Gliricida sepium is locally known as kakawate. This legume is popular to the rural folks as a ripening agent for their harvested banana. Most farmers are not aware that this plant can be utilized as fertilizer to lessen their farm inputs.
Application of organic materials is a good agricultural practice to maintain soil nutrient level and ameliorate the properties of soil to sustain crop production. Many organic materials contain secondary nutrients and micronutrients in addition to organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
To test the potential of kakawate as bio-organic fertilizer, Nonilon G. Badayos of the Department of Soil Science and Dr. Gina V. Pangga of Farming Systems and Soil Resources Institute conducted a study entitled Integrated Nutrient Management for Eggplant Production in Sta. Maria, Laguna. The experiment sought to evaluate the effect of kakawate on the growth performance and yield of eggplants and on the soils physical and chemical properties.
Three treatments were followed in this study, namely: no fertilizer (control), 100% inorganic fertilizer, and 50% inorganic fertilizer + 50% Gliricidia sepium.
Observations revealed that the eggplants fertilized with 50% inorganic fertilizer + 50% Gliricidia sepium were the most vigorous – growth rate was faster and the fruits were heavier than the other treatments.
To get more scientific results on kakawates effect on the crops performance and yield as well as its beneficial effect on the soil physical and chemical properties, further study is strongly recommended. Similarly, the economic benefits of applying organic materials as soil amendment and its potential as an alternative to inorganic fertilizers should also be evaluated. (N.G. Badayos/G.V. Pangga)
Source: http://community.uplb.edu.ph
