Pengaruh Pupuk Organik Cair Kitosan terhadap Pertumbuhan Bibit Kakao (Theobroma cacao L.)

Abstract

NAJMAH SHABAH. Pengaruh Pupuk Organik Cair Kitosan terhadap Pertumbuhan Bibit Kakao (Theobroma cacao L.). Dibimbing oleh EDI WIRAGUNA dan IIS PURNAMAWATI.

Penurunan produksi kakao (Theobroma cacao L.) disebabkan salah satunya kualitas bibit yang kurang optimal. Peningkatan kualitas bibit dapat melalui penggunaan pupuk organik cair (POC) kitosan yang berfungsi sebagai biostimulan pertumbuhan yang ramah lingkungan. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengetahui pengaruh aplikasi POC kitosan terhadap pertumbuhan vegetatif bibit kakao. Penelitian dilaksanakan di Kebun Kendeng Lembu, Banyuwangi, pada Agustus-Desember 2024 menggunakan rancangan kelompok lengkap teracak (RKLT) satu faktor dengan lima taraf perlakuan (0, 10, 20, 30, dan 40 ml/L) dan tiga ulangan. Parameter pertumbuhan meliputi tinggi tanaman, diameter batang, dan jumlah daun diamati setiap dua minggu selama 12 minggu setelah tanam. Hasil menunjukkan bahwa perlakuan POC kitosan tidak berpengaruh signifikan secara statistik terhadap semua parameter, namun konsentrasi 20ml/L dan 30 ml/L menunjukkan tren pertumbuhan lebih baik dibanding kontrol. Kitosan berpotensi mendukung pertumbuhan vegetatif awal bibit kakao, meskipun belum signifika, sehingga perlu studi lanjutan untuk menentukan dosis optimal dan efektivitas pada fase generatif.

Kata kunci: bibit tanaman, kakao, kitosan, pertumbuhan vegetatif, POC.

NAJMAH SHABAH. The Effect of Chitosan-Based Liquid Organic Fertilizer on the Growth of Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) Seedlings. Supervised by EDI WIRAGUNA and IIS PURNAMAWATI.

The decline in cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) production is partly due to the suboptimal quality of seedlings. Improving seedling quality can be achieved through the application of chitosan-based liquid organic fertilizer (POC), which functions as an environmentally friendly plant growth biostimulant. This study aimed to determine the effect of chitosan POC application on the vegetative growth of cocoa seedlings. The research was conducted at Kendeng Lembu Estate, Banyuwangi, from August to December 2024, using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with one factor and five treatment levels (0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 ml/L) in three replications. Growth parameters, including plant height, stem diameter, and number of leaves, were measured every two weeks for 12 weeks after planting. The results showed that chitosan POC had no statistically significant effect on all parameters; however, the 20 ml/L and 30 ml/L concentrations exhibited better growth trends compared to the control. Chitosan has the potential to support early vegetative growth of cocoa seedlings, although not yet significant, thus further studies are needed to determine the optimal dosage and its effectiveness during the generative phase.

Keywords: chitosan, cocoa, liquid organic fertilizer, seedlings, vegetative growth.