Study on Use of Plant Based Material as a Fertilizer

Abstract

Soil is the mixture of mineral, organic material, living organisms, air and water that together support the growth of plant life. Fruit peels contain potassium, vitamins, minerals and some essential elements which enhance the growth of plant. Generally, fruit peels are thrown in garbage and it goes to solid waste dumping site. That causes odour problem due to degradation of peel content in dumping site. The present study deals with the utilization of different fruit peels such as orange peels and banana peels as fertilizer added to soil. The soil sample was collected from Shar- Taw-Lay village, Amarapura Township, Mandalay, Myanmar. Three soil samples were investigated by addition of organic waste fruit peel powder of orange and banana. Soil sample, S₁ (2000 g soil) as control, soil sample, S₂ (2000 g soil + 500 g orange peel powder) and soil sample, S₃ 2000 g soil + 500 g banana peel powder) and soil sample, S₃ (2000 g soil + 500 g banana peel powder) were fertilized soil. The physicochemical properties of three soil samples such as pH, electrical conductivity, organic matter and texture were determined. The elemental composition of three soil samples was measured by applying EDXRF. The content of N, P, K nutrients of three soil samples was determined by chemical instrumental method. Different fruit peel powders add soils to compare the plant growth were investigated. The chemical fertilizers can be replaced by the fruit peel powder to protect the soil from the infertility. This fruit peel materials have not cost bearing and thus aids in converting this waste into a usable resource.