Effectiveness of Indigenous Endomycorrhizal Biofertilizer Prototype on Organic Salak Leaves and Fruits in Bali

46 Organically cultivated salak (Salacca zalacca) on dry land has limited production in Bali. 47 Typically, fertilization is carried out using leaf litter or other organic fertilizers because the fertility 48 of the soil is low for salak plantations. The present study analyzed the effectiveness of an 49 indigenous endomycorrhizal biofertilizer on the nutrient and total carbohydrate content of salak 50 leaves and fruits. The study used a randomized block design with nine replicates. The treatment 51 consisted of three levels, i.e., fertilization with leaf litter only as the farmers’ way and control (C), 52 fertilization with indigenous endomycorrhizae biofertilizer prototype (P), and combined fertilization 53 with leaf litter and indigenous endomycorrhizae biofertilizer prototype (PM). Spores of indigenous 54 endomycorrhizae from salak plantations were used for making a biofertilizer prototype. The results 55 showed that P and CP treatments: 1) significantly increase the chlorophyll and relative water 56 content of leaves, and the number and weight of fruits per tree, 2) improve fruit quality by 57 increasing sweetness and weight per fruit, and 3) have a positive effect on water uptake and nutrient 58 absorption as indicated by high N and P of leaf tissue and high carbohydrate content of leaves. 59 60