Jul 2026· Journal of Global Innovations in Agricultural Sciences· Vol 14, pp. 1329-1338· 0 citations
Abstract
Low soil fertility and soil acidity are major constraints limiting chilli production in tropical regions, necessitating sustainable soil amendment strategies that utilize locally available biomass resources. Unlike previous studies that primarily evaluated individual biochar feedstocks, this study investigated integrated formulations combining six locally available agricultural- and marine-derived biochars enriched with goat manure and moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) leaf extract to enhance soil fertility and early chilli growth under acidic tropical soil conditions. This study evaluated the effects of different combinations of agricultural and marine waste-derived biochars, goat manure, and moringa leaf extract on soil chemical properties and the early growth of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) cultivated under field conditions using polybags. The experiment was conducted from July to September 2024 in Lalowiu Village, South Konawe Regency, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia, using a randomized complete block design with eight treatments and three replications. The treatments consisted of various combinations of rice husk, corn cob, empty oil palm bunch, sago pulp, durian shell, and seaweed biochars enriched with goat manure and moringa leaf extract. Soil chemical properties and plant growth variables were analyzed using analysis of variance, followed by Duncan's Multiple Range Test at the 5% probability level. The integrated amendments improved soil fertility by increasing soil pH from 4.60 to 5.06, soil organic carbon from 0.76% to 1.12%, total nitrogen from 0.08% to 0.17%, available phosphorus from 6.23 to 11.73 mg 100 g⁻¹, and exchangeable potassium from 9.42 to 11.23 mg 100 g⁻¹. Significant improvements (P < 0.05) were also observed in vegetative growth. The B1 treatment produced the greatest leaf area (5.92 cm²), plant height at 20 and 30 days after transplanting (22.61 and 30.09 cm, respectively), and shoot dry weight (3.71 g), whereas root dry weight was not significantly affected. These findings demonstrate that integrated biochar formulations enriched with goat manure and moringa leaf extract effectively improve soil fertility and promote early chilli growth, providing a sustainable approach for managing acidic tropical soils through the utilization of locally available biomass resources.
Keywords: Cation exchange capacity, pyrolysis feedstock, rhizosphere processes, carbon stabilization, tropical agroecosystems.
Global demand for horticultural commodities, particularly Bird’s Eye Chili (Capsicum frutescens L.), continues to increase due to their function as a household food ingredient and a source of bioactive compounds with health benefits. In Indonesia, Capsicum frutescens are a strategic commodity that influences inflation, making increasing productivity a crucial part of national food security. However, low soil fertility and high dependence on inorganic chemical fertilizers hamper productivity while increasing production costs and environmental pressures. Sustainable fertilization using local organic resources is an important strategy to improve soil health and plant performance. This study aimed to evaluate the combined effect of liquid organic fertilizer (LOF) and Azolla microphylla compost on Capsicum frutescens growth and yield, by simultaneously assessing five parameters: plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, number of branches, and fruit production. The experiment was conducted in Langgomea Village, Konawe, Southeast Sulawesi, with chili seedlings planted in 25 cm polybags containing a mixture of local garden soil and rice husk charcoal (2:1 v/v). A factorial Randomized Complete Block Design was applied with LOF (0, 10, 20, 40 ml/L) and compost (0, 10, 20, 40 g/plant), resulting in 16 treatment combinations, each replicated three times (a total of 144 plants). Growth and yield data were recorded weekly for 12 weeks; harvesting was carried out from the first to the last harvest. Statistical analysis using ANOVA and LSD at a significance level of 5% with R 4.3 and SPSS 28, provides a scientific basis for sustainable organic fertilization strategies and optimization of local resources. The results showed that the combination of LOF and Azolla microphylla compost significantly affected all growth and production parameters of Capsicum frutescens. The highest plant height was achieved in the P3K3 treatment (83.67 cm), followed by an increase in stem diameter to 136 mm, number of leaves to 104, and number of branches to 31.33. This increase in vegetative growth is in line with the high nitrogen and phosphorus content of Azolla, which supports cell formation, chlorophyll, protein, and nucleic acid synthesis. It was also found that Capsicum frutescens L. fruit production increased significantly with the combination of LOF and compost, reaching the highest average of 108.67 kg per plant in the P2K3 treatment. This confirms that the application of Azolla-based organic fertilizer provides sufficient nutrients, increases photosynthesis, biomass, and fruit yield accumulation. The interaction of liquid fertilizer and compost provides optimal synergistic effects for vegetative growth and plant productivity in the field. These findings bridge the research gap regarding the simultaneous use of liquid fertilizer and Azolla compost on Capsicum frutescens L., in humid tropical agroecosystems, while also providing practical implications for sustainable organic fertilization strategies. Application of these findings can improve resource efficiency, reduce dependence on chemical fertilizers, and support environmentally friendly tropical horticultural management.
Keywords: Bird’s Eye Chili, liquid organic fertilizer, Azolla microphylla compost, fruit yield, humid tropical agroecosystem, sustainable fertilization.
S. Suharjo, Ulyasniati Ulyasniati· Journal of Global Innovation...· 0 citations
Commercial chemical fertilizers are heavily relied upon to boost crop yields, but their rising costs and negative environmental impacts—such as soil degradation and water contamination—highlight the critical need for sustainable alternatives. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a liquid natural fertilizer formulated from organic household wastes, including banana peels, orange peels, eggshells, onion peels, rice wash water, and molasses, on the growth performance of chili (Capsicum annuum L.) plants. Utilizing an experimental research design, chili seedlings were divided into four groups to compare the organic formulation (at 5 mL and 10 mL concentrations) against a commercial synthetic fertilizer and a water-only control group. The plants were monitored over an eight-day treatment period using two primary metrics: plant height and leaf count. The results demonstrated that the organic formulation is highly effective in promoting key growth parameters. In terms of plant height, the water-only control group achieved the highest average height of 8.6 inches, followed closely by the 10 mL organic fertilizer group at 8.1 inches, while both the chemical fertilizer and 5 mL organic treatments recorded the shortest height at 7.7 inches. Conversely, in the metric of leaf production, the 10 mL organic fertilizer concentration demonstrated the strongest performance, yielding the highest average of 10.6 leaves. The water-only and 5 mL organic groups resulted in 8.4 leaves, whereas the chemical fertilizer group performed the worst, recording the lowest average of 4.2 leaves. These findings confirm that the homemade organic fertilizer can rival and surpass commercial options, particularly in supporting leaf growth. The study concludes that recycling household kitchen waste into a liquid biofertilizer provides a practical, eco-friendly, and cost-effective solution for sustainable urban agriculture.
Ruby Angeline C. Paredes, J. P. Caronan, Benidick M. Pelitina et al.· International Journal of Sma...· 0 citations
Okra is an economically important vegetable crop with high nutritional value, widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions globally. An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of eight treatments on the growth, yield, and economic performance of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) under irrigated conditions in the Kilinochchi District, Sri Lanka, during September to November 2023. The experiment was conducted in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replicates. Eight treatments (T1–T8) consisting of different organic manure applications, and the Department of Agriculture (DOA)-recommended chemical fertilizers were applied, including a control treatment without organic manure. Haritha okra was used as the test variety. Growth parameters including plant height, dry weight, and number of leaves, and yield parameters including number of pods per plant, fresh pod weight, and shelf life were evaluated. Poultry manure applied at 460 g plant⁻¹ (T2) recorded the highest plant height (31.4 cm), number of leaves (8.0 leaves plant⁻¹), dry pod weight (13.3 g plant⁻¹), fresh pod weight (130 g plant⁻¹), number of pods per plant (8 pods), and shelf life (5.7 days). Compared with the control treatment (T1), poultry manure increased plant height by 35.3%, fresh pod weight by 160%, and shelf life by 32.6%. No significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) was observed between T2 and T5 (cattle manure: poultry manure, 230 g: 230 g plant⁻¹). The highest benefit-cost ratio was recorded in T2 and T5. It can be concluded that poultry manure at 460 g plant⁻¹ was the most effective treatment for improving the growth, yield, and economic performance of okra under irrigated conditions.
N. Saheedha, K. Aafir· Knowex food and agriculture· 0 citations
Declining soil organic matter and imbalanced fertiliser use threaten sustainable agricultural production in Bangladesh, where limited arable land demands efficient integrated nutrient management. This study assessed the effects of biochar, vermicompost, cowdung, and poultry manure, each combined with an Integrated Plant Nutrient System (IPNS)-based inorganic fertiliser dose, on chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) yield, soil carbon, and nutrient dynamics, compared with the recommended chemical fertiliser treatment. A field experiment was conducted during the 2018 rabi season at Shibalaya Upazila, Manikganj, using a randomised complete block design with five treatments and three replications. Soil samples collected every 30 days over five months were analysed for pH, organic carbon, and available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and sulphur. Poultry manure produced the highest fresh (9.79 t ha⁻¹) and dry (2.85 t ha⁻¹) chilli yields, followed by cowdung and vermicompost, whereas biochar yielded the lowest among the organic amendments (7.83 and 2.41 t ha⁻¹, respectively). Biochar, however, was the only treatment to increase soil organic carbon, recording a 7.14% gain after five months, while organic carbon declined under all other treatments, most sharply under the recommended fertiliser (−14.30%) and more modestly under vermicompost, cowdung, and poultry manure (−9.64% to −10.71%). Soil pH and available nutrients increased initially before gradually declining, with biochar maintaining the greatest improvement in available sulphur. These findings indicate that poultry manure is the most effective amendment for enhancing short-term chilli productivity, whereas biochar shows greater potential for long-term soil carbon sequestration and soil fertility improvement, a trend observed within a single cropping season that warrants confirmation over successive seasons. The results have practical implications for integrated nutrient and soil-carbon management policy in Bangladesh and comparable smallholder farming systems.
Md. Shamim Afridi, M. Rahman, Most Shirina Akter et al.· Asian Journal of Soil Scienc...· 0 citations
Sandy soils are characterized by low organic matter content, weak nutrient retention, and limited water-holding capacity, which restrict crop productivity in arid and semi-arid regions. This study evaluated the individual and combined effects of biochar, Azolla pinnata, and eggshell powder on soil properties and the productivity of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) grown in sandy soil. Field experiments were conducted during two consecutive growing seasons (2021–2022) at the Ismailia Agricultural Research Station, Egypt, using a randomized complete block design with eight treatments and three replicates. Soil chemical properties, photosynthetic pigments, vegetative growth, biomass accumulation, and yield parameters were evaluated. The combined application of biochar, Azolla, and eggshell powder significantly improved soil fertility compared with the control treatment. Soil organic matter increased to 0.70%, while available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium reached 51.10, 6.67, and 200 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. The integrated treatment also enhanced chlorophyll content, plant growth, biomass production, and seed yield across both seasons. Correlation analysis indicated strong positive relationships between soil organic matter, nutrient availability, and crop productivity. These results demonstrate that the integrated application of biochar, Azolla pinnata, and eggshell powder can effectively improve soil fertility and enhance the productivity of Phaseolus vulgaris in sandy soil systems.
D. M. Khalifa, A. Alrashidi, Ammar Al-Farga et al.· Scientific Reports· 0 citations
Pistachio shell residues are generated in large quantities during pistachio processing, yet their potential as a sustainable soil amendment has received limited attention under field conditions. This study evaluated the effects of pistachio shell compost on soil physical properties, leaf nutrient status, fruit quality, and culturable soil bacterial communities in a semi-arid pistachio orchard in Gaziantep, Türkiye. A field experiment was conducted during the 2022–2023 growing season using a randomized complete block design with five fertilization treatments: unfertilized control, mineral fertilizer, vermicompost plus mineral fertilizer, farmyard manure plus mineral fertilizer, and pistachio shell compost plus mineral fertilizer. Soil physical properties, leaf macro- and micronutrient concentrations, fruit quality characteristics, and culturable bacterial populations identified by MALDI-TOF MS were evaluated. Pistachio shell compost significantly improved soil water-related physical properties, including field capacity, infiltration rate, and water-holding capacity, compared with mineral fertilization alone. Compost application also increased leaf nutrient concentrations and improved fruit quality traits, while culture-dependent analyses indicated greater abundance and diversity of dominant culturable bacterial taxa in compost-amended soils. These findings demonstrate that recycling pistachio shell residues as compost improves soil functionality, plant nutritional status, and orchard performance while promoting beneficial soil microorganisms. Pistachio shell compost therefore represents a promising organic amendment for sustainable nutrient management and circular agricultural practices in semi-arid pistachio production systems.
Uğur Vural, Hüseyin Tekin, Enes Furkan Boyraz et al.· Emirates Journal of Food and...· 0 citations
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