Date of Completion

2025

Document Type

Research Project

Degree Name

Grade 12

Keywords

Bananas, tropical agriculture, banana peels

Abstract

Bananas are essential agricultural products in tropical agriculture and produce waste, such as banana peels, when consumed. In other studies, banana peels have been used to nurture plants in hydroponic setups and have proven effective. Other studies highlight that banana peels contain slightly lower concentrations of macronutrients like potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus, but overall, still provide nutrients for plant growth, explaining the viability of banana peels in hydroponic setups. However, these studies only provide general effects of the Musaceae family as growth boosters. In this research the use of two different banana peels: M. acuminata and M. acuminata X M. babisiana (AAB) ‘Silk‘ peels were used to boost the growth of V. radiata in three growth parameters: stem height, root length, and leaf area of 60 samples of V. radiata in a hydroponic setup with results compared using mean, and a Linear mixed-effect model to find which banana peel variety affects the growth of V. radiata more significantly resulting in a significant difference for M. acuminata TMB 2; Estimate (β) 6.51 p-value of < 0.001 and combined banana peels with TMB 3; Estimate (β) 4.75 p-value < 0.001 in the growth parameter of stem height; comparing the two treatments has an Estimate (β) 1.76 p-value of 0.031. Proving that M. acuminata X M. balbisiana (AAB) ‘Silk‘ and combined treatments of peels are effective in boosting the growth of V. radiata’s stem height.

First Advisor

Pauline L. Cueno, LPT, MST

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