Different Compost Materials Used as Source of Organic Matter in Production of Chili Pepper

Abstract

Compost has been commonly used as the primary organic matter in organic plant production, especially in vegetable production. Different sources of compost materials give different medium structures and chemical characteristics. The objectives of this research were: 1) to evaluate the response of growth and yield of chili pepper to a rate of compost and source of animal waste which were used as compost; 2) to determine the optimum rate of fertilizer for the highest growth and yield of chili pepper. The research was carried out from November 2015 until March 2016. Compost material treatments consisted of cow dung, empty palm oil bunches, and mixed of vegetable residue and weeds. The compost rate treatments consisted of 0 ton ha-1, 10 ton ha-1, 20 ton ha-1, and 30 ton ha-1. No interaction between the two treatments was found to influence plant growth and yield variables. The type of compost materials affected plant height of 5, 6, and7 weeks after transplanting. Cow dung as a source of compost showed the best effect in increasing chili plant height. Plant height, the number of plant dichotomous, and plant canopy responded linearly to the increase of the compost rate. The usage of compost at 20 ton ha-1 and 30 ha-1 resulted in higher fruit length, the number of fruit, and fruit weight per plant. Keywords: chili pepper, compost, organic, growth, yield

Potential of Compost and Bio Fertilizer Combination in Improving Growth and Yield of Red Curly Chili

“…Aplikasi kompos pada tanah dapat meningkatkan bahan organik, nilai pH, kpaasitas tukar kation, konsentrasi unsur hara esensial, kemampuan menahan air, dan agreagt tanah serta menurunkan bobot isi tanah (Kelbesa, 2021). Hasil penelitian (Sumbayak and Handajaningsih (2019) menunjukkan bahwa aplikasi kompos dengan dosis 20 ton ha-1 dan 30 ton ha-1 mampu menigkatkan panjang buah, jumlah buah, dan bobot buah per tanaman cabai. Perlu adanya pengujian dosis kombinasi antara pupuk kompos dan pupuk anorganik guna meningkatkan hasil tanaman cabai merah keriting sekaligus meningkatkan kualitas tanah.…”