The Effectivity of Granule Organic Fertilizers on Production and Nutrients Uptake of Sweet Corn (Zea mays L. Saccharata) and Chemical Properties of Latosol Darmaga

Abstract

Fertilizer application to the soil is an effort to increase the production of sweet corn. Farmers in Indonesia often use inorganic fertilizers to overcome the problem of nutrients deficiency and it is immediately available in soil and easily absorbed by plants thus increasing productivity of sweet corn. The continuous application of inorganic fertilizers can cause deterioration of physical, chemical, and biological soil properties and can result in environmental pollution. Therefore, the use of organic fertilizers are expecting to be able to improve the quality and quantity of crop production, reduce environmental pollution, and improve the soil quality. Research on the utilization of organic fertilizer in combination with inorganic or chemical fertilizer might be a solution to increase crop production and to improve soil fertility, and to reduce the use of inorganic fertilizer. This study aimed to test the effectiveness of granule organic fertilizer on sweet corn production and nutrients uptake of sweet corn (Zea mays L. Saccharata) and chemical properties of Latosol Darmaga. This research used Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with seven treatments and four replications, namely: control, standard (S) or inorganic fertilizer, 75%PO+50%S, 75%PO+75%S, 100%PO+50%S, 100%PO+75%S, and 125%PO+50%S. The results showed that combination of treatment of fertilizers on the height of sweet corn plant at 4 weeks after planting, the fresh-weight of shoot, ear weight, and N, P, K uptake were significantly higher than control treatment. Based on the result of some plant parameters observed and the value of relative agronomic effectiveness (RAE), the best treatment was treatment of 75%PO +50%S. This showed that organic fertilizer which being in combination with lower dose inorganic fertilizer was effective in improving the observed parameters. The treatment of organic fertilizer in combination with inorganic fertilizer resulted in higher cation exchange capacity (CEC) of soil than unfertilized treatment (control) and solely application of inorganic fertilizer. The highest value of soil CEC was happened in treatment of 75% PO+50% S. The content of soil Corganik and total N were not significant difference.