Application of Biosilika Foliar Spray to Increase Growth and Yield of Shallot (Allium Ascalonicum L) Under Sprinkler and Furrow Irrigation System Lia Hadiawati (a*), Ulyatu Fitrotin (b), Ahmad Suriadi (a), Moh Nazam (a)
(a) Research Center for Food Crop - National Research and Innovation Agency of Indonesia. Cibinong Science Center - Bogor Regency. 16911
(b) Research Center of Food Technology and Processing - National Research and Innovation Agency of Indonesia. Jl. Jogja-Wonosari KM 31.5, Gading, Playen, Gunung Kidul, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. 55861
Efficient irrigation and nutrient management are some climate-smart agriculture practices to adapt rapid climate change. Silicon foliar application is widely reported to have a beneficial effect on limiting the adverse effect of drought stress. The objective of this research was to determine the effect of some concentrations of Biosilika foliar spray application on the growth and yield of shallot grown under two irrigation systems. The on-farm experiment was arranged in the randomized block with a split-plot design in the dryland of East Lombok District of Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTB) Province during the dry season of 2018. The main plot was the irrigation system under furrow irrigation (L) and sprinkler irrigation (S), and the sub-plot was four concentrations of silicon foliar spray at 0 ml, 15 ml, 30 ml, and 45 ml in five replications. The results showed that the interaction effect was significant on plant height at 20 and 40 days after planting, weight lost after sun-dried, and weight loss after 90 days of storage to produce bulb seed. Shallot fresh yield was significantly higher under sprinkler irrigation (3.72 kg/m2) compared to furrow irrigation (2.70 kg/m2). Furthermore, sun-dried shallot yield was significantly higher than control at about 14.76% (30 ml) to 28.40% (15 ml). In general, plant height, leaf number, bulb number, and fresh biomass of shallot were increased following an increase in silicon fertilizer concentration. The optimal dosage for the experiment site was 15 ml/lt of silicon foliar spray
