Assessment of a sargassum-based liquid biofertilizer for enhanced banana cultivation in small-scale family farms

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 anaerobi...

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Main Authors: Yaset Rodríguez-Rodríguez, Laura Isabel Soldevilla-Hernández, Miguel Ángel Guevara, Gustavo Gandini, Ulises Javier Jáuregui-Haza
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-12-01
Series:Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666016425001598
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author Yaset Rodríguez-Rodríguez
Laura Isabel Soldevilla-Hernández
Miguel Ángel Guevara
Gustavo Gandini
Ulises Javier Jáuregui-Haza
author_facet Yaset Rodríguez-Rodríguez
Laura Isabel Soldevilla-Hernández
Miguel Ángel Guevara
Gustavo Gandini
Ulises Javier Jáuregui-Haza
author_sort Yaset Rodríguez-Rodríguez
collection DOAJ
description 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.
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institution OA Journals
issn 2666-0164
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publishDate 2025-12-01
publisher Elsevier
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series Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering
spelling doaj-art-32f3a7f5cbbc41b99c4e74f6402fb89d2025-08-20T02:22:01ZengElsevierCase Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering2666-01642025-12-011210125210.1016/j.cscee.2025.101252Assessment of a sargassum-based liquid biofertilizer for enhanced banana cultivation in small-scale family farmsYaset Rodríguez-Rodríguez0Laura Isabel Soldevilla-Hernández1Miguel Ángel Guevara2Gustavo Gandini3Ulises Javier Jáuregui-Haza4Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC), Avenida de Los Próceres #49, Los Jardines del Norte 10602, Santo Domingo, the Dominican RepublicInstituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC), Avenida de Los Próceres #49, Los Jardines del Norte 10602, Santo Domingo, the Dominican RepublicInstituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC), Avenida de Los Próceres #49, Los Jardines del Norte 10602, Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic; Instituto de Formación Docente (ISFODOSU), C/ Leonardo Da Vinci, Urb. Renacimiento, Santo Domingo, the Dominican RepublicAsociación BANELINO. Ave. Miguel Crespo, Frente a INPONOR, Mao, 61000, the Dominican RepublicInstituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC), Avenida de Los Próceres #49, Los Jardines del Norte 10602, Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic; Corresponding author.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.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666016425001598SargassumLiquid biofertilizerBanana cultivationAnaerobic fermentationSustainable agricultureSmall-scale farming
spellingShingle Yaset Rodríguez-Rodríguez
Laura Isabel Soldevilla-Hernández
Miguel Ángel Guevara
Gustavo Gandini
Ulises Javier Jáuregui-Haza
Assessment of a sargassum-based liquid biofertilizer for enhanced banana cultivation in small-scale family farms
Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering
Sargassum
Liquid biofertilizer
Banana cultivation
Anaerobic fermentation
Sustainable agriculture
Small-scale farming
title Assessment of a sargassum-based liquid biofertilizer for enhanced banana cultivation in small-scale family farms
title_full Assessment of a sargassum-based liquid biofertilizer for enhanced banana cultivation in small-scale family farms
title_fullStr Assessment of a sargassum-based liquid biofertilizer for enhanced banana cultivation in small-scale family farms
title_full_unstemmed Assessment of a sargassum-based liquid biofertilizer for enhanced banana cultivation in small-scale family farms
title_short Assessment of a sargassum-based liquid biofertilizer for enhanced banana cultivation in small-scale family farms
title_sort assessment of a sargassum based liquid biofertilizer for enhanced banana cultivation in small scale family farms
topic Sargassum
Liquid biofertilizer
Banana cultivation
Anaerobic fermentation
Sustainable agriculture
Small-scale farming
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666016425001598
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