VERMICOMPOST: ITS PHYSICO-CHEMICAL PROPERTIES AND EFFECTS ON SWEET CORN (Zea mays convar. saccharata

Agriculture

This study was conducted from June 29, 2023 to September 12, 2023 at Diolata’s Farmlot in Barangay Camasi, Pres. Roxas, Cotabato to evaluate the physico-chemical properties of vermicompost and its effects on sweet corn, evaluate the physico-chemical properties of vermicompost and its effects on sweet corn production. Furthermore, analyze the cost and return of sweet corn production after 75 days from sowing. The researcher set up the experiment using a Randomized Complete Block Design with six treatments and four replications of each treatment. The treatments were RiBaChi, RiBaGo, CoBaChi, CoBaGo, and inorganic fertilizer. All the sweet corn plants survived. The analysis showed significant differences between the treatments with different vermicompost substrates. The sweet corn plants treated with inorganic fertilizer grew the tallest (80.33 cm), had the earliest tassels (47.25 days), earliest silks (49.25 days), longest ears (25.15 cm), highest marketable yield (22,786 kg/ha), and highest total yield (32,098 kg/ha). Among the vermicompost treatments, RiBaChi produced the most ears per plant. The inorganic fertilizer treatment gave the highest profit of ₱145,101 pesos or a 239% return on investment after 75 days. However, the RiBaChi vermicompost treatment also gave a good net profit of ₱139,594 pesos or a 150% return on investment. Therefore, if farmers cannot afford inorganic fertilizers, it is recommended to use RiBaChi or CoBaChi vermicompost instead. These are environmentally-friendly and cost-effective, with RiBaChi giving a net profit of 150% after 75 days from sowing.

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