Pengaruh Komposisi Media Tanam dan Konsentrasi Kitosan terhadap Pertumbuhan dan Produksi Bawang Merah (Allium ascalonicum L.)

Abstract

Shallots (Allium ascalonicum L.) are a commodity that has great potential to be developed in Indonesia. Shallots, which are often used as a basic ingredient in Indonesian cooking, are a new challenge for onion farmers in Indonesia to increase their production. The use of soil as a medium for plant cultivation continuously can reduce soil quality and will affect plant growth. In addition, the use of chemical fertilizers as additional nutrients can also hurt the soil. By using the composition of planting media, as well as organic chitosan nutrients, it can increase the production of shallots, while maintaining soil quality. This research was conducted at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of North Sumatra with coordinates 3 ° 33'24.9 ° N and 98 ° 39'15.9 ° E, at an altitude of 25 meters above sea level via GPS (Global Positioning System) starting from February to April 2025. This study used Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). The first factor is the composition of the planting media: soil, soil: chicken manure (3:1), soil: rice husk (3:1). The second factor is the concentration of chitosan: 0g/L, 2g/L, 4g/L, and 6g/L. The results showed that the treatment of the composition of the planting media soil 3: chicken manure 1 had a significant effect on the growth of plant length at 2.5, and 6 WAP, a significant effect on the number of leaves at 2-6 WAP, and a significant effect on the production of shallots, namely the diameter of the bulb, the number of bulbs, the fresh weight of the bulb, and the dry weight of the bulb. While the concentration of chitosan and the interaction of the composition of the planting media and the concentration of chitosan had no significant effect on all parameters of plant growth and production