OPTIMIZATION OF CACAO SEEDLING GROWTH (Theobroma Cacao L.) THROUGH THE INTERACTION OF Asystasia gangetica COMPOST FERTILIZER AND NPK FERTILIZER

Abstrak

Cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) is a widely cultivated plantation commodity. However, the production of cocoa plants has decreased, and one of the contributing factors is old plants, so plant rejuvenation must be carried out using good-quality plant seeds. Good plant seeds are obtained through the provision of nutrients at the nursery. Nutrients are obtained by administering organic and inorganic fertilizers. This study aims to determine the interaction between the application of Asystasia compost and NPK on the growth of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) seedlings and to obtain the best dosage of Asystasia compost and NPK on the growth of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) seedlings. This research was conducted using a completely randomized design (CRD) factorial pattern with two factors. The first factor was the dose of NPK (P) fertilizer, which consisted of 3 treatment levels as follows: p0 = 0 g/seedling, p1 = 7 g/seedling, and p2 = 14 g/seedling. The second factor was the dose of Asystasia compost (A), which consisted of 3 treatment levels as follows: a0 = 83 g/seedling, a1 = 166 g/seedling, and a2 = 249 g/seedling. The variables observed were seedling height, stem diameter, number of leaves, total leaf area, and dry weight of shoots and roots. The results showed that there was an interaction between the application of asystasia compost and NPK on the variables of seedling height, total leaf area, and dry weight of the cocoa plant canopy. The dosage of Asystasia compost (166 g/seedling) and NPK (7 g/seedling) showed the best growth of cocoa seedlings in polybags.