Vermicompost application to increase sweet potato local genotype yield to support sustainable agriculture

Abstract

Increased sweet potato yields can be pursued by using superior varieties and local superior genotypes. Each genotype or variety has a different response to the technical culture of fertilization or the use of organic materials. Vermicompost is an organic material that has advantages over other organic materials because it contains many nutrients needed by plants. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of vermicompost application on increasing the production of local sweet potato genotypes. The research was conducted in June - October 2020 in Medan Selayang District. The treatments studied in this study were sweet potato genotype (Tanah Seribu orange tubers, Tanah Seribu yellow tubers, Cengkeh Turi orange tubers) as the first factor and dose of vermicompost (0 tons ha-1, 10 tons ha-1, 20 tons ha-1, 30 tons ha-1) as the second factor using a Randomized Block Design. The three genotypes were significantly different in the parameters of tuber weight per plant, number of tubers per plant and harvest index, while the application of vermicompost and interaction of sweet potato genotypes and vermicompost increased tuber weight per plant, harvest index, and grade A fresh tubers.