Application of Cow Manure and Mycorrhiza on the Growth of Biduri (Calotropis Gigantea)

Abstract

Abstract Biduri (Calotropis gigantea) was a herbaceous plant that had a lot of potentials yet farmers did not cultivate it properly. For instance, many farmers apply inorganic fertilizers excessively which could damage the environment, so that they did not embody environmentally-friendly agriculture. One of the efforts to achieved sustainable agriculture was the use of organic fertilizer. This research was conducted from March 2021 to October 2021 at the screen house, Jumantono Field Laboratory, Chemistry and Soil Fertility Laboratory, and Plant Physiology and Biotechnology Laboratory at Faculty of Agriculture, UNS. This research used a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 2 elements and 3 replications. The first factor was cow dung which consists of three stages: K0 = control treatment, K1 = 10 tons/ha, K2 = 20 tons/ha. The second factor was mycorrhiza which consists of four stages: M0 = control treatment, M1 = 5 gram/plant, M2 = 10 gram/plant, M3 = 15 gram/plant. Data obtained were analysed by ANOVA and DMRT. The results showed that the interaction between cow dung and mycorrhiza did not increase the growth of biduri; administration of 20 tons/ha gives best result in terms of the heigh of the plant, diameter stem, number of leaves, and number of branches; Inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi was not increase the growth of biduri.