The Effect of Green Manure and Chromolaena-Odorata-Based Bokashi on Nutrient Soil Content and Maize Growth

Abstract

The objectives of this study are twofold; firstly, it is intended to determine the soil nutrient contents (e.g., nitrogen, phosphor, potassium, manganese, and magnesium) after the provision of Chromolaena odorata organic fertilizer. Secondly, the study is aimed at examining the growth of maize crops after the provision of the same fertilizer. It employed randomized design group consisting of three phases of treatment (i.e., control, fertilizer provision, and provision of Bokashi with Chromolaena odorata) and four-times of the repeating process. Furthermore, the variable consists of the contents of soil nutrient  before applying the treatment, vegetative growth (i.e., stem height, stem diameter, leaf size, and dry weight of root, stem, and leaf), and generative growth (i.e., weight of unhusked cob, weight of husked cob, number of seeds per cob, width of cob, and weight of 100 seeds).  The data were analyzed by using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and it further examined by employing Least Significance Difference test at 5% level. The results reveal that the provision of Bokashi fertilizer (with Chromolaena odorata as the material) positively impacts the growth of maize crops rather than the provision of green manure and control fertilizer. Keywords: Generative Growth, Organic Fertilizer, Vegetative Growth