Carrot is an increasingly important root vegetable in Indonesia, and it is commonly served as cooked mixed-vegetables or consumed freshly as salads or juices. Therefore, development of eco-friendly cultivation technology, including in lowlands, is important to meet the increased demand. This research analysed growth and yield of carrot plant in lowland in response to foliar-organic-fertilization as well as characterized the quality, carotenoid and sugar contents as well as hardness of the taproot. A Randomized completely block design (an RCBD) experiments was conducted in Bagik Polak Village, Labuapi District of West Lombok Regency (at ca. 45 m above mean sea level/amsl) from June to October 2020. During the cource of the experiment, the carrot plants were treated with 6 concentration of foliar organic fertilizer, that were 0 ml/L (K0), 5 ml/L (K1), 10 ml/L (K2), 15 ml/L (K3), 20 ml/L (k4) dan 25 ml/L (K5). There was no chemical fertilization added to the plots, but chicken manure of 20 tons/ha was equally given to all treatments. Application of foliar organic fertilizer increased growth and yield of the carrot plant by increasing physiological responses of the carrot plant as shown by a decrease ratio of above to below ground biomass and increase in the leaf chlorophyll content. Interestingly, application of foliar organic fertilizer enhanced the sweetness, carotenoid contents of the carrot taproots compared to the control plants.

A study was conducted to investigate the effect of different rates of NPK fertilization on growth and yield of carrot plants in medium latitude. The experiment was undertaken in Setiling Village, Central Lombok (at ca. 650 m amsl) and arranged according to a RCBD two factors: variety (v) and dosages of NPK fertilization (n). The first factor were four carrot varieties: Gundaling (v1), Kirana (v2), New Nantes (v3) and New Kuroda (v4), while the second factor were four dosages of NPK fertilization: 50 kg/ha (r1), 100 kg/ha (r2), 200 kg/ha (r3) and 400 kg/ha (r4). The results showed that there was no interaction between carrot varieties and rate of NPK fertilization on influencing growth and yield of carrot in medium latitude. However, growth and yield of carrot in medium latitude were significantly influenced by variety and rate of NPK fertilization, as shown by differences in the ratio of above and below ground biomass, tap-root weight, tap-root diameter and the ratio between cortex and stele. Accordingly the suitable variety for cultivation in the medium latitude was Gundaling variety (v1), with a higher growth and yield were obtained by NPK fertilization at rate of 200 kg/ha (n3).

The increasing demand for a good quality of carrot tubers has yet been achieved, partly due to limitation in cultivation area. Extension of cultivation to low land has been attempted and suitable cultivation technology with yields 17.5 – 25 ton/ha has been developed. However, cultivation of carrot in lowlands is very limited as farmers assume that carrots cannot be cultivated in the lowlands. To promote this, a community service (PKM) aimed to disseminate environmentally-friendly carrot cultivation technology in the lowlands has been undertaken in Bagik Polak Village, Labuapi District, West Lombok Regency from June to October 2020. The PKM was carried out in collaboration with the Gapoktan Bersatu and UPTD Agriculture of Labuapi District, through demonstration plots and extension. The activity began with socialization by discussion with the officials of Labuapi UPTD Agriculture and management of the Bersatu Gapoktan, followed by demplot for carrot cultivation at an altitude of ± 41 m above sea level. At harvest time, the demplot results were exposed to the community via extension at the house of the Gapoktan leader. By directly observing the demplot results, participants were motivated to cultivate environmentally-friendly carrots, and stated that they will undertake trials in theirs fields. The Labuapi UPTD will set a demplot in the UPTD yard and promote carrot plants in the program for yard optimality. In addition, the farmers agreed that this activity has bring a new inspiration to diversify vegetable crops with a higher economic crops