Growth of Momordica charantia (bitter gourd) amended by Chanos chanos (bangus) and Oreochromis niloticus (tilapia) fish offal fertilizer

KATHLEEN MARIE A. ALIGAEN, NICOLE ANDREA T. MABASA, AISAN BHENZ M. MANDAR, and FERNANDO CHRISTIAN G. JOLITO III

Philippine Science High School Western Visayas Campus – Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PSHS WVC), Brgy. Bito-on, Jaro, Iloilo City 5000, Philippines

Abstract

Inorganic fertilizers have been widely used in enhancing the growth of crops. However, excessive use of inorganic fertilizers can have adverse environmental effects. Thus, there is a need to find alternative ways and one is by using fish offal from aquaculture by-products as fertilizers. Fish offal are organic fertilizers known to contain a healthy balance of significant plant nutrients. But only few studies were done on plant growth effects using fish offal from different fish species. Here, we compared the number of leaves, area, and growth rate of M. charantia, an important medicinal vegetable crop, in soil amended with fish offal of C. chanos and O. niloticus at 7.5% (v/v) concentration. Results showed that there is no significant difference on the growth of M. charantia between the fish offal of C. chanos and O. niloticus. Therefore, fish offal fertilizers from either fish species enhanced the growth of M. charantia plant providing a more cost-efficient and environment-friendly way of growing M. charantia.

Keywords: Chanos chanos, fish offal fertilizer, Momordica charantia, Oreochromis niloticus, plant growth

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