Nama : Rahmat Hidayat

Nim : 15011030

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THE EFFECT OF GIVING TRICHO FERTILIZER COMPOSITION OF REEDS

(Imperata Cylindrica) LEAF ON GROWTH AND PRODUCTION OF MAIZE (Zea
mays)

I. Introduction

1. Background

Corn plants (Zea mays) are very useful as food for humans and animals. Based on the
order of the world's staple foods, corn ranks third after wheat and rice. Whereas in
Indonesia corn is the second staple food after rice (Food Crop Agriculture Service, 1995).

Corn (Zea mays) includes cereal plants which commonly grow in almost all over the
world. In some cases enough during its growth. Therefore, fertilization is a determining
factor for the success of corn cultivation. In terms of fertilization, the main obstacle faced
by farmers in the application of technology is the high price of fertilizers, especially
fertilizer N, P and K. The price of artificial fertilizers continues to increase, while the price
of corn tends to be stable instead of decreasing especially during harvest (Fattah, 2010) .

Some important factors that need to be considered in an effort to increase corn

production include the use of varieties, optimum fertilization, and regulation of planting
populations. These factors are interrelated so that the increase in corn production requires
understanding to manage it so that it synergizes so that high yields are obtained. However,
fertilization is one activity that is closely related to plant growth and production. This
activity provides optimal results depending on several factors, including the size and type
of fertilizer used.

This type and dosage of fertilizer are widely used to assess plant response to
fertilization (Suwardi and Roy, 2009). In order to support the corn agribusiness
development program to achieve maximum results it is necessary to study NPK
fertilization in both hybrid corn and composite corn. Nutrients N, P, and K are nutrients
that are needed for the growth and production of corn plants. Essential macro nutrients for
corn include nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (Tabri, 2010).

One fertilizer that can maintain environmental balance is organic fertilizer. Organic
fertilizers have been known as fertilizers that are environmentally friendly and can increase
soil productivity. Organic fertilizer is a fertilizer consisting of organic materials as its main
constituent. Organic fertilizers that can support soil productivity and plant growth, one of
which is compost. Compost is organic materials (organic waste) that have undergone a
weathering process because of the interaction between microorganisms that work in it.

Fertilizing with chemical fertilizers only adds soil nutrients without improving the
physical and biological properties of the soil, and can even have a negative impact on the
soil. Guided by the high use of chemical fertilizers at the farm level, the recent increase in
fertilizer prices and scarcity of artificial fertilizers, we need to find alternatives to replace
chemical fertilizer use without reducing yield (Murni and Arief, 2008). The alternative is
through the use of organic fertilizers such as the use of corn waste and leaves such as thatch
leaves as a source of N P K.

Generally farmers use inorganic fertilizers to increase agricultural production, but the
continuous use of inorganic materials in the agricultural production process will have a
detrimental impact on the sustainability of agricultural resources and the unbalanced
application of organic fertilizer causes a decrease in soil pH (Rahayu, Aini and Santoso,
2002).

One source of material that is quite large and not widely used is Imperata. Reeds is a
weed that creates a source of material that allows it to be used. According to Rauf and
Ritonga (1998) the composition of the upper reeds is 0.71% N; 0.67% P; 1.07% K; 0.76%
Ca; 0.55% Mg; 5.32% Si. Furthermore, the results of the analysis of dried reeds showed
that dried leaves of reeds had a protein content of 6.5%, fat of 29.4%, crude fiber 37.57%,
Ca 0.38%, ash 10.97% and phosphorus 0, 29% (Burhanuddin, Zubaidah and Tasim, 1999).

Imperata is a potential energy source to use. Compost of reeds is made with the help
of Trichoderma sp fungus which can accelerate the process of decomposition of reeds into
topsoil.
 Research results of Rauf and Ritonga (1998) showed that 15 tons ha-1 of Imperata
compost increased soil pH from 5.02 to 6.27, increasing soil CEC from 53.92 me.100g-1
to 55, 58 me .100g-1, increasing soil organic C from 0.49% to 0.60%. Giving compost of
Imperata in addition to being able to improve soil properties can also increase corn
production.

The composting process generally takes a long time so that to speed up the
decomposition process additional decomposers need to be added. The composting process
can be accelerated by the addition of the starter Trichoderma sp. Trichoderma sp. is one of
the soil microorganisms that is beneficial to plants. The technology of composting using
Trichoderma sp can accelerate the composting process. The ability of Tricho compost as
fertilizer that is able to provide nutrients in the soil for plants in the presence of
Trichoderma sp as a decomposer that speeds up the weathering process and has
antagonistic ability to cause soil borne diseases, is expected to increase the growth and
production of shallots. The use of microorganisms in plantations can help supply N, P and
Kpada elements so that they can improve plant quality. Microorganisms that are given
with organic matter can also improve soil aggregate quality (Setyowati, 2003).

1.2 Formulation of the problem

1. What are the advantages of tricho compost from Imperata leaves?

2. Are Imperata compost suitable as a pathogenic microbial antagonist carrier and

increase soil fertility?

1.3 research objectives

This study aims to study the effect of compost Tricho and obtain the best dosage of
compost Tricho fertilizer on the growth and production of corn.

1.4 Benefits of Research

This research is expected to be a reference for those who want to carry out composting
and increase knowledge about the use of organic waste.
 III. MATERIALS AND METHODS

A. Place and Time of Research

This research will be carried out in the Gunung Bulu trial garden of Mercu Buana
University in Yogyakarta and the research will be conducted in January 2019 until May
2019.

B. Materials and Research Tools

The material that will be used in this study is Trichoderma Sp to accelerate composting,
reeds as a source of compost. As a basic fertilizer Urea, SP-36 and KCl are given, BISI 18
Hybrid Corn Seeds.

The tools used in this study are hoes, meters, calipers, polybags, cameras and
stationery.

C. Research Planning

This study was carried out experimentally using a Completely Randomized Design
(CRD) consisting of 5 treatments with 3 replications. The treatment is as follows:

T0 = control (without treatment)

T1 = 100% compost Tricho

T2 = Compost Tricho 75%

T3 = 50% compost Tricho

T4 = Compost Tricho 25%

The number of replications for each treatment was three times repetition, so that 15
plants were obtained. The observations were tested statistically using ANOVA. If there
are significant differences between treatments, the test is continued with the Duncan M
ultiple Range Test (DMRT) test.