EFFECT OF LACTIC ACID BACTERIA SERUM (LABS) AT DIFFERENT LEVELS OF APPLICATION ON THE PERFORMANCE OF BUSH SITAO (Vigna sesquipedalis x Vigna unguiculata)

The field study was conducted at Mindanao State University, General Santos City, Agronomy Research Area, from September 02 to November 08, 2017. This study used a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD with five (5) treatments and replicated three times. The treatments were as follows: T1-Control (30-40-40 kgs of NPK/ha); T2- 5% LABS; T3-10% LABS; T4-15% LABS; T5- Vermicast (10T/ha). The results indicated that the number of pods and non-marketable pods were highly significant at 1% level. Contrary, the plant height, flowering period, length of pods, marketable pods, nodule count and pod yield were not significantly affected by different treatments used. However, the highest yield was observed in T4 15% LABS with a yield increment of 51 percent, followed by T3 10%LABS with a yield increment of 43 percent over the Ti (Control 30-40-40 kgs NPK/ha) respectively. Hence, the application of LABS can best substitute for inorganic fertilizer and can help to increase crop production.