The Effect of Media Composition and Frequency of Liquid Organic Fertilization Provision on the Early Growth of White Turmeric (Curcuma alba L.)

Abstract

Turmeric white is one of the potential medicinal plants for cultivated. Turmeric White has an important role in human life, such as useful for traditional medicine which can cure various kinds of diseases. The purpose of this research is to determine the effect of media composition and frequency of liquid organic fertilizer provision to the early growth of white turmeric plants. This research conducted in Mamboro sub-district, Palu Utara District, Central Sulawesi Province from July to September 2015, at an altitude of ± 25 meters above sea level. The research used Randomized Block Design (RAK) factorial pattern with two treatment factors repeated 3 (three) times. The first factor is a different media composition (M) consisting of 3 treatment levels, namely: M1: Soil M2: Soil + Sand, M3: Soil + Sand + Manure. Secondary frequency Frequency of liquid organic fertilizer (F) consisting of 4 treatment levels, namely: F1: 1 time, F2: 2 times, F3: 3 times, F4: 4 times, with concentration 10 cc / l Water. Each treatment was repeated 3 times so that there were 36 experimental units. The research results showed that the treatments of media composition, significantly effect on stem diameter, leaf width, and number of shoots aged of 12 WAP. The Frequency of liquid organic fertilizer gave a real effect on the plant’s height aged of 12 WAP. The interaction between the composition of the media and the frequency of organic liquid fertilizer gave a significant effect on plant height of 8 WAP and number of leaves aged of 12 WAP. The combination of soil + sand + cow manure and the provision of 4 times frequency of liquid organic fertilizer give better growth compared to other treatment combinations.