PENGARUH KONSENTRASI DAN INTERVAL WAKTU PEMBERIAN PUPUK ORGANIK CAIR NASA TERHADAP PERTUMBUHAN DAN PRODUKSI TANAMAN TOMAT (Solanum lycopersicum Lam.)

Abstract

Tomato plant (Solanum lycopersicum Lam.) is one of the horticultural commodity with high economic value. Based on the tomato production data in Riau, the tomato productivity in 2010 in this province was lower than North Sumatra and West Sumatra, therefore the tomato production in Riau needs to be improved. One of the factors that can improve tomato production by fertilization. The application of fertilizer should be made more effectively with proper concentration and fertilizing time interval. One of liquid organic fertilizers that can be used to support the production of tomato plant is NASA liquid organic fertilizer. This fertilizer can be applied through its leaves. This study aims to determine the concentration and the fertilizing time interval of liquid organic fertilizer for optimum growth and production of tomato plant. This research had been conducted based on a factorial randomized block design, the first factor was the concentration and the second factor was the fertilizing time interval of NASA liquid organic fertilizer. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and followed by Duncan's New Multiple Range Test (DNMRT) at 5% significant level. The results showed that a single factor of concentration and the time interval of NASA liquid organic fertilizer did not gave a significant effect on the tomato growth and production. The interaction of treatments 8 cc/l NASA liquid organic fertilizer with 2 week interval gave a significant effect on the average tomato plant height (132.00 cm), but not on the other parameters, i.e. flowering date, number of flower per plant, number of fruit per plant and fruit weight per plant.