Fermented Malunggay (Moringa oleifera) and Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) as Organic Foliar Fertilizer

The excessive use of synthetic fertilizers poses environmental and economic challenges, particularly for smallholder farmers in Barangay Salvacion Baybay, Calabanga, Camarines Sur, where fluctuating market prices and limited access to affordable inputs further intensify these issues. This study addressed these concerns by developing and evaluating fermented malunggay (Moringa oleifera) and lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) as an alternative organic foliar fertilizer for tomato production. Specifically, this study aimed to describe the formulation process, assess the best formulation based on yield performance, assess the significant difference among the different formulations in terms of number of fruits and weight of fruits and determine its potential as a sustainable agricultural input. The study employed a descriptive-comparative and research and development (R&D) design. Three formulations with varying proportions of malunggay and lemongrass were prepared and fermented for seven days. A total of 60 tomato plants were cultivated over a four-month cropping period, with 20 plants assigned to each treatment group. Data were gathered through fruit counting, weight measurement, and farmer evaluation using a Likert scale, and analyzed using frequency count, mean, and one-way ANOVA with Scheffé Test. Results showed that the fermented malunggay and lemongrass served as an effective, low-cost, and environmentally sustainable organic foliar fertilizer that enhances tomato yield. Among the three formulations, Formulation 3 emerged as the most effective, particularly in terms of fruit weight, indicating its superior performance compared to the other treatments. These findings support the potential of this organic foliar fertilizer as a viable alternative to synthetic inputs and highlight its role in promoting sustainable and organic farming practices, especially for smallholder farmers facing economic and environmental constraints. It is recommended that farmers consider adopting this organic foliar fertilizer as an alternative to commercial inputs, while future researchers are encouraged to refine the formulation, explore its application to other crops, and conduct studies with larger sample sizes to further validate its effectiveness and broader applicability.