Application of Coconut Shell Biochar and Rhizobacteria Consortium to Increase Cocoa Production Reynaldi Laurenze (1), Ambo Ala (2), Ifayanti Ridwan Saleh (2*)
(1) Masters student, Faculty of Agriculture, Hasanuddin University, Jl. Independence Pioneers, km. 10, Tamalanrea, Makassar 90245, South Sulawesi, Indonesia.
(2) Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Hasanuddin University, Jl. Independence Pioneers, km. 10, Tamalanrea, Makassar 90245, South Sulawesi, Indonesia.
*ifayanti[at]unhas.ac.id
Abstract
This research is aimed to study and investigate how coconut shell biochar interacts with rhizobacteria in increasing cocoa plants growth and production. This research was conducted at Kodeoha, North Kolaka, Southeast Sulawesi with alluvial soil type and an average rainfall is 192.17 mm from October 2022 until Januari 2023. The experiment was set using a split plot design with biochar dosage as the Main Plot consisted of four levels, namely 0 ton ha-1 (control), 2.5 ton ha-1, 5 ton ha-1, and 7.5 ton ha-1 and rhizobacteria concentration as Sub Plots consisted of four levels, namely 0 mL L-1, 50 mL L-1, 100 mL L-1, and 150 mL L-1. The results of the recent research show a significant interaction between biochar and rhizobacteria that resulted in lower percentage of cherelle wilt and increased number of surviving pods. In addition, biochar and rhizobacteria treatments independently also showed best results for each parameter.
