Alternative organic fertilizers for onion crops in Tierras Altas, Chiriquí, Panama

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the performance of chicken manure biol as an alternative fertilizer for onion crops in Tierras Altas, Chiriquí, Panama. Methodology: The study was carried out at the Experimental Station of the Instituto de Innovación Agropecuaria de Panamá (IDIAP), located in Cerro Punta, Tierras Altas, Chiriquí. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) was installed, with five treatments that consisted of the application of three types of biol as a complement to the crop fertilization plan, in addition to a commercial control and a control without any application. Each treatment had five repetitions. The study variables evaluated were yield ha -1 and bulb diameter. The data obtained were analyzed using Social Science Statistics statistical app and Microsoft Excel Software. Results: According to the results, there were significant differences in yield between treatments (p < 0.05); also, when comparing the yield of bulbs with a diameter above 90 mm, between 81 and 90 mm and between 45 and 60 mm, there were significant differences (p < 0.05). The treatment that showed the best performance was the commercial control, with 23.06 t ha -1 , followed by the biol of chicken manure with 17.51 ​​t ha -1 and biol of microalgae with 17.22 t ha -1 ; all of them close to the national average performance. Conclusion: Chicken manure biol is an alternative to consider, as a complement to onion crop fertilization and would contribute to the health of the environment and people. However, further studies of the profitability of this and other bio-inputs are needed.