Latundan Peels as Fertilizer for Siling Labuyo: A Experimental Phenomenology

Introduction*

Today, especially nowadays people are becoming more interested in plants as they feel entertained,
or as it is they simply known as "plantito" and "plantita." As they take care of their plants they feel
more relaxed in their surroundings. In fact, everyone feels so calm when we have plants in our
surroundings giving some fresh air. Since they need to take care of their plants, which must be
healthy and grow properly, they must need a fertilizer. Most of us eating bananas, which are really
beneficial to our bodies, yet we throw the peels after we eat the banana. They had no idea that
banana peels might be quite beneficial, as we can see banana has many nutrients that can help us in
keeping our body healthy.

As it is we usually eating than other bananas. Bananas are one of the world's most important food
crops. They are members of the Musa plant family, which is native to Southeast Asia and is grown in
many of the world's warmer climates. Bananas are high in fiber, potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin C, and
a variety of antioxidants and phytonutrients. There are multiple kinds and sizes exist. Their color
usually ranges from green to yellow, but some varieties are red. Bananas are mostly made up of
carbohydrates. Unripe bananas may include some resistant starch, which acts like fiber in your gut
and promotes healthy blood sugar levels. Because of their high levels of potassium and antioxidants,
bananas may be good to heart health. Additionally, the resistant starch and pectins in them may
enhance colon health. (Atli Arnarson BSc, PhD, 2019). Bananas, according to some gardeners, were the
first fruit on the planet. Their origins are traced back to Southeast Asia, specifically the Malaysian
jungles. Indonesia or the Philippines, for example. where many different varieties of wild bananas can
still be found today. (Bananalink, 2021).

There are numerous other uses for banana peel in the garden, including use as a natural fertilizer and
a natural pest repellent. In this article, we will present a variety of creative ways to make the most of
this useful piece of garbage. Because banana skin and peels are high in nutrients, they are an
excellent source of natural fertilizer for your lawn and garden. (PlantCareToday, 2021). Banana peels
are good to gardens because they contain 42 percent potassium (abbreviated to its scientific name K),
one of the three principal components of fertilizer, together with nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P),
and is represented on fertilizer labels as NPK. Banana peels, in fact, are one of the richest organic
sources of potassium. (PaulBarbano, 2020). Because of what they don't have, banana peels make
excellent fertilizer. They have no nitrogen at all. Banana peels include magnesium, which improves
sunlight, and sodium, which aids water movement between cells. They also include levels of
magnesium and sulfur, two components that aid in the production of chlorophyll. (Paulbarbano,
2020). In the Philippines, 'Latundan' is a favorite dessert banana. The cultivar was named after Claude
Letondal, a French clergyman who brought it back from India (ProMusa, 2018).

Siling labuyo (Capsicum frutescens) is a tiny chili pepper cultivar native to the Philippines. In English,
its Tagalog name translates to "wild chili." It is also known as chileng bundok, siling palay, pasitis,
pasite (Tagalog), katumbal, kitikot, siling kolikot (Visaya), silit-diablo (Ilocano), lada, rimorimo
(Bicolano), and paktin in the Philippines (Ifugao). It is a perennial plant, about 1 meter tall, with small,
tapered fruits about 2.5 cm long and 0.75 cm at the widest diameter. (Slow Food Foundation, 2021)

As a researcher, we used banana peels as a fertilizer, Instead of using another fertilizer. We decided
to test banana peels as fertilizer for Siling Labuyo if it is effective or not. We both try the Latundan
banana peels and Saba banana peels as a liquid organic fertilizer. As the result of the experiment, they
are both effective, so we decided to choose Latundan peels as fertilizer for Siling labuyo.
RRL*

The scientific name for bananas is Musa sapientum, which translates as “fruit of the wise men.” And
you are wise, indeed, to use banana peels as fertilizer. Banana peels are good for gardens because
they contain 42 percent potassium (abbreviated to its scientific name K), one of the three major
components of fertilizer along with nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) and shown on fertilizer labels as
NPK. In fact, banana peels have the highest organic sources of potassium. Potassium aids plants in
moving nutrients and water between cells. Potassium strengthens plants' stems and also fights off
disease. It is especially important to creating flowers, and even makes fruits (and berries!) taste
better. Potassium will even make your plants more resistant to drought. Without enough potassium,
plants grow poorly in general. It even increases the protein content of your plants. In short, potassium
helps plants grown for their fruiting and flowering, including rose bushes and fruit trees, rather than
plants grown for their foliage, such as spinach, lettuce and Swiss chard. (Paul Barbano, 2020)

Bananas contain important nutrients that can be recycled into useful materials that can be
reused for a variety of purposes. Bananas give us many benefits, not only for our health but also
for our everyday lives. Banana peels account for approximately 18–33 percent of the total fruit
mass and are regarded as a waste product (Wolfe et al. 2003). At the moment, these peels are not
used for anything else and are mostly dumped as solid waste at a high cost (Sudha et al. 2015).
Crop and fruit waste can be efficiently converted into biomaterials such as bio-plastic, bio
polymer, bio-fiber, and bio-fuels as environmental awareness grows and the importance of
unfriendly agricultural wastes grows (Sharif Hossain 2015).

Banana peels are good fertilizer because of what they do not contain. They contain absolutely no
nitrogen. While plants need nitrogen (remember the NPK on fertilizers), too much nitrogen will create
lots of green leaves but few berries or fruits. This means potassium-rich banana peels are excellent for
plants like tomatoes, peppers or flowers. Banana peels also contain calcium, which prevents blossom
end rot in tomatoes. The manganese in banana peels aids photosynthesis, while the sodium in banana
peels helps water flow between cells. They even have traces of magnesium and sulfur, elements that
help make chlorophyll. You can simply bury banana peels near your plants where they will release
their nutrients as they break down. You can also brew banana peel tea by putting banana peels in a
jar and covering with water. Let this steep for a week or two and you will have a nutrient-rich liquid
fertilizer. Unlike powdered or solid fertilizers, this liquid fertilizer goes directly to the roots and helps
the plants immediately. Toss the used peels into a compost heap or bury them in the garden. (Paul
Barbano, 2020).

One of the advantages of using banana peels for fertilization is that they decompose fast – either in
the soil or in compost – making nutrients available to plants sooner than nutrients from other organic
materials. Buried peels deep so they don't attract animals or insects like they would if they were left
on or just under the surface. You may alternatively slice the peels and soak them in water for a week,
then drain the peels out and pour the solution over the soil to receive the nutrients without attracting
pests. (Patricia H. Reed, 2019)

The focus of this research was to see how effective a liquid organic fertilizer (LOF) made from banana
peels (BP) is as a potassium supply for eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) growth, and thus to find the
optimal proportion between BP-LOF and anorganic KCl fertilizer. The results showed that the BP-LOF
application showed comparable results in terms of eggplant growth enhancement (Hariyono et al,
2021).
Siling labuyo is a small chili pepper cultivar that developed in the Philippines after the Columbian
Exchange. It belongs to the species Capsicum frutescens and is characterized by triangular fruits which
grow pointing upwards.The fruits and leaves are used in traditional Philippine cuisine. The fruit
is pungent, ranking at 80,000 to 100,000 heat units in the Scoville Scale. The cultivar name is Tagalog,
and literally translates to "wild chili." It is also known simply as labuyo or labuyo  chili. It is also
sometimes known as Filipino bird's eye, to differentiate it from the Thai bird's eye chili. Both are
commonly confused with each other in the Philippines, though they are cultivars of two different
species. (Wikipedia, 2021).

The majority of peppers are red, although other types are yellow, purple, or black. One of the most
common uses of the pepper is to produce a spicy condiment by mixing it with vinegar and other
spices such as ginger, onion, and garlic. It may also be used to infuse a hot spicy into a variety of
sauces, veggies, and seafood dishes. The pepper leaves may also be utilized in a variety of traditional
dishes, such as seafood soups and chicken tinola. Siling labuyo is a medicinal herbal plant that has
been used to treat arthritis, rheumatism, dyspepsia, flatulence, and toothache.The plant is simple to
grow and may be found all throughout the Philippines. It may also be grown in pots in sunny
locations. Bicol and Mindanao (located in the center Philippines' Luzon Islands) are two regions noted
for their fiery food, thanks in part to the usage of siling labuyo. The peppers can be purchased locally
or grown at home, where a container of the plant is customary, however this tradition is fading. True
siling labuyo peppers are also threatened by commercially imported peppers from neighboring
nations, which are usually bigger and less hot and are labeled as siling labuyo. (2021, Slow Food
Foundation)

As stated by Bunag (2020), siling labuyo (Capsicum frutescens), a type of

pepper that is considered as a distinct herb due to the evidence that it characterizes
undeniable spiciness. It is a relatively tiny plant that blooms at approximately 1.5
meters, the leaves are irregular-oval shape with a pointed end. Many came to shock
after knowing that this little plant is packed with a lot of benefits. It is believably
rich in vitamins and minerals, possesses lots of antioxidant, could be used as a pain
reliever, a big help in blood circulation, and countless more. In particular, it develops
our wellness.

Capsicum frutescens also called as Siling Labuyo is the hottest pepper grown in the
Philippines. Capsaicin, which accounts for 90% of the phytochemicals found in its ripe fruits, is
responsible for this species' antimicrobial activity. The Philippines' "wild chili" may be small,
but it packs a punch far beyond its size, much like the Thai chilies it is frequently mistaken for.
Their heat is comparable to that of habanero peppers, but they lack the flavor complexity. Siling
Labuyo are popular in Filipino cuisine for adding a kick of heat to a dish, but they are becoming
increasingly difficult to find – the Slow Food Ark of Taste has designated them as an endangered
heritage food.

Planting chili peppers, also known as siling labuyo, is a great opportunity for Filipino
farmers because they are high-value crops. It's a small chili native to the Philippines. Learn how
to plant labuyo and what to do during a deflationary period. Siling Labuyo gives many benefits.
The fruits are served as a garnish in soups, stews, and sauces. The leaf extract is a powerful
wound healer. The fruit is used as a liniment to treat orthoarthritis. Borers and other larval insects
are controlled with fruit extracts. Siling labuyo can also be used to control rats.

A good fertilizer for siling labuyo is a banana peel. A banana (Musa acuminate) carries potassium and
phosphorus. Organic components can be obtained
from plant wastes which are shifted to compost rich by the nutritious organic matter
to be taken back to the soil for fertilization. Using banana peels provides nutrients
that plants need to thrive, and it also serves as a pest repellent (Hussein, Shaarawy,
Hussien & Hawash, 2019).