Efficacy of organic fertilizer, biofertilizer and endophytic bacteria to control nematodes in robusta coffee

Abstract

Coffee is a plantation crop that has high economic value. One of the obstacles in the cultivation of coffee plants is the attack of plant parasitic nematodes, including Pratylenchus coffeae, Radopholus similis, and Meloidogyne spp. The reported nematode control technologies are the implementation of organic fertilizers, botanical pesticides, and biological agents. This study aimed to determine the effect of organic fertilizer, biofertilizer, and endophytic bacteria to control nematodes on Robusta coffee plants. The research conducted on a farmers’ coffee plantation infested by parasitic nematodes in Sidomulyo village, Lampung, Indonesia. The study used a randomized block design with 6 treatments: organic fertilizer, organic fertilizer + biofertilizer, organic fertilizer + endophytic bacteria, biofertilizer + endophytic bacteria, organic fertilizer + biofertilizer + endophytic bacteria, and control (farmer’s technology). Biofertilizers were applied together with organic fertilizers at the beginning of the rainy season, 25 g/tree and 3 kg/tree, respectively. Endophytic bacteria were applied 100 ml/tree a month after organic and biofertilizer. The observations were performed on the nematode population, growth, and production of robusta coffee. The results showed the application of organic fertilizers, biofertilizers, and endophytic bacteria could suppress the nematode population in Robusta coffee plants of 50.56-70.71%. The application of organic fertilizers, biofertilizers, and endophytic bacteria also increases the growth and productivity of Robusta coffee plants.