Application of Structural Equation Modeling to Control Anthracnose Disease Attacking Red Chili in Several the East Java Production Center

Abstract

This research aims to apply structural equation modeling to design some anthracnose control alternatives that attack red chili plants in several production centers in East Java, Indonesia. The research method was conducted by surveying in five centers of red chili production including Malang Wajak, Malang Pujon, Kediri, Madiun, and Tuban. In each research location, 20 farmers and respondent farmers were observed by purposive sampling. Latent variables observed were the yield, disease percentage, climate, soil, geography, and cultivation techniques. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling with Smart PLS 3.14 for students. Latent variables that have the effect of suppressing the development of anthracnose disease are selected and tested through factorial randomized block design experiment. The results showed that the intensity of anthracnose disease in red chili plants was directly influenced by climate (number of wet months and annual rainfall) and soil conditions (soil organic matter). Whereas cultivation techniques have an indirect effect through soil latent variables. Latent variables that directly affect the production of red chili are geography (height), soil (soil organic matter), and anthracnose disease variables. Thus, to control anthracnose disease, it is best to plant red chili in the dry season and in fields that have high organic matter content.