POTENTIAL USE OF ARTOCARPUS HETEROPHYLLUS (JACKFRUIT) SEED AS FERTILIZER FOR SOLANUM MELONGENA (EGGPLANT) PLANT

Abstract

Artocarpus heterophyllus, commonly known as Jackfruit, is a tropical fruit often found in households. Despite its widespread consumption in the Philippines, jackfruit seeds are often overlooked. This study aimed to explore the potential of jackfruit seeds as a fertilizer for enhancing the growth of eggplant plants. Through experimentation, two variations of jackfruit seed fertilizer (JSF) were tested: 15g and 25g applications. The results demonstrated a remarkable difference in the growth rate of eggplant plants between the control group and the 25g JSF group (p-value: 0.005837), showcasing the significant impact of jackfruit seeds on plant growth. However, the 15g JSF group showed no significant difference (p-value: 0.188765). In terms of leaf count, neither the 15g nor the 25g JSF groups showed a statistically significant difference. However, the mean range (5 < 5.8 < 7.6) suggests that JSF may contribute to leaf production in eggplant plants. This research highlights the potential of jackfruit seed-derived fertilizer in enhancing plant growth, with implications for sustainable farming and the efficient use of underutilized resources.