Optimizing Red Spinach (Amaranthus tricolor) Growth and Yield by Applying Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers

Abstract

The Red Spinach (Amaranthus tricolor) is a leafy vegetable plant admired for its vibrant red leaves and is commonly used in cooking for its visual appeal and rich nutritional value. This plant is popular in many parts of the world because it can thrive in different soil and climate conditions. This study aims to enhance the growth and productivity of Red Spinach (Amaranthus tricolor) plants through a mix of organic and inorganic fertilizers. The approach utilized in the study was a factorial Randomized Block Design (RAK) with two primary factors: factor K, which represents organic fertilizer from cow dung, and factor P, which represents inorganic fertilizer NPK Mutiara 16:16:16. Each factor is subjected to three treatment levels, with three replications conducted to ensure the validity of the research results. The research findings indicated no significant distinction between the two treatments, whether using organic fertilizer (K factor) or inorganic fertilizer (P factor). This result indicates that using a combination of cow dung organic fertilizer and inorganic NPK fertilizer does not significantly affect the growth and yield of Red Spinach plants. In summary, the utilization of both organic fertilizer from cow dung and inorganic fertilizer NPK Mutiara 16:16:16 in this research did not result in a significant variation in the growth and yield of Red Spinach. Therefore, future research could explore other factors influencing crop yields, such as the interaction between soil type and specific environmental conditions, to obtain a more effective fertilization strategy