Growth and yield of hydroponic watermelon with straw compost substrate and gibereline (GA3) application

Abstract

Watermelon plant in Indonesia are generally grown on paddy fields at an altitude of 0-500 m above sea level (asl) as intercrops between paddy planting seasons. The difficulties of watermelon cultivation are to achieve uniform and steady fruits quality (sweetness and weight). Implementation of hydroponics watermelon technology is an effort to increase production and productivity without disrupting rice production as a food crop. The objectives of this study were to examine the effects of straw compost substrate and gibereline application to watermelon growth and yield . The research was conducted in Cilamaya Kulon of Karawang district (35 m asl) in October 2015 until January 2016. The research method used was experimental research using factorial randomized block design of 2 factors. The first factor was the ratio of planting medium consisted of 3 levels of treatment ie the ratio of straw compost with sand (1: 3, 1: 1 and 3: 1) and the second factor was the concentration of gibberellin (GA3) consisting of 4 levels of gibberellin concentration (0 ppm; 50 ppm; 150; ppm and 250 ppm). The results showed that gibberelline and straw compost ratio with sand did not occur interaction but influenced independently giving the composition of planting medium (1: 1) to plant height, fruit weight and fruit sweetness. Gibberelline concentration 50 ppm independently affects the number of leaf. The optimum growth and yield of water melon were obtain if straw compost application equal to 50%(v/v).