GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS OF SHALLOT var. TINOMBO FOLLOWING APPLICATION OF POTASSIUM FERTILIZER AND MANURE

Abstract

ABSTRACT The response of shallot plants to potassium differs substantially depending on the cultivar, organic matter, soil conditions, and weather in the cultivation area. This research aimed to determine some of the growth characteristics of a Tinombo variety of shallot following treatment with an organic fertilizer comprising manure and potassium in the area of Palu, Central Sulawesi. This research took the form of a greenhouse experiment with planting in pots arranged in a completely randomized factorial pattern. The first factor was the application of chicken manure at 0 and 10 tons.ha-1, while the second factor was the dose of KCl fertilizer: 0 kg.ha-1; 30 kg.ha-1; 60 kg.ha-1 and 90 kg K2O.ha-1. Each treatment was replicated three times. The application of potassium and manure significantly affected the accumulation of dry matter and the linear growth rate of shallot var. Tinombo. Manure applied at 10 tons.ha-1 increased the leaf area index when combined with 0 to 60 kg K2O.ha-1. However, the addition of manure increased the net assimilation rate at all doses of potassium fertilizer. The number of bulbs and harvest index were affected by the amount of manure and potassium fertilizer applied, but there was no significant interaction between these two factors. Applying manure and K2O fertilizer resulted in a significantly higher number of bulbs and a better harvest index than in those cases where the two types of fertilizer were not applied.