Jun 2026· Kongunadu Research Journal· Vol 13, pp. 29-41· 0 citations
Abstract
Fertilizers are extensively used to replenish soil nutrients and maximize crop yields. They are broadly classified into two types: organic and synthetic fertilizers. In recent years, there is increasing attention to the valorisation of agricultural waste, particularly the bioconversion of fruits and vegetable peels into value-added agricultural products such as organic liquid fertilizers. This approach not only reduces the waste accumulation but also contributes to a sustainable product for agricultural purposes. In this present study, the five different fruit peels (Citrus sinensis, Citrus limetta, Ananas cosmos, Citrus limon, and Citrullus lanatus) were chosen to produce “Fruit Peel Organic Liquid Fertilizer” (FPOLF) through aerobic composting. The physicochemical properties of the aerobically composted fertilizers (F1, F2, F3, F4 and F5) were assessed, and their effects on seed germination and crop performance were also investigated using Vigna mungo L. plants through the pot culture method. Among the formulations, the combination of fruit peels and rice water (F2) exhibited superior plant growth and biochemical parameters. Treatment with FPOLF showed improved effects on shoot length, root length, shoot biomass, root biomass, total shoot biomass, leaf length, leaf breadth, germination rate, and germination index. Additionally, biochemical parameters such as carbohydrate, chlorophyll, and protein contents were found to increase in the crops treated with FPOLF. Overall, FPOLF improved crop performance, enhanced soil health, and promoted circular waste management in agriculture, particularly for smallholder and organic farming systems.
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
The consumption of market garden products contributes to the food and nutritional security of the world's populations. Among these products, tomato occupies a prominent place. Meanwhile, the excessive use of synthetic fertilizers to produce tomatoes reduces the productive potential of soils. Due to this problem, the present study was conducted in West Cameroon, aiming to reduce the use of chemical inputs for sustainable tomato production through the use of organic input. Thus, five treatments (: T0 = control; T1 = 100% NET EDEN organic fertilizer; T2 = 100% poultry manure; T3 = 50% NET EDEN organic fertilizer + 50% poultry manure; T4 = 100% mineral fertilizer) were arranged in a completely randomized block design (RCBD) with three replications. The study was carried out from March 1 to June 26, 2024. The results revealed that the treatment with mineral fertilizer and the treatment with Net Eden organic fertilizer + chickens manure led to 26.28±5.50 t ha
-1
and 26.10±3.51 t ha
-1
respectively. These yields T4; T3 are significantly different (P<0.05) from the yields obtained with the other treatments. The economic analysis of fertilization using the value-cost ratio (VCR) showed that only the treatment based on mineral fertilizer T4 and the treatment with Net Eden+manure T3 should be popularized among farmers/producers. Thus, the use of organic fertilizers for tomato production has agronomic, ecological, and economic advantages. However, similar studies in other agroecological zones are needed.
Keegoui Gertrude, Zingui Xavier, Kamseu Paul et al.· Journal of Plant Sciences· 0 citations
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is one of the most widely cultivated and economically important vegetable crops worldwide, contributing significantly to food security. However, its low productivity remains a substantial concern in Ethiopia due to mainly poor soil quality and limited use of inorganic fertilizers. On the contrary, improper disposal of recyclable charcoal and anaerobic cow dung bioslurry (ACDB) wastes poses environmental pollution challenges. Hence, this study aimed to evaluate the synergetic effects of ACDB and charcoal co-composted fertilizers (ACDBCFs) on tomato productivity and soil properties. A pot experiment consisting of eight treatments (T1 - T8) was arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Characterization of the five formulated ACDBCFs revealed good physico-chemical properties of pH, organic carbon, ammonium, nitrate, and orthophosphate, fluctuated from 8.9 to 9.63, 26.8 to 65.6%, 2.5 to 4.6 mgL ⁻ 1, 11.9 to 18.2 mgL ⁻ 1, and 0.74 to 3.1 mgL ⁻ 1, respectively. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed in tomato fruit yield with relatively higher values of 2.87 and 2.73 kgpot ⁻ 1 for T6 and T8 under ACDB + charcoal (+10%) and inorganic fertilizers amendments, respectively. Principal component analysis (PCA) demonstrated strong associations between nutrient availability and tomato growth and yield component parameters. Heat map visualization further confirmed that ACDBCFs application improved soil background nutrient and carbon contents. Overall, the findings from this short-term study indicate that ACDBCFs can enhance tomato productivity while improving soil organic matter and nutrient availability. However, further long-term studies on field level validation in real soil conditions and nutrient dynamics are recommended to support large-scale adoption of this resource-recovery approach, contributing to sustainable agriculture, environmental protection, and socio-economic development.
Agriculture plays a key role in global food production, whereas organic waste management remains an important environmental challenge. Organic residue-derived compost represents a sustainable strategy for nutrient recycling, soil fertility improvement, and reduced reliance on synthetic fertilizers in horticultural systems. This study systematically reviewed the scientific literature on the application of compost in cherry tomato (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme) cultivation to evaluate its effects on agronomic performance and production systems. A database search from 2004 to July 2025 identified 86 studies that met the predefined eligibility criteria. The analysis showed an increasing trend in research over the last two decades, with publications peaking in 2021. Most studies were conducted in Latin America, particularly in Colombia, Mexico, and Brazil, highlighting the relevance of the cherry tomato crop. The application of compost was associated with improved plant growth, nutrient availability, and crop productivity. The production cycles ranged from 37 to 220 days, with shorter cycles commonly observed in tropical environments. Rice husk compost is among the most frequently used organic amendments. Overall, compost represents an effective strategy to enhance agronomic performance and promote sustainable cherry tomato production worldwide.
Andrés Reyes Rodríguez, Silvia A. Quijano, S. Arango-Varela et al.· Applied Sciences· 0 citations
Low soil fertility and restricted nutrient bioavailability are critical limiting factors for sustainable vegetable production, particularly in marginal sandy soils. This study addressed these challenges by investigating the efficacy of a novel sugarcane-derived molasses treated (SOFA) as a soil conditioner and nutrient source for eggplant (Solanum melongena L.), a crop for which comprehensive studies on such integrated approaches in these soil types are limited. Field experiments were conducted over two consecutive growing seasons to evaluate the impact of SOFA, applied either independently or in combination with mineral nitrogen (N), on soil physicochemical properties and crop performance.The study results demonstrated that integrated fertilization significantly improved soil physicochemical properties and crop performance. The treatment T3 (50% mineral N + 50% SOFA) achieved the highest total fruit yield (8.84 kg plant−1), representing a 111% increase compared to the control (4.18 kg plant−1). Similarly, T2 (75% N + 25% SOFA) significantly enhanced vegetative growth, chlorophyll content, and fruit nutritional quality. Soil organic matter increased by up to 56%, while available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium increased by up to 240%, 209%, and 67%, respectively, compared to the control. Moreover, SOFA application contributed to moderating soil alkalinity and improving nutrient availability, despite slight increases in electrical conductivity at higher application rates. Eggplant fruit quality traits were also significantly improved, with total soluble solids (TSS) increasing by 42% and anthocyanin content by 49% under optimized treatments. Economic analysis revealed that T2 and T3 achieved the highest profitability, with investment factors approaching 5.0, indicating superior economic efficiency. These findings highlight the potential of treated molasses-based amendments (SOFA) as a sustainable strategy for restoring marginal sandy soils and optimizing the productivity and nutritional quality of S. melongena.
Abdel-Haleem A. H. El-Shaieny, Ahmed N. Gad El Rab, H. Farrag et al.· Scientific Reports· 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