The Effect of Kakawate (Gliricidia sepium) Jacq. Kunth ex Walph. Leaves on the Growth of Onions (Allium cepa)

Abstract

This study was undertaken to determine the effect of different fertilizer treatments on germination and early growth parameters of onion such as height, weight, root length and shoot length. The treatments used were control with no fertilizer, treatment 1 with kakawate leaves and ammonium sulfate and treatment 2 withpure ammonium sulfate. Results showed that high percentage germination was observed in bulbs treated with kakawate leaves plus ammonium sulfate and low percentage germination in control. Onion bulbs treated with kakawate organic fertilizer plus ammonium sulfate were the first to germinate. Germination of seeds normally started eleven days after sowing. Onions treated with kakawate leaves plus ammonium sulfate had the highest average seedling height and weight. Plants treated with ammonium sulfate obtained the longestroots and shoots with only a very little difference with kakawate leaves plus ammonium sulfate. Results also showed that height and root length are significantly increased when applied with kakawate fertilizer plus ammonium sulfate. With the results above, the authors strongly recommend kakawate leaves as additive in soil or can be made into organic fertilizer as alternative to high priced commercial fertilizer. The organic fertilizer should be mixed with commercial fertilizerto improve soil productivity and fertility and reduce costs due to high priced commercial fertilizers. This study is timely to introduce to help the environment recover from the negative impacts ofusing synthetic fertilizer such assoil nutrient loss and climate change. It should also be studied on-site with crops such as onions, corn and other crops. Researchers and farmers should consider the potentials of kakawate as a farm input.