Effects of neem bioorganic fertilizer on banana growth and fusarium wilt

Objective To manufacture neem bioorganic fertilizer using neem cake waste, and test its effects on banana growth and fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense.

Method  Neem bioorganic fertilizer was prepared by fermenting neem cake with a biocontrol bacteria Bacillus amyloliquefaciens HN-11. The effects of neem bioorganic fertilizer on banana growth and fusarium wilt were determinated by inhibition test and pot experiment. The pathogen mycelial morphology was observed by using a scanning electron microscope (SEM).

Result  B.amyloliquefaciens HN-11 had obvious inhibitory activity against F. oxysporum Foc4 with an inhibition rate of 72.1%. Biocontrol strain HN-11 had good compatibility with neem cake. Treated with 5% and 10% neem bioorganic fertilizer, the banana grew better than the control group with the fresh weight, dry mass, plant height and stem diameter significantly increasing. The disease indexes of the two treatment groups were 20 and 25, and the control efficiencies against fusarium wilt disease reached 72.2% and 77.8%, respectively. Strain HN-11 reduced the number of Foc4 spores in soil and destroyed their mycelial structure.

Conclusion  Application of mature neem cake by fermenting with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens HN-11 could avoid phytotoxicity to banana plants. The prepared neem bioorganic fertilizer can efficiently promote banana growth and prevent fusarium wilt disease.