Impact of Organic Fertilizers Derived from Banana and Orange Peels on Tomato Plant Quality

Abstract

The main objective of this research is to promote the reuse of wastes resulting from different manufacturing processes such as fruit peels (e.g. banana and orange peels) as substitutes (at least partially) of mineral fertilizers. This might have positive effects in maintaining human health and reducing environmental pollution. Moreover, to compare the use of these wastes with commercial organic fertilizer i.e., compost made by Nile Company to meet the needs of tomato plants from nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) elements. To achieve the goal, two experiments were conducted. The first was an incubation experiment, which was designed to compare the organic fertilizer compost of Nile Company and the powdered banana and orange peels. The second was a field experiment achieved at the Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University. Obtained results of the incubation experiment showed increases in nitrogen content by 16 to 31% and potassium by 12 to 24% due to using grinded banana and orange peels as compared to the compost treatment. Moreover, in the field experiment the concentration of nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) at different plant growth stages whether in soil or plant did not differ significantly between soil plots fertilized with mineral fertilization and those fertilized with banana and orange ones. On contrary, potassium concentration was found higher in the soil fertilized with organic fertilization than that fertilized with mineral fertilization. It has also been found to us that there are no clear significant differences between tomato fruits resulting from mineral fertilization of the ground and those that were fertilized by the mixture of banana and orange peels in terms of the ratio of nitrogen and potassium, weight, size and density of the fruit and other characteristics except for the total salts percentage, which was less Fruits fertilized with a mixture of banana and orange peels.