Enhancing productivity of sakurab (Allium chinense G. Don) using corn stalk mulch and suitable fertilizer type

Abstract

Sakurab (Allium chinense G. Don) is a root vegetable and a traditional food seasoning of the Meranao people in the Philippines. This study determined the effects of corn stalk mulch and fertilizer treatment (no fertilizer, vermicast, 14-14-14, and combination of vermicast and 14-14 14) on the growth of two sakurab varieties (Rikit and Urder) and its economic profitability. Among the six parameters gathered, interaction effects were  noted in plant survivability, vegetative yield, and bulb yield. Urder was significantly taller (37.31 cm) than Rikit (31.24 cm). The application of corn stalk mulch material caused a significant response in both varieties. Both varieties showed higher survivability when corn stalk mulch was used (81.58%) than when it was not used (24.25%). In both varieties, crops mulched with corn stalk had significantly higher vegetative and bulb yield than crops without mulch across all fertilizer treatments due to increase in the number of leaves (NOL). The increase in NOL was higher in Rikit compared to Urder variety. In both varieties, lowest vegetative yield was observed when neither fertilizer nor mulching was used (0.45 ton∙ha^–1 for Rikit and 0.83 ton∙ha^–1 for Urder). Using corn stalk mulch + vermicast fertilizer, both varieties produced higher vegetative and bulb yields (0.79 ton∙ha^–1 for Rikit and 1.17 ton∙ha^–1 for Urder). Results imply that better growth and yield of sakurab can be obtained by using corn stalk mulch and vermicast fertilizer which eventually produced the higher return on expense (ROE).