BIOTROPIA Vol. 31 No. 1, 2024: 76 - 86

DOI: 10.11598/btb.2024.31.1.2064

EFFICIENCY OF FERMENTED SEAWEED EXTRACT AS
FOLIAR FERTILIZER AT VARYING FREQUENCY AND
CONCENTRATION IN PEANUT (Arachis hypogaea L.)
PRODUCTION
FATIMA SHEIRENE M. MARAJULI1 AND JULIET C. BANGI 2*
2

1
College of Agriculture, Mindanao State University - Sulu, Jolo 7400, Philippines
Plant Science Department, College of Agriculture, Mindanao State University - Main Campus, Marawi City 9700, Philippines

Received 11 August 2023/ Revised 28 October 2023/ Accepted 24 January 2024
ABSTRACT
Fermented seaweed extract (FSE) was used as fertilizer in peanut production at MSU Sulu –BARMM,
Philippines. The experiment was set up in a 3 x 5 factorial in split-plot randomized complete block design (RCBD),
with the main plot (A) as the frequency of the fertilizer applied - once a week, twice a week, and once a month
while, the sub-plot (B) as the concentration at 5, 10, 15, and 20%. The application of fermented seaweed extract
significantly influenced the growth parameters and yield responses in peanut production. The treatment
combinations of once- and twice-a-week application of 5-10% fermented seaweed extract provided the best results
in peanut growth and yield. FSE applied twice a week at 5% concentration gave the highest yield of 2.49 tons per
hectare. Peanut applied with FSE once a week at a 5% concentration gave the lowest cost of expenses and the
highest return on investment of 179%.
Keywords: fermented seaweed extract concentration, frequency of foliar application, peanut

INTRODUCTION
Peanut production in the Philippines has been
fluctuating over the years due to insufficient and
costly inputs. Several alternative plant nutrient
amendments were utilized like organic fertilizers
to increase production volume. In Southern
Mindanao's Sulu Province, seaweed is commonly
grown as a commodity and a source of income,
making it one of the main regions for seaweed
production, both for export and for domestic
use. The most extensively traded species of
seaweed is Agal (Kappaphycus alvarezii) (Dumilag
2019), characterized by its red and brown-colored
varieties. According to several research, seaweed
can be used as fertilizer. Govindasamy et al.
(2018) reported that seaweed contains many
nutrients like nitrogen, phosphate, potash, plant
growth hormones, and other trace elements. The
use of seaweed as organic fertilizer consequently
*Corresponding author, email: fatimasheirenemarajuli@gmail.com,

juliet.bangi@msumain.edu.ph

76

improves soil fertility and enhances plant
growth. It can be applied in several different
forms, including refined liquid extract and dried,
pulverized organic material (Raghunandan
2019). Sulu Province is along the southern part
of Mindanao, Philippines, and the northern
boundary of the Celebes Sea. It has a total area
of 167,376 hectares, with 824,731 household
population, and is the fifth largest island in
the Philippines (PSA 2015). Sulu has 94,500
hectares of agricultural land, wherein the
municipality of Patikul is the largest with 15,750
hectares. The province is predominantly
agricultural with farming and fishing as the main
sources of livelihood. Its fertile soil and ideal
climate can grow a variety of crops and exotic
fruits seldom found elsewhere in the country.
Peanuts (A. hypogaea L.) are commonly planted by
local farmers and consumed as boiled, peanut
butter, roasted peanuts, peanut bars, oils, and
candies. It is considered a vital source of
nutrients, calories, minerals, antioxidants, and
vitamins essential for optimum health. This

Fermented Seaweed Extract Efficiency as Foliar Fertilizer – Fatima Sheirene M. Marajuli and Juliet C. Bangi

commodity is usually intercropped with coconut
and banana and is the alternative to cassava in
other cropping seasons (DA-SAAD 2020).
Several studies report that seaweed liquid
extract boosts plant growth and yield, develops
tolerance to environmental stress, increases
nutrient uptake from soil, and improves
antioxidant properties. It also contains major and
minor nutrients, amino acids, vitamins, cytokinin,
auxin, and growth-promoting substances similar
to abscisic acid. By engaging with important
metabolic processes including protein synthesis
and nucleic acid metabolism, seaweed extract
significantly contributes to the internal
mechanism of plant growth (Rathore et al. 2008).
With the vast seaweed production in Sulu
province, several waste materials can be utilized
as organic foliar fertilizers, given the nutrient
composition of seaweeds. These natural resources
can promote organic farming and able to reduce
the cost of inputs in peanut production.
Considering the reported benefits of the use of
seaweed extract, this present study was conducted
to determine the effect of fermented seaweed
extract (FSE) as fertilizer at different frequencies
and concentrations on peanut production. This
study would benefit the farmers in Sulu by
reducing the costs of chemical inputs and
dependence on synthetic fertilizers (Awal et al. 2015).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This study was conducted in the experimental
field of Mindanao State University-Sulu, College
of Agriculture, Patikul Extension Demo Farm in
Patikul, Sulu. The field had a total area of 189 m²,
and the experiment lasted for five months
(January - May 2022). The experiment is a 3 x 5
factorial in Split-plot Randomized Complete
Block Design (RCBD). The different frequency
applications of FSE represent Factor A (Main
plot) while the different concentration rates of
seaweed extract represent Factor B (Subplots).

All treatment combinations were replicated three
times (Table 1).
Soil sampling was done to analyze the nutrient
status of the soil. Collection of samples was
randomly taken in the experimental area before
plowing and the composite samples were airdried, pulverized, sieved (2 mm wire mesh), and
submitted to the Regional Soils LaboratoryBureau of Soils, Port Area, Zamboanga City for
soil analysis. The field was prepared by plowing,
followed by harrowing to pulverize the soil. The
area was leveled and laid out in a split-plot
experimental design. Plots were subsequently
covered with plastic mulch to prevent weeds
from growing. Furrows were measured to have a
proper distance for planting. Then, the seeds
were soaked in water before planting to attain
good germination. The seeds were sown 30 cm
between rows and 40 cm between hills with a
planting depth of 2 to 3 cm and covered with fine
soil in a row-hill method of planting.
The seaweed extracts of Kappaphycus alvarezii, a
red alga belonging to the family Solieraceae and the
common species grown in the locality, were used
in the study. The collected samples and other
materials were washed several times using tap
water to remove dirt. The samples were
homogenized and fermented using molasses
(only) for about a month. Lacto-fermentation
was used in the study as the usual method in the
fermentation process according to the review
done by Ahmad et al. (2020) and Wang et al.
(2021). The ratio used in the fermentation is 1:1,
or 1 kg of ground seaweed added with 1 liter of
molasses based on the study by Pascual et al.
(2020). After fermentation, the extract was
strained with a fine mesh cloth to separate the
solid from the liquid extract. The FSE was
applied through foliar spray according to
treatment concentration and frequency of
application. FSE was diluted with water and
applied to the crop up to the peak of the peanut’s
last flowering period (8-10 weeks) (Figure 1).

Table 1 The 3 x 5 factorial treatments of the study using the Fermented Seaweed Extract (FSE) in peanut production,
MSU-Sulu, BARMM, Philippines
Factor A (Frequency application)
Factor B (Concentration of application)
A1 – Once a week
B1 – control/ No fertilizer
A2 – Twice a week
B2 – 5% seaweed extract concentration
A3 – Once a month
B3 - 10% seaweed extract concentration
B4 - 15% seaweed extract concentration
B5 - 20% seaweed extract concentration

77

BIOTROPIA Vol. 31 No. 1, 2024

Figure 1 Fermented seaweed extract (FSE) preparation and application in peanut plants

Monitoring of insect pests and diseases was
done every week and the control measures
depended on the pests’ infestation. Harvesting
was done 113 days after planting, and the
harvested pods were separated according to
treatments. The data collected were the
following: plant height (cm)per week, number of
branches per plant per month, number of days to
flower (about 50% plants per plot flowering),
number of flowers per plant, number of pods per
plant, number of seeds per pod, yield per hectare
(tons/ha) by using the formula (1), and the cost
and return analysis based on the return on
investment (ROI) formula (2).
𝑌𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝐻𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑎𝑟𝑒 (

𝑡𝑜𝑛
ℎ𝑎

)=

Yield per Plot (Kg)
𝑡𝑜𝑛
×
×
plot size (m2)
1,000 𝑘𝑔

(1)

10,000 𝑚2
ℎ𝑎

𝑅𝑒𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝐼𝑛𝑣𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 (𝑅𝑂𝐼) =

Net Income
Cost of Production

× 100 (2)

The data were analyzed using Analysis of
Variance
(ANOVA)
in
Split-plot
Randomized Complete Block design (RCBD)
through SPSS. Treatment means with significant
differences were compared using Tukey's
Honestly Significant Difference (HSD) Test.
78

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Plant Height (cm)
The responses of peanuts in the FSE
application showed remarkable differences
according to concentration and frequency (Table
2). This proves that FSE contains macronutrients
that influence the growth of the test plants. Based
on the FSE analysis, it contains enough
phosphorus (0.15% P2O5) and potassium (2.46%
K2O) but less nitrogen (0.30% N), which
influenced the bio-responses of peanuts. Plant
height is a crucial characteristic that reflects
overall growth and is widely used to predict
biomass or final yield.
In the first and second weeks, peanut plant
height varies according to the treatment
combinations. Early plant development average
height ranged from 6.56 cm to 6.94 cm with FSE
sprayed once or twice a week at concentrations of
10-15% (Table 2). FSE influenced the growth of
peanuts, which conforms with the study
conducted by Rathore et al. (2008). The plants
were tall and robust compared with plants that
received a monthly application of the same dose.
Vigorous plants were produced as a result of the
continuous application of seaweed extract during
the third until the tenth week at a concentration

Fermented Seaweed Extract Efficiency as Foliar Fertilizer – Fatima Sheirene M. Marajuli and Juliet C. Bangi

of 10-15% applied once and twice a week.
However, no statistical difference was found in
FSE applied twice a week at 5- 10%
concentration with 55.44 cm plant height.
Shorter plants were observed from control or
unapplied plots with FSE. The findings of the
study revealed the influence of seaweed extracts
having macro- and micronutrients including
growth hormones, which revealed a similar effect
to the study conducted by Prasad et al. (2010) and
Rathore et al. (2008). FSE was reported to have
enough phosphorus of about 34 ppm,
magnesium and calcium of more than 450 ppm
(Rathore et al. 2008), and micronutrients, which
made a significant impact on legumes. Also,
seaweed extracts have been used in several
horticulture studies and are widely used as a
solidifying agent in the nutrient media of plant
tissue culture.
The flowering stage of peanuts started in the
fourth week after planting showing yellow
flowers that emerged around the basal portion of
the plant (Table 3). The treatment combination
of twice-a-week application at 10% FSE
concentration (A2B3) initiated early flowering at
30.82 days. Still, it did not differ significantly with

the treatment combination having twice the
application of 5% FSE concentration (A2B2)
with 31 days of flowering. The late flowering of
peanuts was observed in control plots (A1B1 and
A2B1) without FSE application at 32.98 and
32.62 days, respectively (Table 2).
The results showed that frequent application
of seaweed extract at 5-10% concentration
boosted the early flowering of peanuts. Plants
sprayed with fermented seaweed extract once a
month have a longer number of days to flower. It
can be inferred that a lesser amount of FSE
nutrients is received during plant growth and
development (Table 3). These findings conform
with the soybean experiment conducted by
Rathore et al. (2009) applied with seaweed extract.
This was possible due to the high phosphorus
content of seaweed with 33.99 mg/L. It can be
assumed that the early flowering of the peanut is
due to the phosphorus content which is essential
for plant flowering initiation and/or reproductive
stage. Lalog (2011) mentioned that seaweed
extract is rich in macro- and micronutrients that
enhance the early flowering of peanut plants. It is
environment-friendly, helps the growth of
various crops and vegetables while improving the

Table 2 Plant height (cm) of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) taken every week as influenced by the different seaweed extract
concentrations and frequency of application in MSU-Sulu, BARMM, Philippines
Fermented Seaweed Extract
(TREATMENTS)
Frequency
Application
(Factor A)

Plant Height (cm) per week *

Concentration (%)
1st
(Factor B)

B1 - 0
B2 - 5
A 1 - Once a
week
B3 - 10
(1x / wk)
B4 - 15
B5 - 20
B1 - 0
B2 - 5
A2 - Twice a
B3 - 10
week (2x / wk)
B4 - 15
B5 - 20
B1 - 0
B2 - 5
A3 - Once a
B3 - 10
month (1x / mo)
B4 - 15
B5 - 20
ANOVA (Treatments)
cv (%)

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

6th

7th

8th

9th

10th

5.15d 11.55d 14.66cd 16.65d 20.73c 28.14d 41.74c 47.61f 51.04d 53.52b
5.44bc 11.86cd 13.66e 15.52e 18.63d 28.21d 41.04d 48.59d 51.90c 53.80b
6.58a 13.02a 15.95b 17.05cd 19.77cd 29.17bc 40.42e 49.01cd 50.88d 54.53a
6.94a 13.28a 15.79b 19.28a 20.77bc 29.67a 43.77b 49.99a 53.07b 53.92b
5.16d 11.63cd 14.15d 16.32d 20.50c 29.84a 39.82f 50.04a 53.17ab 53.53b
6.40ab 12.88a 14.59cd 16.61d 19.27d 28.20d 41.31cd 48.42d 50.50de 52.29d
6.65a 13.05a 14.98c 18.30b 20.63c 29.65a 44.38a 49.85a 53.79a 55.44a
6.84a 13.26a 16.61a 18.93a 23.53a 29.50a 39.70f 48.17de 50.63d 54.59a
5.39c 11.82c 14.55cd 17.38c 21.43b 29.24b 39.12g 49.41bc 50.94d 54.10b
6.56a 13.00a 14.70cd 18.54ab 23.13a 28.82c 39.22fg 49.42b 53.61a 54.81a
6.35b 12.80a 14.33d 18.42ab 21.83b 28.63cd 38.19h 47.61fg 49.44f 53.15c
6.38b 12.82a 14.58cd 17.58c 20.17c 28.89c 42.24c 47.92ef 52.24c 54.54a
6.30b 12.64b 14.49cd 17.74bc 20.20c 28.58cd 38.64g 47.21g 50.07e 53.50b
5.79b 12.08c 14.31d 17.61c 21.50b 28.75c 43.24b 49.19c 50.84d 53.70b
5.98b 12.12c 14.90cd 17.07cd 20.47c 28.30cd 39.53f 48.07e 50.18e 53.36c
*
11.13

*
5.45

*
5.46

**
4.04

**
4.29

*
2.28

**
1.71

**
1.28

**
1.20

**
1.19

*Mean of the same letter/s within a column is not significantly different based on Tukey’s Honestly Significant Difference (HSD) Test
Number of Days to Flower and Number of Flowers per Plant

79

BIOTROPIA Vol. 31 No. 1, 2024

quality of soil, and increases crop growth and
yield. Gomonet and Cagasan (2020) revealed
similar results in peanut number of days to
flowering ranging from 30 to 33 days. Most of
the flowers were found in leaf axils on primary
and secondary branches. Accordingly, several
flowers can originate from each node and the
number of flowers continued to increase until the
plant reached peak bloom at about 60 to 70 days
after emergence, and then flower development
will begin to decline.
The number of flowers of peanut per plant
ranged from 5 to 7 as shown in Table 3. The
treatment
combination
of
once-a-week
application with 10% concentration (A1B3) of
FSE had the highest number of flowers per plant
with a mean of 6.29 but did not differ statistically
with twice-a-week application of FSE
concentration at 5 -20%. A low number of
flowers were observed in plants without FSE
application (control). The findings can be
substantiated by the report of Lalog (2011) and
the nutrient content of seaweed with a greater
amount of phosphorus. In addition, the once-aweek application treatment of seaweed extract
with 20% concentration (A1B5) got the lowest
number of flowers with a mean of 5.18 (Table 3).
The results of the study were inconsistent with
the outcome of other treatments with 20%
concentration. This shows other factors most

likely affected the flowering of peanuts in the
treatment combination. Thus, it cannot be
presumed that the higher concentration of
seaweed extract will have a lesser effect on the
flowering of peanuts. High temperature, low
humidity, and excessive rainfall affect the
response of plant flowering which most likely
limit the number of flowers produced and reduce
flower pollination. This can result in reduced
yield and delayed pod set (Awal et al. 2015).
Number of Branches per Plant
The number of branches per plant was initially
fewer in all treatments for the first month (Table
3). It sharply increased as the growth progressed
to the third month after sowing as shown in
Figure 2. The frequency of application and
concentration of FSE played a significant role in
the branch formation of peanuts for three
consecutive months. The number of branches
per plant was consistently higher in the twice-aweek application at 10% concentration (A2B3)
from the first to the third month with a mean of
6.33, 10.00, and 14.67, respectively. However, in
the third month, there were no significant
differences among the treatment combinations
having 10% concentration applied once a week
of FSE (A1B3) in terms of the number of
branches with 14.33 (Table 3 & Figure 2).

Table 3 The average number of days to flower, number of flowers per hill, and number of branches per plant of peanut
(Arachis hypogaea L.) as influenced by the different seaweed extract concentrations and frequency of application
in MSU-Sulu, BARMM, Philippines.
Fermented Seaweed Extract
(TREATMENTS)
Frequency of
Concentration (%)
Application
(Factor B)
(Factor A)
B1 - 0
B2 - 5
A1 - Once a week
B3 - 10
(1x / wk)
B4 - 15
B5 - 20
B1 - 0
B2 - 5
A2 - Twice a week
B3 - 10
(2x / wk)
B4 - 15
B5 - 20
B1 - 0
B2 - 5
A3 - Once a month
B3 - 10
(1x / mo)
B4 - 15
B5 - 20
ANOVA (Treatments)
cv (%)

Number of Branches per plant*

Number of Days
to Flower*

Number. of
Flowers per
hill*

1 mo

2 mo

3 mo

32.98a
31.07d
31.04d
31.6cd
31.31cd
32.62ab
31.00de
30.82e
31.04d
31.58cd
32.29b
31.4cd
31.71c
32.07bc
31.02d
*
2.40

5.29c
5.64b
6.29a
6.02ab
5.18c
5.29c
6.13a
6.24a
5.69b
6.07a
5.27c
6.20a
6.24a
5.93ab
6.13a
*
7.57

4.33d
5.00cd
5.67b
5.00cd
4.67d
5.00cd
5.67b
6.33a
5.67b
5.33bc
4.33d
4.67d
6.00ab
5.00cd
4.33d
*
12.25

7.33d
8.00c
9.33b
7.67d
8.00c
8.00c
8.00c
10.00a
8.33c
8.33c
7.67d
8.00c
9.00b
7.33d
7.67d
**
7.90

10.67f
11.67d
14.33a
10.67f
11.00ef
11.00ef
12.00cd
14.67a
12.00cd
12.33c
11.00ef
11.67d
13.67b
10.67f
11.00ef
**
6.02

*Mean of the same letter/s within a column is not significantly different based on Tukey's Honestly Significant Difference (HSD) Test

80

Fermented Seaweed Extract Efficiency as Foliar Fertilizer – Fatima Sheirene M. Marajuli and Juliet C. Bangi

35

32,98

30

31,07 31,04 31,6

31,31

32,62

31,00 30,82 31,04 31,58

32,29 31,4

31,71 32,07 31,02

No. of
flowers / hill
No. branches
per plant (3
mos)
No. of days
to flowering

25
20
14,67

14,33

15
10,67

11,67

10

10,67

11,00

11,00

12,00

12,00

12,33

13,67
11

11,67

10,67

11

5,29

5,64

6,29

6,02

5,18

5,29

6,13

6,24

5,69

6,07

5,27

6,2

6,24

5,93

6,13

A1
B1

A1
B2

A1
B3

A1
B4

A1
B5

A2
B1

A2
B2

A2
B3

A2
B4

A2
B5

A3
B1

A3
B2

A3
B3

A3
B4

A3
B5

5
0

Figure 2 Number of days to flower, number of flowers per hill and number of branches per plant (3 mos after) of peanut
(Arachis hypogaea L.) as affected by the different seaweed concentration and frequenc

The minimum number of branches per plant
was observed in control plots or without
application of FSE and in treatment
combinations with once-a-week and once-amonth application and 15% and 20%
concentration (A1B4 & A3B4) with 10.67, (A1B5
& A3B5) and 11.00 branches, respectively. The
rest of the treatment combinations did not vary
in the number of branches per plant ranging from
11 to 13.67 throughout the growing season
(Table 3 & Figure 2).
Yield Parameters
a. Number of Pods per Plant
The yield of peanuts as influenced by different
frequency applications and concentrations of
FSE are presented in Table 4. Peanuts with FSE
applied twice a week with 10% concentration
(A2B3) produced the highest number of pods
with 26.13, while plants with once-a-week
application of FSE at 5% concentration (A1B2)
had 25.3 pods but without significant differences
with the once-a-month application of FSE at
20% concentration (A3B5) with 24.66. The
lowest number of pods per plot were from
control plots (A2B1) with 15.72 and 15.75,
respectively. There was no variation in the
number of pods among treatments with once-amonth application with 0 to 15% concentration
ranging from 17.29 to 19.90 pods per plant (Table
4 & Figure 3).
The results of the study revealed peanut pod
bearing was efficient in once and twice-a-week
applications of FSE at 5% to 10% concentration.

The findings of the study illustrate that it only
requires a lower concentration of FSE to produce
a higher number of pods, considering the ability
of peanuts as a legume to form an association in
the biological nitrogen fixation. The study by
Gomonet and Cagasan (2020) revealed the
average number of pods ranged from 18 to 37 per
plant, which is comparable to the result of the
study conducted. It is most likely the FSE
contains growth hormone that influences the
physiological processes of peanuts at lower
concentrations. Seaweed extracts contain higher
phosphorus and complement peanuts’ ability for
symbiotic N fixation with rhizobia (Smith et al.,
1987). Rathore et al. (2008) reported that FSE
contains enough phosphorus (of about 34 ppm)
and a greater amount of Ca and Mg that affect the
flowering and pod bearing of legumes. Moreover,
the ability of peanuts to produce pods is directly
affected by management practices and the micro
climatic condition of the growing area.
b. Number of Seeds per Pod
The number of seeds per pod is shown in
Table 4. The treatment combination of twice-aweek application FSE with 10% concentration
(A2B3) got the highest number of seeds per pod
with a mean of 2.30 but did not vary with other
treatment combinations like twice-a-week
application at 5% concentration (Table 4 &
Figure 3). The lowest number of seeds per pod
was from plants with once-a-month application
at 20% FSE (A3B5) with a mean of 2.00 seeds
per pod, which is similar to control plots (A1B1)
or without FSE applied.
81

BIOTROPIA Vol. 31 No. 1, 2024
Table 4 The average number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, yield per plot (kg) and total yield tons per
hectare of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) as affected by the different seaweed extract concentrations and frequency
of application
Fermented Seaweed Extract
(TREATMENTS)
Frequency of
Concentration
Application
(%)
(Factor A)
(Factor B)
B1 - 0
B2 - 5
A1 - Once a week
B3 - 10
(1x / wk)
B4 - 15
B5 - 20
B1 - 0
B2 - 5
A2 -Twice a week
B3 - 10
(2x / wk)
B4 - 15
B5 - 20
B1 - 0
B2 - 5
A3 - Once a
B3 - 10
month (1x / mo)
B4 - 15
B5 - 20
ANOVA (Replication)
cv (%)

Number of
Pods per plant*

Number of
Seeds per pod*

15.75c
25.30a
16.08c
18.20c
21.23ab
15.72c
24.83ab
26.13a
24.13ab
22.31ab
19.00c
19.90bc
17.29c
19.39c
24.66ab
*
30.85

2.02d
2.23a
2.15bc
2.17b
2.15bc
2.15bc
2.28a
2.30a
2.20ab
2.25a
2.18b
2.23a
2.22a
2.10c
2.00d
*
4.40

Yield per plot
(kg)*
0.70d
1.16a
0.73cd
0.82bcd
0.96abc
0.71d
1.21a
1.12a
1.03ab
0.95bc
0.82bcd
0.86bcd
0.74cd
0.84bcd
1.06ab
*
32.06

Total Yield
(tons/ha)*
1.13d
2.31ab
1.18d
1.39d
1.83bc
1.20d
2.49a
2.21ab
1.92ab
1.78bc
1.48d
1.54cd
1.25d
1.46d
2.06abc
*
43.79

*Mean of the same letter/s within a column is not significantly different based on Tukey's Honestly Significant Difference (HSD) Test

The result of the study was greatly influenced
by the frequent application of FSE and its
concentration at 5% to 10%. There was
inconsistency in the result like the treatment
applied once a week but showed similar results in
the amount of concentration applied for both
twice-a-week and once-a-month applications. It
is noteworthy to consider that the frequent
application (twice a week) of FSE increased the
seed per pod. The amino acids and other
phytohormones are believed to have influenced
the seed formation of peanuts. This conforms
with the study of other researchers like Prasedya
et al. (2022) but is much better than the study
conducted by Gomonet and Cagasan (2020) in
which the number of seeds per pod ranged from
1- 2 seeds only. This is quite lower than the result
of the present study, which ranges from 2-3 seeds
per pod. The FSE nutrient composition
influenced the increase in the seed formation of a
peanut since it contains sufficient phosphorus,
very high calcium, and magnesium, including
micronutrients like zinc and iron necessary for
seed formation (Prasedya et al. 2022; Lalog, 2011;
Mosaic Compan, 2013).

82

c. Yield per plot (kg) and Total Yield (ton/ha)
The yield of peanuts was affected by the
frequency and concentration of FSE application
(Table 4 & Figure 3). Plants applied twice a week
with a 5% concentration of FSE (A2B2)
produced heavier pods per plot with a mean of
1.21 kg, followed by plots with once-a-week
application at a 5% concentration of FSE (A1B2)
with 1.16 kg per plot. Twice spraying of FSE
every week with 10% concentration (A2B3)
resulted in 1.12 kg per plot, while once-a-month
application with 20% concentration of FSE
(A3B5) produced 1.06 kg per plot. The rest of the
treatment combinations have no variation in the
yield per plot (Table 4). The lowest yield per plot
is from the control plots (A1B1) or without
application of FSE with a mean of 0.70 kg per
plot (Table 4 & Figure 3).
In terms of peanut yield per hectare, the
highest yield was recorded from plants applied
with FSE twice a week at 5% concentration
(A2B2) with a mean of 2.49 tons per hectare.
However, it did not differ much with those plants
applied once a week at 5% concentration (A1B2)
with 2.31 tons/ha. Whereas peanuts sprayed
twice a week at 10% concentration (A2B3)

Fermented Seaweed Extract Efficiency as Foliar Fertilizer – Fatima Sheirene M. Marajuli and Juliet C. Bangi

produced 2.21 tons/ha while those applied once
a month at 20% concentration (A3B5) got a
lower yield of 2.06 tons/ha (Table 4 & Figure 3).
However, the result of this study reveals the
obtained yield of peanuts is much higher than the
reported average yield in the country of about 800
to 1,000 kg per hectare based on the report of
Billen et al. (2015) as cited by Gomonet and
Cagasan (2020). It can be attributed to the
positive effect of using a twice-a-week application
with a 5% concentration of FSE to stimulate pod
formation, enhance the quality and quantity of
pods, and thus increase harvest in tons per
hectare. Based on the study of Prasedya et al.
(2022), fermented brown seaweed positively
contains nutrients N, K, Ca, Mg, and B, which
make it a potent fertilizer. The result implies that
FSE contains plant nutrient amendments with
sufficient amounts of macro- and micronutrients
that will increase crop yield (Rathore et al. 2008;
Lalog 2011).

computation of FSE in peanut production
with different frequency applications and
concentrations. Plants applied once a week
with a 5% concentration of FSE (A1B2) have
the highest return on investment (ROI) of
176.46%. However, it did not differ significantly
with peanuts applied twice a week with a 5%
concentration of FSE (A2B2) at 170.15%
returns. The lowest ROI was found in peanuts
applied twice a week with a 20% FSE
concentration of 74.79%. The rest of the
treatment combinations have ROI ranging
from 80% to 156% (Table 5 and Figure 4).
Variation in ROI results was due to the
differences in yield and cost of production,
specifically the cost of fermented seaweed
extract at different concentrations. The study
shows that using FSE for peanut production
can give better economic returns for the local
farmers and can benefit by recycling those
wastes into organic fertilizers, thereby reducing
the cost of farm inputs. This can save farmers
from total dependence on the use of synthetic
chemical fertilizers.

Cost and Return Analysis
Table 5 shows the cost and return analysis
using the return-on-investment (ROI)

3
2,49

Number of pods per plant

25

2,31

2,5
2,21
2,06

20

1,92

1,83

1,48

1,39

15
1,13 1,16

1,2 1,21

1,18

0,96

10
0,7

0,73

0,82

2

1,78

1,12

1,54

1,46

1,5

1,25

1,03

0,71

0,95

1,06
0,82 0,86

0,74

0,84

5

1
0,5

0

Peanut yield / plot (kg) and tons per hectare

30

Yield per
plot (kg)*

Total
Yield
(tons/ha)*
Number of
Pods per
plant*
Number of
Seeds per
pod*

0
A1 B1 A1 B2 A1 B3 A1 B4 A1 B5 A2 B1 A2 B2 A2 B3 A2 B4 A2 B5 A3 B1 A3 B2 A3 B3 A3 B4 A3 B5

Treatments
Figure 3 Number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod, yield per plot (kg) and total yield tons per hectare of
peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) as affected by the different seaweed extract concentrations and

83

BIOTROPIA Vol. 31 No. 1, 2024
Table 5 Cost and return analysis using return on investment (ROI) computation on peanut production with different
frequencies and concentrations of FSE, MSU- Sulu
Fermented Seaweed Extract (TREATMENTS)
Frequency of Application
(Factor A)

Total Sales
PhP

Total Cost
PhP

B1 - 0
B2 - 5
B3 - 10
B4 - 15
B5 - 20
B1 - 0
B2 - 5
B3 - 10
B4 - 15
B5 - 20
B1 - 0

111
226.83
115.75
136.33
179.17
117.5
244.25
216.33
188.17
174.67
145.33

113.54
128.55
143.55
158.55
173.55
113.55
143.55
173.55
203.55
233.55
113.55

97.76
176.46
80.63
85.99
103.24
103.48
170.15
124.65
92.44
74.79
127.99

cd
a
d
d
cd
cd
a
c
d
e
b

B2 - 5

150.83

117.3

128.59

bc

B3 - 10

122.83

121.05

101.47

cd

B4 - 15

142.92

124.8

114.52

c

B5 - 20

201.75
**
43.79

128.55
-

156.94
**
42.35

ab

Concentration (%)
(Factor B)

A1 - Once a week (1x / wk)

A2 - Twice a week (2x / wk)

A3 - Once a month (1x / mo)

ANOVA (Replication)
CV (%)

ROI (%)

*Mean of the same letter/s within a column is not significantly different based on Tukey's Honestly Significant Difference (HSD) Test

Return on Investment (%)

200
180

176,46

170,15
156,94

160
140
120
100
80

127,99 128,59

124,65
103,24 103,48

97,76
80,63 85,99

114,52
101,47

92,44
74,79

60
40
20
0

Treatments

A1 B1
A1 B2
A1 B3
A1 B4
A1 B5
A2 B1
A2 B2
A2 B3
A2 B4
A2 B5
A3 B1
A3 B2
A3 B3
A3 B4
A3 B5

Figure 4 Cost and return analysis in peanut production applied with different frequency and concentration of fermented
seaweed extract in MSU- Sulu, BARMM, Philippines

84

Fermented Seaweed Extract Efficiency as Foliar Fertilizer – Fatima Sheirene M. Marajuli and Juliet C. Bangi

CONCLUSIONS
The results of the study indicate that
fermented seaweed extract (FSE) at various
frequencies and concentrations significantly
affects the growth and yield response of peanuts
due to nutrient components of FSE with
sufficient amounts of both macro- and
micronutrients and phytohormones present. The
application of fermented seaweed extract once
and twice a week at 5% and 10% concentrations
as liquid fertilizer was found best for peanut
production by having a greater number of pods
and consequently higher yield. In terms of return
on investment, a once-a-week application with
5% seaweed extract concentration gave the
highest profit due to lower costs of expenses and
less labor incurred during peanut production. It
is necessary to conduct further study on the effect
of
long-term
application
and
higher
concentration of fermented seaweed extract as
foliar fertilizer on peanut production. Given the
effects of FSE, it is necessary to determine the
beneficial
microorganisms
(effective
microorganisms) present in the fermented
seaweed extract as potential microorganisms in
the manufacture of bio-fertilizer. Further study
can be conducted to determine the influence of
FSE at higher concentrations or greater than 20%
on peanut and other commodities like cereals
(rice and corn) and vegetable production.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The authors would like to extend its grateful
appreciation to the MSU –Sulu administration,
Graduate Program Dept., College of Agriculture,
MSU – Main Campus, agriculture research
students of MSU-Sulu for the assistance afforded,
and the family’s moral and financial support to
finish this study.
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