The Growth And Yield Of Sweet Corn With Dolomite Application On Ultisol In Limau Manis

Abstract

The area of sweet corn in Indonesia has been increasing due to the demand for this product in the country's market. The absence of fertile soil for the growth of sweet corn is one of the frequent issues encountered during cultivation. Therefore, it needs to implement the necessary procedures to enhance the nutrient in the soil. This study aimed to determine how sweet corn will grow and yield on Ultisol in Limau Manis using dolomite. This study was conducted at the greenhouse at Andalas University from July to November 2022. Lime was not added to the first treatment V1, and dolomite was added to the second treatment V2 at a rate of 6.25 tons/ha. The period of growth for the corn in V2 was shorter than in V1, with the reproductive stage earlier in treatment V2 focusing on fruit development. Compared to the treatment without lime, adding dolomite produced good outcomes regarding fruit weight at harvest, seed weight, stem weight, and corn root weight. The time of silk appearance in the V1 treatment was around 65 days after sowing, and in the V2 treatment was around 64 days after sowing. The yields were greater for the lime treatment (6.82 tons/ha) than for the control (6.31 tons/ha), but there was no statistically significant difference between the two treatments. Adding lime increased the soil's pH, helped the corn grow well, and obtained a yield better than the soil without lime added.