Effectiveness of a Natural Fertilizer from Organic Household Waste (Banana Peel, Orange Peel, Eggshell, and Onion Peel) versus Chemical Fertilizer on The Growth of Chili (Capsicum Annuum L.): A Comparative Analysis

Abstract

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.