The Usage of Marine Plant-Based Bio-Fertilizer for Tomato Growing in Mogadishu, Somalia

Abstract

Seaweed and seagrass contain plant growth hormones and mineral nutrients such as proteins, lipids, amino acids, phytohormones, carbohydrates, antimicrobial compounds and osmoprotectants. Hence, the present work was undertaken to assess the potential of marine plant-based bio-fertilizer, prepared as a mixture of six seaweed species and three seagrass species, in comparison with goat manure fertilizer, mixed fertilizer, conventional and no-fertilizer (control) applications on the growth and yield of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) under greenhouse conditions. The experiment was designed in a split plot with a randomized complete block design. Fifteen biological replications were used from each treatment for measuring plant height, number of fruits and fruit weight. In this study, treatment of conventional, marine plant bio-fertilizer, goat manure, mixed fertilizer and control was applied. This study revealed that tomato plants supplied with a mix of traditional fertilizers had the highest plant height (178 cm) and the highest number of fruits (150 fruits/plant), while the plants treated with marine plant bio-fertilizer produced fruits of the highest weight (3132 grams/15 fruits). This is the first study on the utility of marine plant as bio-stimulants for agricultural production in Somalia. The application of eco-friendly and user-friendly marine bio-fertilizers can be suggested to farmers in getting higher yields and better growth of tomato plants.