Effects of a Biodegradable Seedling Tray Made from Chicken Manure and Banana Pseudostem Fiber on the Early Growth Performance of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)

The widespread reliance on conventional plastic seedling trays in horticulture exacerbates agricultural plastic pollution and soil degradation, necessitating the development of sustainable alternatives. This study evaluated the efficacy of biodegradable seedling trays, formulated from varying proportions of chicken manure, banana pseudostem fiber, and sawdust biochar, on the early vegetative growth of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Utilizing a completely randomized design, the research compared three experimental formulations against a commercial plastic control. Performance was assessed 14 days post-germination by measuring plant height and leaf count. Data were analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance and a Kruskal-Wallis test at a 0.05 significance level. Results demonstrated that the commercial control achieved the highest overall mean plant height and leaf count. However, among the biodegradable options, the formulation with the highest banana fiber content yielded significantly greater plant height (3.58 cm) compared to the reduced-fiber alternatives (F = 18.15, p < .001) and produced a significantly higher number of leaves (H = 13.81, p < .01). While structural integrity and biodegradation rates did not differ significantly across organic formulations, fiber content critically drove moisture dynamics. Although commercial trays facilitated more rapid initial growth, the high-fiber biodegradable trays supported continuous development, presenting a viable ecological alternative. Future studies should prioritize optimizing substrate formulations to enhance nutrient mineralization rates and immediate availability.