95
Akta Agrosia.
:95-102
https://ejournal.
id/Agrosia Akta Agrosia The Effects of Vermicompost Dosage Applied at Different Times on the Growth and Yield of Sweet Corn Mutia Mayasari.
Sigit Sudjatmiko*and Hesti Pujiwati Agroecotechnology Study Program.
Department of Crop Production.
Faculty of Agriculture.
University of Bengkulu.
Bengkulu.
Indonesia Doi: 10.
31186/aa.
ABSTRACT
ARTICLE INFO
Keywords:
application times, environmental safety, organic farming, sweet corn.
Article history:
Received: Nov 7, 2024 Accepted: Dec 24, 2024 *Corresponding author:
E-mail:
sigitsudjatmiko@unib.
The cultivation of sweet corn currently relies on inorganic nutrient inputs, which often lead to excessive use of fertilizers and subsequent land degradation.
To address this issue while maintaining land productivity, researchers have explored the application of vermicompost fertilizer, known for its positive impact on soil physical, chemical, and biological properties.
The aims of this study were to determine the vermicompost fertilizer doses applied at different times to enhance sweet corn growth and yield.
The research was arranged in a completely randomized block design with a single factor by combining the doses of vermicompost .
% to 100%) and variations of application times .
ne to two weeks before plantin.
Each treatment was replicated three times.
The results revealed that the 100% vermicompost applied two weeks before planting showed the highest increased on the plant height, leaf numbers, and the husk cob weight.
The application of vermicompost as organic fertilizer enhanced the productivity of sweet corn.
INTRODUCTION
Sweet corn (Zea mays saccharata Sturt L.
is a widely consumed agricultural product known for its delicious, sweet taste and rich nutritional content.
Beyond its flavor, sweet corn offers significant health benefits.
Notably, it contains carbohydrates, protein, and Additionally, corn plays a crucial role in overall health due to its high dietary fiber content (Swapna et al.
, 2.
, and starch is the dominant hydrocarbon component (Szymanek, 2.
For individuals with diabetes, sweet corn is beneficial due to its composition of sucrose, starch, carbohydrates, and low-fat content (Putri, 2.
Moreover, sweet corn has a short production period, making it a popular crop among farmers (Anggraini and Sugiarti, 2.
The current yield of sweet corn in Indonesia stands at 8.
31 tons per hectare, falling short of its potential range of 14-18 tons per hectare.
address this gap, concerted efforts are necessary to boost sweet corn production.
One effective approach is the utilization of organic fertilizer (Pasaribu et al.
, 2.
Organic fertilizer offers several advantages for plant Vermicompost not only provides ISSN: 1410-3354 / e-ISSN:2615-7136 Cited this as: Mayasari.
Sudjatmiko and H.
Pujiwati.
The effects of vermicompost dosage applied at different times on the growth and yield of sweet corn.
Akta Agrosia 27.
:95-102 Doi: 10.
31186/aa.
essential nutrients but also improves soil structure and enhances drought resistance (Shah et al.
, 2.
and engages in competition with pathogens and stimulates systemic resistance in plants, thereby preventing pathogenic infestations (Wei et al.
, 2.
and lowers the acidity in Entisols and Inceptisols (Muktamar et al.
, 2.
Consistent use of organic fertilizers can lead to improvements in the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the soil, contributing to environmental safety (Voltr et al.
, 2.
Vermicompost, an organic fertilizer, is produced by mixing waste materials with an earthworm stimulator (Lumbricus rubellu.
Derived from worm droppings, vermicompost serves as an excellent organic fertilizer for plants due to its easy absorption and comprehensive nutrient content and as an efficient alternative for enhancing soil and plant health (Gajalakshmi and Abbasi, 2004.
Marvelia et al.
, 2006.
Rehman et al.
, 2.
This nutrient-rich fertilizer contains essential elements such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (C.
, magnesium (M.
, sulfur (S), and iron (F.
, all vital for plant growth (Muktamar et al, 2017.
Maisura et al.
, 2019.
Adhikary, 2.
Laboratory tests conducted by the Directorate of Horticultural Protection.
Ministry of Agriculture .
, revealed specific percentages in vermicompost:
79% nitrogen, 1.
79% potassium, 0.
phosphorus, 30.
52% calcium, and 27.
Additionally, vermicompost contains organic compounds like auxin, gibberellin, and (Ravindran Importantly, vermicompost does not harm the soil (Krisnawati et al.
, 2.
Research conducted by Miftahillah et al.
demonstrated that applying vermicompost organic fertilizer to sweet corn plants at a rate of 7.
5 tons per hectare resulted in the highest yield potential.
This positive effect is attributed to the nutrientrich composition of vermicompost, which serves as a valuable source of nutrients for the soil (Rehman et al, 2.
Other studies have corroborated these findings, reporting that applying vermicompost organic fertilizer significantly influenced plant height and corn Akta Agrosia, 2024, 27.
:95-102 https://ejournal.
id/Agrosia ear weight (Prasetyo and Suriadikarta, 2019.
Prihatiningsih, 2.
This impact is linked to an increase in cation exchange capacity, enhancing nutrient availability for absorption and utilization by the sweet corn plants.
Crop production depends on various factors, with fertilizer application playing a crucial role (Liliane and Charles, 2.
For sweet corn plants, essential elements like nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are necessary to stimulate growth (Szymanek et al.
, 2.
While inorganic fertilizers typically meet most of these N and P requirements, their unregulated and continuous use can lead to soil damage and reduced fertility.
Improper nitrogen (N) utilization causes greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), while insufficiency prevents high production and quality (Majumdar, 2.
enhance sweet corn production sustainably, organic fertilizers such as vermicompost offer a viable alternative.
However, determining the optimal dosage and timing for vermicompost application remains an open question.
This study aims to investigate the impact of different vermicompost doses and application timings on sweet corn growth and yield.
MATERIALS AND METHOD
The study was carried out in Air Manjuto District.
Mukomuko Regency.
Bengkulu, located at an elevation of approximately 8.
meters above sea level, from June to August The materials used were sweet corn seeds var.
Paragon, vermicompost, urea.
TSP.
KCl, fungicides, and insecticides.
The research was designed in a randomized completely block design with a single factor, as follows:
K0: Application of 300 kg.
ha-1urea, 100 kg.
TSP, and 100 kg.
ha-1 KCl without adding KCA: 100% vermicompost fertilizer .
applied 2 weeks before planting.
KCC: 75% vermicompost .
applied 2 weeks before planting.
KCE: 50% vermicompost .
applied 2 weeks before planting.
KCE: 100% vermicompost .
applied 1 week before planting.
KCI: 75% vermicompost .
applied 1 week before planting.
Akta Agrosia.
:95-102
https://ejournal.
id/Agrosia KCI: 50% vermicompost .
applied 1 week before planting.
Each treatment was replicated 3 times, resulting in a total of 21 experimental units.
Data were collected from 5 sample plants from each experimental unit.
All treatments received supplementary inorganic fertilizer at a baseline rate of 50% of the recommended dosage.
The urea was applied twice, with a rate of 75 kg.
ha -1 during planting and an additional 25 kg.
ha-1 at 2 weeks after planting (WAP).
In addition, 50 ha-1 of triple superphosphate (TSP) and 50 ha-1 of potassium chloride (KC.
fertilizers were applied at planting time.
The control treatment (K.
followed a separate procedure.
The application of urea for K0 involved a total quantity of 300 kg.
ha -1 , applied twice, i.
, 150
ha-1 at the time of planting and another 150 ha-1 at 2 WAP.
Meanwhile, both TSP and KCl were given at a rate of 100 kg.
ha -1 at Before cultivating the soil, soil analysis was conducted by collecting soil samples at a depth of 20 cm.
These samples were subsequently examined for nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), pH, and organic carbon content.
Two seeds were planted in a spacing of 75 cm y 20 cm.
The plants were irrigated to keep the soil moisture at field capacity.
Thinning was conducted two weeks after planting, leaving one vigorously growing plant.
Weeding and hilling were performed simultaneously, 4 weeks after the initial The growth and yield parameters measured were plant height, leaf number, leaf area, leaf chlorophyll content, cob diameter .
ithout husk.
, cob weight .
ithout husk.
, cob length .
ithout husk.
, tip back, the weight of husked cob per plot, fresh weight of cob, and plant fresh weight.
Data were analyzed statistically with ANOVA at a 5% level, followed by DuncanAos Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at 5%.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Data of soil analysis included total nitrogen 32% .
, phosphorus of 5.
83 ppm .
ery lo.
, potassium of 0.
34 me/100 g-1 .
, organic carbon of 4.
96% .
, and a pH of 5.
lightly acidi.
During the research (June.
July, and Augus.
, the averages of air temperatures were 26.
1AC, 26.
7AC, and 6AC, respectively.
The average of air humidity ranged from 83.
9% to 84.
9%, and the average of monthly rainfall was 293 mm, 83 mm, and 224 mm, respectively.
Corn plants thrive in temperatures of 21AC to 34AC and require monthly rainfall of 250-500 mm, aligning with optimal growing conditions (BPTP, 2009.
Riwandi et al.
, 2014.
Hatfield & Prueger.
, 2015.
Vogel et al.
, 2019.
Ruminta et , 2.
Plant Height and the Number of Leaves The growth of plant height reveals that vermicompost fertilizer dosage and application timing contribute to weekly uniform growth (Figure .
Among the treatments.
K1 resulted in the tallest plants, reaching 231.
4 cm, while treatment K4 had the shortest plants at 196.
In the K1 treatment, vermicompost adequately breaks down two weeks before Figure 1.
The growth of plant height up to 6 weeks after panting (WAP) planting, ensuring nutrient availability for the Notably, studies by Nasution .
emphasize that maize plants during weeks 5-7 are particularly critical and require sufficient nutrients and water to thrive.
Figure 2 illustrates the weekly increase in the number of leaves.
Among the treatments.
K1 produced the greatest number of leaves, with an average of 11.
46, while the K4 treatment resulted in the fewest leaves.
However, leaf number is influenced not only by appropriate timing and dosage of vermicompost but also by internal Akta Agrosia, 2024, 27.
:95-102 https://ejournal.
id/Agrosia Figure 2.
The number of leaf up to 6 weeks after planting (WAP and external factors.
Genes and hormones constitute the internal factors originating from the plant itself, whereas temperature, weather, and humidity are the external factors.
Recapitulation of Analysis of Variance The combination of dose and timing of vermicompost significantly affected growth and yield variables on plant height and the number of leaves, the weight of husked cob per plot and the weight of husked cob (Table .
However, the dose and timing of vermicompost fertilizer did not significantly affect other growth characteristics, such as leaf area and leaf chlorophyll, and yield variables such as ear diameter with husk, ear diameter without husk, ear weight without husk, and ear length without husk, and tip back.
Growth Components of Corn Figure 3 and Table 2 present the results of further analysis of the data of plant height and Table 1.
The summary of analysis of variance on sweet corn
Parameters observed Plant height at 6th week
Leaf number at 6th week
Leaf area
Chlorophyll content
Cob diameter with husk
Cob diameter without husk
Cob weight without husk
Cob length without husk
Tip back
Cob weight/plot Fresh cob weight
Plant fresh weight
F-cal
(%)
the number of leaves.
Treatment of K1 .
% vermicompost applied 2 weeks before plantin.
showed the highest plant height .
40 c.
and the greatest number of leaves .
46 blade.
These values were significantly different from those observed in treatments K0.
K2.
K3.
K4.
K5, and K6 (Figure .
The decision to apply vermicompost 2 weeks before planting aligned with previous research by Rahmatika and Anggraini .
, who found that two weeks before planting is the most effective in supporting sweet corn growth.
These might be due to the longer incubation periods for organic fertilizer leading to increased nutrient availability in the soil (Thite et al.
, 2.
Application of 100% dose of vermicompost fertilizer was expected to result in a corresponding increase in nutrient content.
Figure 3.
Effect of vermicompost fertilizer dosage and application timing on .
plant height, and .
leaf number at the 6th week which likely contributed to the observed improvements in plant height and leaf Rosniawaty et al.
emphasized that higher doses of vermicompost enrich the soil with nutrients that can be readily absorbed by plants.
Furthermore.
Leo et al.
confirmed that vermicompost fertilizer contains a comprehensive range of nutrients.
The results also highlight that the average plant height meets the prescribed criteria for the variety.
Vermicompost has the potential to enhance both macro- and micronutrient It also contributes to an increase in the Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) within the root zone.
This improved CEC facilitates better nutrient absorption, ultimately leading to optimal plant height growth (Prihatiningsih, 2.
and raised nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) uptakes and linearly enhanced growth and yield of sweet corn (Muktamar et al.
, 2.
The vermicompost with various doses and application times did not significantly affect the variables of leaf area (P > 0.
and leaf chlorophyll (P > 0.
, as indicated in Table 2.
This insignificance can be ascribed to the circumstances of the first soil analysis, which indicated a nitrogen (N) level of 0.
Akta Agrosia.
:95-102
https://ejournal.
id/Agrosia Table 2.
Average of sweet corn leaf area and chlorophyll contents Treatment KCA: Application of 300 kg.
ha-1 urea, 100 kg.
ha-1 TSP, and 100 kg.
ha-1 KCl KCA: 100% vermicompost .
, applied 2 weeks before planting KCC: 75% vermicompost .
, applied 2 weeks before planting KCE: 50% vermicompost .
, applied 2 weeks before planting KCE: 100% vermicompost .
, applied 1 week before planting KCI: 75% vermicompost .
, applied 1 week before planting KCI: 50% vermicompost .
, applied 1 week before planting Although it came within the medium category, it was still sufficient for plant chlorophyll Other factors, such as the genetic cha-racteristics of plant varieties and the amount of sunshine they received, contribute to the plant growth.
According to Sitompul and Guritno .
, an abundance of sunlight is essential for the efficient process of photosynthesis and the subsequent growth of Moreover, differences in plant species and cultivation sites have a substantial effect on leaf surface area measurements.
It is crucial to take into account any mistakes, particularly when differentiating between the leaf blade and petiole (Haryadi, 2.
Yield Components of Sweet Corn Figure 4 and Table 3 present the results of further analysis on the effect of dosage and timing of vermicompost fertilizer application on yield variables.
In Treatment K1, which involved applying 100% vermicompost the weight of cobs per plot was 13.
80 kg, with the maximum individual cob weight at 404.
These results did not significantly differ from treatment K4, where 100% vermicompost was applied one week before planting.
According to Wirawan et al.
vermicompost fertilizer's sand-like texture facilitates rapid decomposition.
Applying vermicompost one week before planting may help equalize the decomposition process compared to applying it two weeks prior, ensuring that nutrients remain accessible and can be efficiently assimilated by plants.
addition, the average cob weight of 341.
closely aligns with the potential variety yield range of 371.
31 to 431.
49 g.
These findings Leaf area .
Chlorophyll (AAg.
9235,99 a 9533,21 a 8700,52 a 8856,18 a 9485,15 a 8972,66 a 8807,10 a 642,30 a 720,52 a 662,32 a 666,32 a 617,99 a 657,14 a 645,84 a suggest that the cob weight corresponds well with the ideal description for this cultivar.
Table 3 shows that vermicompost fertilizer dosage and timing did not significantly affect cob diameters and lengths, cob weight without husks, and fresh plant weight .
>0,.
Protein synthesis requires nitrogen (N), which determines cob size.
Irianti et al.
found that maize cob diameters improve protein Due to its low nitrogen content of 79% (Wahyudin and Irwan, 2.
Figure 4.
Effect of vermicompost fertilizer dosage and application timing on .
Ear weight per plot, and .
Ear weight with husk.
vermicompost fertilizer has little effect on maize cob diameter.
Sweet corn cob length depends on phosphorus (P) for seed formation and growth.
Unfortunately, soil phosphorus is Vermicompost contains 0.
phosphorus, but not enough to suit plants' demands (Admira et al.
, 2.
Since vermicompost has little nitrogen and phosphorus, it has little effect on growth factors and yield components.
This discussion emphasizes the importance of matching fertilizer nutrient mix to crop needs.
Vermicompost improves soil structure and microbial activity, but its low nitrogen and phosphorus content may require additional fertilizers for plant growth and output.
Effective understanding how fertilizer types interact with crop nutrition needs.
According to Haitami and Wahyudi .
, the dosage and timing of vermicompost fertilizer application do not significantly impact cob weight without husks and fresh plant weight.
They suggest that the size of plant leaves is crucial for solar energy Photosynthate allocation influences seed yield, as it is stored within the seeds.
During the seed filling period, dry matter accumulation, essential for seed development, increases.
However, vermicompost application timing and dosage might affect seed development potential.
Despite these benefits, the low nitrogen and (Wahyudin and Irwan, 2.
limits its impact on growth parameters like cob diameter and Leaf size and health are critical for maximizing photosynthetic efficiency and seed Larger, healthier leaves capture more sunlight, leading to increased photosynthate production, which is essential during the seedfilling stage.
Therefore, vermicompost may need supplementation with nitrogen- and phosphorus-rich fertilizers to meet high nutrient demands during critical growth stages.
The interaction between vermicompost and other fertilizers should be explored to develop a balanced fertilization strategy.
Combining vermicompost with inorganic fertilizers could Akta Agrosia, 2024, 27.
:95-102 https://ejournal.
id/Agrosia optimize nutrient availability, enhancing overall plant growth and yield.
Future research should identify the optimal combination of organic and inorganic fertilizers to leverage vermicompost's benefits while addressing its nutrient limitations, leading to sustainable and efficient agricultural practices and better crop yields and soil health.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the study demonstrated that 100% vermicompost applied two weeks before planting produced the most favorable results for sweet corn.
This treatment significantly improved plant height, increased leaf number, and resulted in higher husk cob weight per Therefore, integrating vermicompost into sweet corn cultivation can substantially boost crop productivity.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We would like to express our gratitude to the Laboratory of Agronomy.
Faculty of Agriculture University of Bengkulu for providing facility support toward this research.
REFERENCES