CHAPTER II

Review of Related Literature

Today, fertilizers has become essential to modern agriculture. When it comes to plants, farmers

and gardeners want to use the best fertilizer to provide the necessary nutrients for plant growth. Most

garden vegetables and plants need three main nutrients to prove growth ang health. These are

potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus. Soilthat is rich in these compounds tends to be more productive

and produce healthier crops. Most fertilizer products on the market are in high nitrogen and

phosphorus, but they also include a lot of other ingredients that are harmful to environmen, can

contaminate ground water suppliesand cause injury to humans and pets if exposure in large doses

occurs. This is why liquid alternatives are important.

A liquid fertilizer out of banana peels adds some additional useful benefits Bananas are packed

with nutrients, and that includes their peels. Though you won't want to eat them yourself, your plants

benefit from the nutrients as the peels decay. Plants need nutrients need to thrive. Nitrogen,

phosphorus and potassium are required in the highest amounts, and nutrients such as calcium,

manganese, sodium and sulfur are necessary in lower amounts. While various levels of these nutrients

occur naturally, some soils can use a boost. Adding banana peels around prized plants is a widespread

gardening practice that can improve your soil.

Potassium

Dried banana peels are 42 percent potassium, more than most other organic substances, such

as manure at 0.5 percent, wood ash at 10 percent and cantaloupe rinds at 12 percent. Potassium

promotes the movement of water and nutrients between cells. It also strengthens stems and protects

plants from disease. Because the plant is healthier, it might flower more. After the plant blooms,

potassium can improve the quality and size of any fruit or nuts.
 Potassium helps your plants move water and nutrients between cells. It strengthens the stems

of your plants and protects them from disease. It is used to help the flowering process and is thought to

be able to improve the quality of the fruit of your plants.

Banana peels also contain calcium, which helps plants take up more nitrogen, which some

potassium loving plants need. They also contain manganese, which helps with photosynthesis; sodium,

which helps movement of water between cells; and magnesium and sulfur, both of which are helpful in

the formation of chlorophyll.

Phosphorus

Banana peels are 3.25 percent phosphorus, one of the other major nutrients that plants need

to grow. Phosphorus helps rooting, improves winter hardiness and speeds up flowering and fruiting.

Banana peels inserted in the soil near the roots are an effective way to get phosphorus to your plants,

because the peels break down quickly in the soil. This immediacy is helpful, because phosphorus is not

mobile in the soil.

Additional Nutrients

Banana peels do not contain nitrogen, the primary nutrient necessary for foliage growth. The

peels do, however, contain relatively high levels of some micronutrients. Calcium -- concentrated at 19.2

milligrams per gram in fresh peels -- improves the breakdown of organic materials in the soil; makes

other nutrients in the soil, nitrogen in particular, more available to plants; and controls how nutrients

and water move in and out of cells. Manganese, concentrated at 76.2 mg/g in banana peels, aids in

photosynthesis and the formation of some enzymes and plant pigments. Sodium, concentrated at 24.3

mg/g, is involved in the movement of water and ions between cells. The peels also contain magnesium

and sulfur, both important in the formation of chlorophyll.

 One of the benefits of fertilizing with banana peels is that they break down quickly -- either in

the soil or in compost -- making those nutrients available to plants sooner than nutrients from other

organic materials. When burying peels, bury them deep so they don't attract animals or insects as they

would if left on or just under the surface. You can also chop peels and steep them in water for a week,

strain the peels out, and pour the solution on the soil to get the benefit of the nutrients without

attracting pests. Since banana peels are not a complete fertilizer, don't rely on the peels alone to feed

your plants, especially if your plants are heavy nitrogen feeders. The peels are most effective when

composted to blend with nitrogen-rich materials.

According to Maat Van Uitert (2015) that you can elevate the effect of banana

peels as a fertilizer by doing a banana peel tea, chopped banana peels, leftover banana

peels, dried banana peels, make banana peel vinegar. You can also repel aphids

(insect/pest) by placing banana peels under the plant. You can also trap insects by

creating an insect trap with banana peels and water.

According to Kristi Stone (2015),banana peel is the best source of potassium, but

plants can have advantage of it as a fertilizer, banana peel has a nutrient of manganese

that helps plants to begin the process of photosynthesis, and banana peels contain

many nutrients like calcium that helps plants to be healthy.

Anne Gibson said that banana peels can be added in stag horns or elk horn are

in air plants, air plants are plants that are not connected to the soil, they get nutrients in

the air, banana peels potassium helps displaced sodium that is harmful to stag horns

will be later mixed with potassium so they will be erased. You can add the banana peel

by soaking it in water spray for 2 days then it will be mixed in water so you can just

spray it only in some plants.

 Heather Rhoades (December 24, 2015) said that using banana peels as a

fertilizer is simple, after you eat the banana, simply throw it to your garden, but it will be

longer to be composted or used as a recycled fertilizer. You can fasten the composting

of banana peels by cutting it into pieces. It gives nutrients that make the plants healthier.

Shala Munroe says that banana peels are known healthy because of its

nutrients (such as potassium) you can put the peels in the potted plants. The Scent of

banana peels are attractive (such as bees, fruit flies, and other flies and insects) so you

can make a DIY insects trap containing banana peels.

Jessie Szalay (2014) writes that banana fruits are very high in potassium and

pectin. You can also gain magnesium and vitamin C & B6 from it. It can be also added

to lotion you use for protection from sunlight because bananas also have high amount

of antioxidants which can protect you from free radical s due to the level of vitamin B6 in

banana fruits. It helps against swelling and helps prevent diabetes it also increase the

production of White Blood Cells (WBC) and strengthens the nervous system.

Patrick Blair says that banana peels are packed with nutrients like potassium,

calcium and phosphorus. You can elevate the effectiveness of banana peels by doing

the compost tea. You can also make dried peels as a insects repellent.

The gathered literatures and studies provide the researchers sufficient

information about the banana peels. Furthermore, this information elevated our interest

in the use of banana peels as fertilizer and the effect of it to the growth of a Tomate

Plant.
Bibliography

Best plants tips for the home and garden. Making your roses bloom with banana

& coffee grounds. Retrieved from http://bestplants.com/making-your-

roses-bloom-with-banana-coffee-grounds/

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http://survivalathome.com/using- banana-peels-in-the-garden/
Gibson, A. DIY Fertilizers - How to use banana peels. Retrieved from

http://themicrogardener.com/diy-fertilizer-how-to-use-banana-peels/

Rhoades, H. (2015,December 24). How to compost banana peels. Bananas in

compost:How to compost banana peels. Retrieved from:

http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/composting/ingregients/banana-peels-

compost.html

Sridhar, K. (2016, February 6). Benefits of banana peel as fertilizer for plants.

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banana-peels-as-fertilizer.html#more

Stone, K. (2015, June 20). Banana peels fertilizer. Retrieved from

http://stonefamilyfarmstead.com/banana-peel-fertilizer

Szalay, J. (2014, September 29). Bananas: Health benefits, risk & nutrition facts.

Retrieved from http://www.livescience.com/45/005-banana-nutrition-

facts.html

Taylor, J. (2014, October 10). 16 ingenious ways to re-use banana peel.

Retrieved from http://naturallivingideas.com/banana-peel-uses/

Uitert, M.V. (2015, July 5). 10 ways to use banana peels on garden. Retrieved

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garden/