Pengaruh Pupuk Kalium Nitrat terhadap Pertumbuhan dan Produksi Tanaman Jagung Manis (Zea mays saccharata Sturt.)

Abstract

Pupuk kalium nitrat merupakan pupuk majemuk dengan kandungan dua unsur penting sekaligus, yaitu kalium dan nitrogen sekitar 46% K2O dan 13% N. Penelitian ini bertujuan menguji respon pertumbuhan dan produksi tanaman jagung manis terhadap berbagai dosis pupuk kalium nitrat dan merumuskan dosis optimalnya. Penelitian dilakukan di Kebun Percobaan Sabisa Farm IPB (Juli– September 2024) menggunakan RKLT dengan faktor tunggal yaitu dosis pemupukan. Terdapat 6 perlakuan yang disusun dalam 4 ulangan, sehingga terdapat 24 satuan percobaan. Pengamatan dilakukan terhadap karakter pertumbuhan vegetatif, komponen hasil, dan produktivitas tanaman. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pupuk KNO3 berpengaruh sangat nyata meningkatkan diameter batang (7 dan 9 MST), panjang tongkol tanpa kelobot, serta berpengaruh nyata terhadap tinggi tanaman (7 MST), diameter batang (5 MST), bobot ubinan, dan produktivitas. Dosis KNO3 130 kg ha-1 memberikan bobot ubinan dan produktivitas tertinggi, juga menunjukkan nilai relative agronomic effectiveness (RAE) terbaik 225,25%. Semua perlakuan memiliki nilai RAE >100% sehingga menegaskan bahwa penggunaan pupuk KNO3 efektif dalam meningkatkan pertumbuhan dan produksi tanaman jagung manis.

Potassium nitrate fertilizer is a compound fertilizer containing two essential elements, namely potassium and nitrogen, with approximately 46% K2O and 13% N. This research aimed to examine thhe growth and yield response of sweet corn to various dosages of potassium nitrate fertilizer and to determine its optimal dose. The experiment was conducted at the Sabisa Farm IPB Experimental Station (July– September 2024) using a RCBD with fertilization dosage as the single factor. There were 6 treatments arranged in 4 replications, resulting in 24 experimental units. Observations were made on vegetative growth characters, yield components, and crop productivity. The results showed that KNO3 fertilizer had a highly significant effect on stem diameter (7 and 9 WAP) and ear length without husk, a significant effect on plant height (7 WAP), stem diameter (5 WAP), harvested plot weight, and productivity. The KNO3 dosage of 130 kg ha?¹ yielded the highest harvested plot weight and productivity, and also demonstrated the best relative agronomic effectiveness (RAE) value of 225,25%. All treatments had an RAE value >100%, confirming that KNO3 fertilizer is effective in increasing the growth and yield of sweet corn.