Crab shell of the mangrove crab (Ucides cordatus) was tested as a soil amendment to reduce fusariosis and promote growth of black pepper (Piper nigrum) transplants. Soil infested with Fusarium solani f. sp. piperis was amended or not amended with ground crab shell (1,0% m/m) 15 days before pepper seedlings were transplanted into the soil. The crab shell amendment increased plant survival by 20% at 90 days after transplanting. The amendment increased the production of plant dry mass when applied at various concentrations and times before transplanting. The increased biomass of plants grown in amended soil was allocated preferentially to the aerial plant parts, mainly the leaves. Net photosynthesis increased or was unchanged in plants grown in the presence of 0.5 and 1.0% (m/m) of crab shell. We conclude that ground crab shell has potential to reduce incidence of fusariosis and to promote the growth of black pepper.
Fusarium solani f. sp. piperis; Mangrove crab; Piper nigrum; Ucides cordatus
