EXTRACTION AND UTILIZATION OF BANANA PSEUDOSTEM SAP AS ORGANIC LIQUID BIO-FERTILIZER ON ONION (ALLIUM CEPA L)

Abstract

The high input cost of onion production through the application of chemical fertilizers is a significant concern for small farmers. Every year, Banana harvesting generates a large amount of banana pseudostem waste, which is generally burnt or thrown away despite containing many nutrients after harvest. Utilizing the banana's pseudo-stem sap as liquid fertilizer for increasing onion productivity through sustainable agricultural practices, a greenhouse trial was conducted to determine the optimum banana pseudostem sap (BPS) to be applied by foliar spray. There were five treatments designed in CRD with four replicates. The reduced mineral fertilizer was given to test the impact of the pseuodstem sap on the seedlings. The results indicated that sap application showed a positive and significant effect on all parameters of onion seedlings. The onion plant height increased to 48.96 cm, the number of leaves was 14.50, and the shoot length of 8.67 cm was recorded best. The onion bulb diameter ranged from 3 to 6 cm bulb weight from 54 to 92.75 g comparing the control. The best rate found was 80% RDF, along with 20% BSP in all parameters. It can be concluded that application of 80% RDF + Foliar spray of 20% banana pseudostem sap was found to be the most viable option for getting higher growth and yield in onion. This will reduce 20% chemical fertilizer and about 25% increase in the yield. This will be an eco-friendly practice and sustainable ergonomically, economically and environmentally.