Potential of Liquid Organic Fertilizer on Flowering, Yield of Shallots (Allium cepa L. Aggregatum) and Soil Quality

Abstract

Continuous intensification of agriculture with inorganic fertilizers causes a decrease in soil quality; grumusol soil has high clay content and low organic matter. This study aims to examine the effect of liquid organic fertilizer on flowering, shallot yield, and the ability to improve soil quality. The research used a completely randomized block design with one factor, namely fertilization with six levels: 100% inorganic fertilizer; 75% inorganic fertilizer and 25% liquid organic fertilizer; 50% inorganic fertilizer and 50% liquid organic fertilizer; 25% inorganic fertilizer and 75% liquid organic fertilizer; 100% liquid organic fertilizer; 100% solid organic fertilizer. Repeat three times. Fertilization has a significant effect on the flowering of shallots. Liquid organic fertilizer can support shallot flowering with the highest number of flowers, namely 8 flowers. However, fertilization did not affect the yield of shallots. Liquid organic fertilizer can increase carbon organic and soil organic matter, exchangeable potassium content, exchangeable sodium content, and the number of bacteria. The highest number of fungi was fertilized with 50% inorganic fertilizer, and 50% liquid organic fertilizer, namely 2.0.105 cfu/gr. Substitution of inorganic fertilizers with liquid organic fertilizers can support soil nutrients so that liquid organic fertilizers have the potential to replace inorganic fertilizers to stimulate flowering and increase the growth and yield of shallots.