Fertilizer, fermented activators, and EM utilization in pechay (Brassica pekinensis L.) production

The study was conducted at the experimental area of Cebu Technological University (CTU) - Barili Campus, Barili, Cebu, Philippines during the year 2011, to evaluate the effect of using different fertilizers, fermented activators, and effective microorganisms (E.M.) on the yield, root and shoot fresh and dry weight of pechay (Brassica pekinensis L.) and their short term effect on the nutrient content and pH of the soil. The experiment was laid out in a two-factorial arranged of the treatments in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Experiment comprises of the treatments as: Factor A - Fertilizer = F0 - Control (no fertilizer), F1 - Formulated Compost Fertilizer (30% Browns + 30% Greens + 40% Banana Bract at 2kg/m2 with 1.91% N - 0.52% P2O5 -0.48% K2O), F2 - Commercial Compost Fertilizer (Vermi-Compost of Cebu Provincial Agriculture Office at 2kg/m2 with 1.84% N - 1.78% P2O5 - 0.17% K2O), F3 - Inorganic Fertilizer (14-14-14 - 0.06kg/m2) and Factor B - Fermented Activators and EM= E0 - Control (tap water), E1 - CGSAA alone (at 5L/m2 two times a week), E2 - FSCJ alone (at 5L/m2 two times a week), E3 - 1 Part CGSAA + 1 Part FSCJ (at 5L/m2 two times a week), E4 - Commercial E.M. (BIOEM at 5L/m2 two times a week). Results revealed that at harvest, pechay leaf length increased by 1.77 times (21.49 cm), number of leaves by 0.78 times (9.26), leaf area by 18.02 times (831.93cm3) and computed marketable yield by 32.96 times (9.17 t per ha) when fertilized with commercial compost fertilizer and applied with commercial EM than those unfertilized pechay without fermented activators application. Furthermore, commercial EM along with commercial compost fertilizer increased the shoot fresh weight of pechay. On shoot dry weight and root fresh and dry weight, compost fertilizer application alone is already enough. Conclusively, for pechay (Brassica pekinensis L.) commercial production, the use of commercial compost fertilizer together with commercial effective microorganism is recommended for higher growth and yield.