmoschus esculentus(ladies finger).