Work

Assessment of a sargassum-based liquid biofertilizer for enhanced banana cultivation in small-scale family farms

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The substantial influxes of pelagic Sargassum spp. along Caribbean coasts pose environmental challenges for the region's countries, but also offer opportunities for sustainable valorization. This research develops and evaluates a Sargassum -Based Liquid Biofertilizer (SBLB) produced via anaerobic fermentation, uniquely reducing heavy metal content (e.g., arsenic from 61.6 to 4.08 mg/kg) while retaining beneficial nutrients and microorganisms. This biofertilizer was applied to banana cultivation in Dominican small-scale family farms, SBLB enhanced leaf emission (p < 0.05 in two of three farms) compared to a traditional biofertilizer (BLB) and maintained Black Sigatoka disease below intervention thresholds, matching BLB performance. Chemical and microbiological analyses confirmed SBLB’s safety and efficacy, positioning it as a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilizers. This approach mitigates Sargassum waste and supports organic farming, offering a replicable model for coastal agricultural systems.

Source: Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering

DOI: 10.1016/j.cscee.2025.101252

Authors: Yaset Rodríguez-Rodríguez, Laura Isabel Soldevilla-Hernández, Miguel Ángel Guevara, Gustavo Gandini, Ulises Javier Jáuregui-Haza

Institutions: Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo, Instituto Superior de Formación Docente Salomé Ureña

Language: English

Topic: Agriculture, Plant Science, Crop Management

Subfield: Plant Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences