Wood Vinegar: An Organic Fertilizer from Charcoal-Making for the Growth and Performance of Pechay (Brassica campestris L. Sub sp. Chinensis)

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

The country at present is still experiencing economic crisis despite the appreciation of Peso against US Dollar. High prices of commodities and cost of living make everyone think of how to make ends meet. Health and environmental problems are also major concern of the society.With this situation, people are looking for ways to cut down expenses of daily living as well as live a healthy lifestyle. Health conscious individuals prefer food, which are grown organically and pesticides free. However, in order to increase their harvest, farmers tend to use chemical for fertilizer and pesticides. This practice is harmful to health and to the environment. Most households now use charcoal as their fuel source to lessen everyday expenses. The increase in demand calls for increase in production that result to produce more by products in large amount in which may or may not be beneficial to man and to the environment.

METHODS

Wood vinegar was prepared in integration with charcoaling process of 35 kg. of school generating wood waste using a portable kiln steel drum. A total of 3,750 ml wood vinegar and 15 kg. of charcoal were produced.

RESULTS

Results showed that charcoal and diluted wood vinegar application had significantly promoted growth and yield performances of pechay at higher concentration (1:100 and 1:200). Most uniform plants were also observed in treatments with charcoal and wood vinegar. Wood vinegar was diluted and applied as basal before sowing and as soil drench with spraying to treatment plants using 250 ml for each pot at weekly interval. The treatments were 1 part liquefied smoke: 100 part water, 1:200, 1:300, 1:400, 1:500, charcoal alone and compost alone. The data collected were subjected to ANNOVA.

DISCUSSIONS

Charcoal bits and wood vinegar were utilized to affect growth and yield performance of pechay (Brassica campestris L. Subsp. Chinensis).One set of 48 agricultural plastic pots were filled with pulverized ordinary garden soil. The top soil of each of the 48 plastic pots were incorporated with 250 grams of charcoal bits garden soil only for the 12 control pots. Liquefied smoke can be produced in integration with charcoal making process using waste biomass materials.