Author: Yaset Rodríguez-Rodríguez, Laura Isabel Soldevilla-Hernández, Miguel Ángel Guevara, Gustavo Gandini, Ulises Javier Jáuregui-Haza
Citation: Rodríguez-Rodríguez, Yaset, et al. "Assessment of a Sargassum-Based Liquid Biofertilizer for Enhanced Banana Cultivation in Small-Scale Family Farms." Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering (2025): 101252.
Abstract:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666016425001598
The substantial influxes of pelagic Sargassum spp. along Caribbean coasts pose environmental challenges for the region's countries, but also offer opportunities for sustainable valorization. This research develops and evaluates a Sargassum-Based Liquid Biofertilizer (SBLB) produced via anaerobic fermentation, uniquely reducing heavy metal content (e.g., arsenic from 61.6 to 4.08 mg/kg) while retaining beneficial nutrients and microorganisms. This biofertilizer was applied to banana cultivation in Dominican small-scale family farms, SBLB enhanced leaf emission (p < 0.05 in two of three farms) compared to a traditional biofertilizer (BLB) and maintained Black Sigatoka disease below intervention thresholds, matching BLB performance. Chemical and microbiological analyses confirmed SBLB’s safety and efficacy, positioning it as a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilizers. This approach mitigates Sargassum waste and supports organic farming, offering a replicable model for coastal agricultural systems.
Author: Yaset Rodríguez-Rodríguez, Laura Isabel Soldevilla-Hernández, Miguel Ángel Guevara, Gustavo Gandini, Ulises Javier Jáuregui-Haza
Citation: Rodríguez-Rodríguez, Yaset, et al. "Assessment of a Sargassum-Based Liquid Biofertilizer for Enhanced Banana Cultivation in Small-Scale Family Farms." Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering (2025): 101252.
Abstract:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666016425001598
The substantial influxes of pelagic Sargassum spp. along Caribbean coasts pose environmental challenges for the region's countries, but also offer opportunities for sustainable valorization. This research develops and evaluates a Sargassum-Based Liquid Biofertilizer (SBLB) produced via anaerobic fermentation, uniquely reducing heavy metal content (e.g., arsenic from 61.6 to 4.08 mg/kg) while retaining beneficial nutrients and microorganisms. This biofertilizer was applied to banana cultivation in Dominican small-scale family farms, SBLB enhanced leaf emission (p < 0.05 in two of three farms) compared to a traditional biofertilizer (BLB) and maintained Black Sigatoka disease below intervention thresholds, matching BLB performance. Chemical and microbiological analyses confirmed SBLB’s safety and efficacy, positioning it as a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilizers. This approach mitigates Sargassum waste and supports organic farming, offering a replicable model for coastal agricultural systems.