Cost-efficacy of seaweed-based liquid biostimulant as pre-treatment prior to outplanting of Kappaphycus alvarezii

Abstract

This experimental study determined the cost-efficacy of using seaweed-based liquid biostimulant (SLB) as a pre-treatment prior to outplanting Kappaphycus alvarazii and it was conducted at Sitio Biao, Barangay Cogon, Digos City, Province of Davao del Sur, Philippines. Five different levels of treatments were used; control farmers practices (T1), 9g of Urea Inorganic Fertilizer (T2), 10 ml seaweed-based liquid biostimulant (T3), 20 ml seaweed-based liquid biostimulant (T4), and 30 ml seaweed-based liquid biostimulant (T5). Four replications were done in each treatment and all were places randomly in farming site. The yield and specific growth rate (SGR) were recorded and the cost-efficacy of each treatment was analyzed. After 30 days of cultivation, a significant increase in the yield and growth rate were observed in all the treatments. Result also shows that as SLB increases its dosage, the yield and SGR of the Kappaphycus alvarezii after 30 days also increases. The cost-benefit ratios (CBR) of the five treatments in this study was also calculated. T3, T4 and T5 stood out as both portrayed a positive return on investment, at 1.01, 1.27 and 1.42 respectively.