Effectiveness of Use of Tithonia diversifolia Biomass and Local Microorganisms of Banana Weevil to Increase Growth and Yield in Spinach (Amaranthus spp.)

AGUS SUYANTO*, AGNES TUTIK PURWANI IRIANTI, SRI RAHAYU AND SETIAWAN
Department of Agrotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Panca Bhakti University, Jl. Kom Yos Sudarso, 78113
Pontianak, Indonesia
*(e-mail: agussuyanto@upb.ac.id; Mobile: +6 28115 74462)
(Received: January 15, 2023; Accepted: February 28, 2023)

ABSTRACT

Local microorganisms of banana weevil are one of the local microorganisms that contain many phosphate solubilizing bacteria that accelerate the decomposition of organic matter. This study aimed at determining
the effectiveness of using Tithonia diversifolia biomass and local microorganisms of the banana weevil to increase the growth and yield of spinach plants. The design used in the study was a factorial randomized block design (RBD). The first factor was the dose of plant (T), which consisted of four levels: T₀ = Zero, T₁ = 10, T₂ = 15 and T₃ = 20 t/ha T. diversifolia biomass. The second factor was the concentration of local microorganisms of banana weevils consisting of three levels, namely, M₀ = 100, M₂ = 200 and M₃ = 300 ml/l. The results showed that the interaction of treatment of T. diversifolia biomass and local microorganisms of banana weevils had no noticeable effect on all observed variables. A dose of 20 t/ha (T₃) of T. diversifolia biomass gave the best results on the plant height growth and the number of leaves of spinach plants. The administration of local microorganisms of banana weevils on spinach plants had no effect on all observed variables.
Key words : Amaranthus spp., growth, Tithonia diversifolia, local microorganisms, yield