Shallot Growth and Production Responses to Application of Microorganisms Based-Biostimulant and NPK Fertilizer Combinations on Acid Soil Erny Yuniarti(a*), Ely Noviyanti(b), Nani Radiastuti(b), Janjang Kosasih(a), Siti Aminah(a), and Dwi Ningsih Susilowati(a)
a)Research Center for Horticultural and Estate Crops, Research Organization for Agriculture and Food, Cibinong Science Center, National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Bogor 16911, Indonesia.
*yuniartierny1109[at]gmail.com
b)Faculty of Science and Technology, UIN Syarif Hidayatullah, Banten 15412, Indonesia.
Abstract
The shallot plant needs attention because demand for this high-value commodity is increasing, especially as Indonesia expands its cultivation over a huge area of land. This study aimed to assess the potential of microorganisms based-biostimulant formula doses and NPK combinations in promoting shallot growth and production on acid soil. The experiment used a RCD with four treatments, i.e., P=control- P1=standard NPK (600 kg ha-1 urea, 250 kg ha-1 SP-36, and 175 kg ha-1 KCl)- P2=3 ml L-1 biostimulant + 3/4 standard NPK)- and P3=5 ml L-1 biostimulant + 3/4 standard NPK and four replications. The observed parameters were plant height, number of leaf and bulb, as well as, bulb fresh and bulb dry weight. The effectiveness of the microorganisms based-biostimulant was determined by RAE. The results showed that all treatments gave significantly different effects on the all observed parameters. Treatment of P1 and P2 showed a higher number, fresh and dry weight of bulb than control. The treatment of P2 is an optimal treatment with a yield of 3.1-ton ha-1 and an RAE value of 141.2%. This biostimulant formula is an eco-friendly, renewable and promising technology to improve the growth and production of shallot in acid land.
