International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

author(s)
Bhawana Sharma, Dr. S Lakshmi Pooja, Dr. Lakshmi Challa and Dr. M Preethi

abstract
This study addresses the environmental issues caused by plastic waste in agriculture sector by developing biodegradable pots from banana fiber as it is abundantly available in India. These eco-friendly alternatives aim to reduce plastic pollution and enhance sustainable agriculture. Biodegradable pots were manufactured using banana fiber as a reinforcement and guar gum, tamarind seed kernel powder (TSKP), and epoxy as matrices. Various formulations of these raw materials were made and the best ratios were selected for further evaluation. The pots have been tested for water absorbency and plant growth test to check its practicality in real situation. The water absorption test showed that BP5 had the highest absorption rate at 274.47%, might be due to its high guar gum content, while BP7 had the lowest at 37.63%, due to the use of epoxy as a binding agent. In plant growth tests, BP5 demonstrated the best overall performance, supporting healthy growth and retaining water effectively. BP3 (banana fibre, TSKP and epoxy) showed no plant growth, indicating unfavourable conditions. The study highlights the importance of selecting appropriate materials for manufacturing biodegradable pots to promote sustainable agriculture.