Effects of Combined Fermented Sheep Manure and Plant Juice on Cucumber Growth, Yield, and Return on Investment
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65141/tjeraff.v5i2.271Keywords:
cucumber growth, fermented sheep manure, organic fertilizer, plant juice, cucumber yieldAbstract
Organic inputs such as fermented manures and plant extracts are increasingly explored as alternatives to synthetic fertilizers. This study evaluated the effects of fermented sheep manure and fermented plant juice on cucumber (Cucumis sativus) growth and productivity at the Agri-Tech Eco Tourism Farm, Isabela State University–Roxas Campus. A Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with five treatments was used: 100% recommended fertilizer (control) and four combinations of 50% recommended fertilizer plus varying levels of fermented sheep manure (500–650?ml) with a constant dose of fermented plant juice. The growth and yield parameters measured included fruit number per plant, fruit length and diameter, and weight of marketable and non-marketable fruits. Results showed that while cucumber growth was comparable across treatments at 15 and 30 days after sowing, significant differences were observed at 45 days. The control (T1) produced the heaviest and most numerous marketable fruits, the lowest proportion of non-marketable fruits, and the highest total yield, resulting in a return on investment (ROI) of 94.81%, which was higher than all organic input combinations. Fermented sheep manure and plant juice supported growth and yield but did not surpass the productivity or profitability of full synthetic fertilization. These findings highlight that, under the conditions of this study, the control treatment provided the highest ROI, quantifying the economic advantage of the recommended fertilizer rate.
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