Effect of Combined Liquid Organic Fertilizer and Azolla microphylla Compost on Growth and Yield of Bird’s Eye Chili (Capsicum frutescens L.) under Tropical Land Conditions in Indonesia
Jul 2026· Journal of Global Innovations in Agricultural Sciences· 0 citations
Abstract
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.
This study aims to determine the effect of liquid organic fertilizer (LOF) made from gamal leaves (Gliricidia sepium) on the growth of bird’s eye chili (Capsicum frutescens L.) as an alternative to natural urea fertilizer. The research is based on the high demand for fertilizers in chili cultivation and the negative impacts of excessive chemical fertilizer use on soil and the environment. Gamal leaves contain essential nutrients such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), which support plant growth. The experiment used various concentrations of gamal leaf LOF applied to chili plants, with observations on plant height, leaf number, and other morphological traits. Results showed that gamal leaf LOF positively affected plant growth, with certain concentrations performing better than the control. This indicates that gamal leaf LOF can serve as an eco-friendly and sustainable alternative to natural urea fertilizer.
A. F. Pulungan, Grandy Sihotang, Immanuel Veron Silitonga et al.· Indonesian Journal of Chemic...· 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
Agriculture plays a vital role in Pakistan’s economy; however, increasing population growth and rapid urbanization have created major challenges related to food security, sustainable waste management, and agricultural productivity. Mushroom cultivation, particularly Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus pulmonarius), offers a sustainable approach to address these issues due to its nutritional value, economic importance, and ability to grow on lignocellulosic agricultural wastes. Agricultural by-products such as wheat straw, cotton compost, spent coffee grounds, and pomegranate peels contain nutrients and fiber components that may support mushroom growth and improve substrate quality. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different substrate combinations on the growth and yield performance of Pleurotus pulmonarius under controlled conditions. Different treatments consisting of wheat straw, cotton compost, spent coffee grounds, and pomegranate peels were prepared and assessed using growth and yield parameters, including mycelial colonization, pinhead formation, fruiting body development, and mushroom yield. The study hypothesized that supplementation of conventional substrates with nutrient-rich agricultural wastes could enhance mushroom production efficiency. The results indicated variations among substrate treatments in terms of growth and production performance. Substrates supplemented with pomegranate peels and spent coffee grounds showed comparatively improved mushroom growth and yield characteristics compared to other treatments. These findings suggest that agricultural waste-based substrate combinations may enhance the cultivation efficiency of Pleurotus pulmonarius while also contributing to sustainable recycling of agro-industrial residues.
Keywords: Food security, urbanization, oyster mushroom, pomegranate and coffee grounds.
M. Akhtar, Nasir Ahmad Khan· Phytopathogenomics and Disea...· 0 citations
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.
A. Bahrun, L. Afa· Journal of Global Innovation...· 0 citations
In the face of growing demand for vegetable crops, particularly solanaceous species, the excessive use of synthetic fertilisers and the degradation of arable soils are major constraints on agricultural production in West African urban and peri-urban areas. Soilless cultivation is therefore gaining importance as an alternative production system that is less dependent on soil quality. This study compared the effects of four liquid fertilisers - two organic (a poultry manure extract and a manure-based fertiliser) and two mineral fertilisers (Nutrigofol 8-8-8 and NPK 12-22-22, with the latter serving as the control) - on the growth and yield of pepper grown under soilless conditions, with the broader aim of identifying nutrient solutions that could reduce growers’ dependence on chemical fertilisers. The trial followed a randomised complete block design with four replicates. Treatment had a significant effect on most growth and yield parameters (p < 0.001). The organic fertilisers, particularly the poultry manure extract, produced significantly higher values than the mineral fertilisers for floral bud number, fruit number, fruit mass, and estimated yield. Estimated yield reached 5.11 t ha⁻¹ with the poultry manure extract, followed by the manure-based fertiliser (3.69 t ha⁻¹), Nutrigofol 8-8-8 (2.81 t ha⁻¹), and NPK 12-22-22 (2.64 t ha⁻¹). Because no unfertilised control was included, these results describe the relative performance of the four fertilisers rather than their absolute agronomic efficiency. Within this comparative scope, the findings indicate that organic nutrient solutions derived from locally available livestock waste can support pepper productivity in soilless systems at least as well as, and for several parameters better than, the mineral fertilisers tested. Valorising such organic waste as low-cost biofertilisers could contribute to more affordable and resilient vegetable production for expanding West African cities, provided these trends are confirmed against an unfertilised control and under real production conditions.
Gnimassoun Kawojou Edwige-Gwladys, B. B. Emile, Brou A. Carelle Eudoxie· Journal of biology and natur...· 0 citations
Sapindus delavayi (Franch.) Radlk. is a non-wood tree species of considerable ornamental, ecological, and medicinal value, and its fruits are rich in saponins, with notable cleansing and skin-care properties. However, this tree species is currently facing the dilemma of low fruit yield and unstable fruiting. Fertilization is an effective measure to improve this cultivation situation. Considering the harm of nitrogen fertilizer in soil, we designed four schemes to replace nitrogen fertilizer with organic fertilizers in this study, aiming to obtain the optimal fertilization combination for the growth of Sapindus delavayi (Franch.) Radlk. Three-year-old seedlings were subjected to applications of nitrogen fertilizer, organic fertilizer, and their combinations to evaluate their effects on plant physiological responses and soil physicochemical properties. Results revealed that the sole application of organic fertilizer significantly promoted the elongation of new shoots. Compared with the unfertilized control, the combined treatment of 30% organic fertilizer and 70% nitrogen fertilizer significantly increased soil nitrate nitrogen content by 161.54%, while ammonium nitrogen content decreased by 24.30%. Principal component analysis indicated that glutamine synthase (GS), glutamate synthase (GOGAT), and nitrate reductase (NR) were the major enzymes influencing leaf physiological responses. Therefore, we concluded that fertilization has affected the rate of nitrogen assimilation and altered the process of amino acid synthesis, thereby influencing the metabolism and maintenance of cellular function in Sapindus delavayi (Franch.) Radlk. Structural equation modeling further indicated that fertilization primarily influenced total carbon content in plant leaves by affecting soil organic matter and alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen. These findings elucidate the regulatory relationship between plant physiological processes and soil properties under co-application of nitrogen and organic fertilizer, providing a scientific reference for field fertilization management of this tree species.
Fang-Yun Guo, Yi Luo, Yu Chen et al.· Plants· 0 citations
