Efficacy Test Report

Efficacy Test of BIONUTRI as Soil Conditioner for Pechay (var. Pavo)

I. Background

Pechay (Brassica rapa L.) belongs to the green leafy vegetable and has been used in Asian cooking for centuries. The leaves are delicious and crispy, and are excellent sources of Vitamin A, folic acid and essential elements such calcium and potassium, and fiber. BIONUTRI is a natural plant nutrient which is low in sodium, yet rich in magnesium, chloride, a source of chloride and magnesium nutrients. It is in ionic form that can easily absorb by the plants. Natural mineral contents:

Minerals Specifications Amount used in the formulation

Chloride 220-350 mg/ml 285 mg/ml Magnesium 75-110 mg/ml 93 mg/ml Sulfate 5-50 mg/ml 28 mg/ml Sodium <4 ml/ml 2 mg/ml Potassium >1mg/ml 1 mg/ml Chemical analysis: Component Typical/normal (%) Range (%) Magnesium Chloride (MgCl2)

30.0 29.0 - 31.5

Sulfate (S04) 0.4 0.3 - 0.8 Potassium (K) 0.3 0.1- 0.5 Sodium (Na) 0.3 0.1 -0.7 Water (H2O 66 64 - 69

Heavy metals contents: Lead (Pb) <0.5 ppm Aluminum (Al) <1 ppm Mercury (Hg) <0.1 ppm Arsenic (Ar) <1 ppm Cadmium (Cd) <0.5 ppm

Microbial test for pathogens

E. Coli Negative Salmonella Negative

Total Coiliforms <300/g Total Plate Count <10,000/g

Product Advantage:

1. Balance and complete 2. Pure and concentrated 3. Macro, micro and trace minerals has functional properties that improve

immune system of plants 4. Convenient and economical

Because of its important and high mineral contents needed by the plants, it may be suitable as a soil conditioner. A soil conditioner (as cited in FPA Memo Circular No. 96-08) is any organic or inorganic material, natural or synthetic, that is applied to the soil to modify certain soil physical properties, such as structure, moisture retaining capacity, shrinking and swelling capacity or resistivity to crusting and to improve soil chemical and biological conditions.

II. Objectives 1. To determine the effect of BIONUTRI Soil Conditioner on yield of

pechay.

2. To determine if the application of BIONUTRI alone or in combination with conventional inorganic fertilizer can significantly increase the yield of pechay.

III. Researcher Dr. Nemesio U. Trillana Consultant, Kits Farm Bacolor, San Fernando, Pampanga FPA Researcher Accreditation No. PNT- 220

IV. Materials and Methods

1. Test crop: Pechay seeds of the variety Pavo was used.

2. Site Description:

The field efficacy was conducted in Barangay Upig, San Ildefonso, Bulacan. The area is flat, has adequate irrigation facilities, accessible, has the same previous cropping, fertilizer and cultural treatment history. The area was planted previously with ampalaya. The soil type is clay loam with a pH of 6.8, 0.58 % of organic matter, available P and

K of 96 ppm (Olsen P) and 0.76 cmol (+) kg soil respectively (based on soil chemical analysis).

3. Test fertilizer:

BIONUTRI (Brand name)

4. Method and time of application of the product BIONUTRI a. Seeds application

The seeds were wrapped with clean cloth and soaked in water for T1,T2 and T3 and in diluted solution of BIONUTRI overnight (as in Ragdoll method of germinating the seeds) for T4,T5 and T6. On the following day in the morning, all the seeds were air-dried and sown into the sowing media in the seedling trays.

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b. As foliar spray after transplanting

Fifteen milliliters (15 ml) BIONUTRI was mixed into 16 liters of

water in knapsack sprayer. Applications were done at 7, 14 & 21

days after transplanting for T4, T5 and T6.

c. Reference fertilizer ( conventional fertilizer)

The conventional fertilizer recommendation based on soil analysis

was 6 bags of Urea (46-0-0). Basal application of 1/3 (2 bags

Urea) of the requirement and sidedress application of 2/3 (4 bags

Urea) were applied into equal doses at 7 days and 14 days after

transplanting.

d. Treatments

T1- control (no fertilizer, no BIONUTRI)

T2- recommended rate of conventional fertilizer (RRCF)

T3- ½ RRCF

T4- ½ RRCF + recommended rate of BIONUTRI

T5- BIONUTRI

T6- RRCF + BIONUTRI

The test was laid out in a randomized complete block design

(RCBD) with the treatments replicated at 3 times. Plot size was 4m

x 5m or 20 sqm. Data were analyzed for ANOVA and Duncan’s

Multiple Range Test (DMRT) for treatment comparisons.

5. Recommended cultural practices

a. Land Preparation

The experimental area was plowed, harrowed and divided into 3 blocks with 6 plots each. Eighteen (18) plots of 30 cm high and 4m x 5m in size were constructed.

b. Raising of Seedlings and transplanting

The seedlings were sown and raised in the seedling trays for 10-14 days, after which they were transplanted in plots of 4m x 5m at a distance of 20 cm x 20 cm for yield assessment.

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c. Fertilizer Application

The recommended rate of commercial fertilizer application for

pechay based on the result of soil analysis was followed. The

conventional fertilizer recommendation based on soil analysis was

6 bags of Urea (46-0-0). Basal application of 1/3 (2 bags Urea) of

the requirement and sidedress application of 2/3 (4 bags Urea) we

applied into egual doses at 7 days and 14 days after transplanting.

d. Irrigation and Drainage

A manual sprinkler method of watering was employed everyday or whenever necessary.

e. Harvesting and handling

The harvesting was done at 28 days after transplanting.

6. Parameters gathered at harvest

The following data were gathered:

1. Average weight per plant of pechay (in grams harvested in 4 sq.m. sampling area)

2. Yield (marketable clusters) in ton per hectare. The

marketable size of pechay clusters were picked up and the

total yield for every picking schedule was obtained. Yield

was expressed in terms of tons/ha.

V. Results and Discussion: BIONUTRI applications on seeds resulted to better seeds germination and more vigorous seedlings than just soaking in tap water (Figure 1).

Table 1 showed that the application of BIONUTRI with full rate of RRC (T6) gave significantly the highest average weight per plant corresponding to 131 grams. The positive combined effects of BIONUTRI were observed when it is added both with full rate of RRC (T6) and with half rate of RRC (T4). BIONUTRI alone (T5) performs well with significantly heavier weights of pechay than the conventional fertilizer at both half (T3) and full rate dose (T2)). Table1. Average weight of pechay ( grams) as affected by BIONUTRI.

Treatment Replication Mean*

1 2 3 T1- Control 35 34 35 34.67 F T2 – RRCF 90 89.5 89. 89.5 D T3 – 0.5 RRCF 69 68 69 69.0 E T4 – 0.5 RRCF + RRBN 128.7 128. 130 128.9 B T5 – RRBN 92.3 92. 93 92.43 C T6 – RRCF + RRBN 130 130 132 131 A RRCF – Recommended Rate of Conventional Fertilizer RRBN - Recommended Rate of BIONUTRI *Means followed by the same letter are not significantly different as 5% alpha.

In terms of yield, the data in Table 2 showed that the highest yield of 26.2 tons per hectare was observed in T6 (RRCF+ RRBN). The positive combined effects of BIONUTRI were observed when it is added both with full rate of RRCF in T6 and with half rate of RRCF (T4). The heavier weights of pechay resulted to higher yields per hectare can attributed to BIONUTRI applications on seeds resulted to more vigorous seedlings than just soaking in water as observed before transplanting (Figure 1) and its applications alone and combined with half and full dose of conventional fertilizers at 7, 14 and 21 days after planting produced better harvest of more vigorous and bigger leaves (Figures 1 and 2).

The BIONUTRI as an organic soil conditioner has a product advantage of the following:

1. Balance and complete 2. Pure and concentrated 3. Macro, micro and trace minerals has functional properties that improve

immune system of plants 4. Convenient and economical

Table 2. Yield of pechay (in tons per hectare) as affected by BIONUTRI.

Treatment Replication Mean* 1 2 3

T1- Control 7 6.8 7 6.93 F T2 – RRCF 18.1 17.7 17.9 17.9 D T3 – 0.5 RRCF 14 13.7 13.7 13.8 E T4 – 0.5 RRCF + RR BN 25.3 25.74 26.3 25.78 B T5 – RR BN 18.4 18.46 18.6 18.49 C T6 – RRCF + RR BN 26.2 26.0 26.4 26.2 A RRCF – Recommended Rate of Conventional Fertilizer RRBN - Recommended Rate of BIONUTRI *Means followed by the same letter are not significantly different as 5% alpha.

VI. Conclusion: BIONUTRI applications on seeds resulted to better seeds germination and more vigorous seedlings than just soaking in water; and its applications at 7, 14 and 21 days after planting alone and in combination with half and full dose of conventional fertilizers produced significantly better harvest of more vigorous and bigger leaves.

Figure1.Germination of pechay seeds and seedlings vigor as affected by soaking overnight in BIONUTRI and tap water before sowing.

Figure2. Pictures of the standing crop in the field at different treatments before harvest.

Figure3. Pictures of the harvested samples of pechay plants at different treatments.

VII. References:

1. AVRDC. Vegetable Production Training Manual.1985. 154-184.

Tainan, Taiwan.

2. Dufault, R.J. 1985. Relationship among nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertility regimes on celery transplant growth. Hort Science 20, 1104-1106.

3. Kratky, B.A. and Mishima, H.Y. 1981. Lettuce seedling and yield response to pre-plant and foliar fertilization during transplant production. Journal of the American Society of Horticultural Science 106, 3-7.

4. Masson, J.,Tremblay, N. and Gosselin, A. 1991. Nitrogen fertilization and HPS supplementary lighting influence vegetable transplant production. Journal of the American Society of Horticultural Science 116, 594-598.

5. Siemonsma, J.S., and Kasem Piluek. 1993. Plant Resources of

Southeast Asia No. 8 –Vegetables. Pudoc Scientific Publishers, Wagenigen, the Netherlands. 130-134.

Field Experimental Lay-out

R1T4

R2T2

R3T3

R1T6

R2T5

R3T2

R1T5

R2T4

R3T1

R1T1

R2T3

R3T4