Effect of Different Amounts of Volcanic Ash from the Taal Volcano Eruption to the Growth of Ocimum basilicum (Basil)

• Main Authors: Ferma, Rance Gershon B., Pineda, Roberto Miguel T., Remigio, Pierre Aaron M., Tan, Jean Yuliong C.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2021
• Subjects: volcanic ash; basil; concentration; growth; acid-loving plants
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/conf_shsrescon/2021/paper_see/16; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/conf_shsrescon/article/1672/viewcontent/SEE__Effect_of_Different_Amounts_of_Volcanic_Ash_from_the_Taal_Volcano.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

Volcanic eruptions have a tremendous impact on an area that often leads to the destruction of the environment, human injuries, and even death. However, this research emphasizes one specific outcome unique to volcanic eruptions. The study aims to shed light upon the beneficial applications of volcanic ash to determine whether or not volcanic ash has advantageous botanical properties that could potentially enhance the growth of Ocimum basilicum (basil). In 8 weeks, four different concentrations (VA-0, VA-0.5, VA-1, and VA-2) of volcanic ash-loam soil composition were tested on basil plants. Three parameters were utilized to measure the plant's growth: plant height, leaf count, and leaf surface area. Pot VA-1 achieved the highest plant height and leaf count increase among the four concentrations. As for the leaf surface area, VA-1 and VA-2 both yielded the highest growth from week 1 to week 8. Results support a beneficial relationship between volcanic ash and acid-loving plants