GROWTH AND BEAN YIELD EVALUATION OF BUSH SITAO (Vigna sesquepidalis x Vigna unguiculata) USING DIFFERENT PREPARATIONS OF GUSO (Eucheuma cottonii) SUBSTRATES AS FERTILIZER

Seaweed fertilizers are excellent alternative to synthetic crop enhancers but are more environmentally friendly than the synthetics. Thus, this study was conducted to evaluate the growth and bean yield performance of bush sitao (Vigna sesquepidalis x Vigna unguiculata) using different preparations of guso (Eucheuma cottonii) as seaweed fertilizer. This was also done to compare the effectiveness of using organic fertilizer to the synthetic ones. The experiment was carried out using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four treatments that was replicated four times. The treatments were T1, Control 1% 14-14-14 (60-60-45); T2, 2% Guso Extract; T3, 2% Fermented Guso Juice; and T4, 2% Powdered Guso with water. The flowering period and the non-marketable yield were not significantly affected by the treatments that were used. However, all other data such as the plant height, pod length, number of pods and marketable bean yield were highly significant at 1% level across the treatments. In all the highly significant results, the 2% fermented guso juice did better compared with other treatments. However, the least favorable results were attained with the powdered guso treatment. Therefore, it is recommended to use fermented guso juice as an alternative to synthetic fertilizers.