Pertumbuhan dan Produksi Beberapa Varietas Jagung (Zea Mays L.) Introduksi Dari Sulawesi Selatan pada Beberapa Taraf Cekaman Kekeringan

Abstract

Corn (Zea mays L.) is a cereal crop originating from the American continent, specifically Mexico. To increase corn production, extensification and intensification are necessary. Drought stress is one of the most widespread stresses affecting growth and production in agricultural areas. This study aims to determine the growth and production of several corn varieties (Zea mays L.) introduced from South Sulawesi under various levels of drought stress. The research was conducted in a greenhouse and analyzed at the Soil Biotechnology Laboratory of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of North Sumatra, Medan, from January to June 2025. This study used a Randomized Block Design with 2 treatment factors and 3 blocks. The first factor was the use of various varieties, namely Lamuru (V1), Bisma (V2), Sukmaraga (V3), and Srikandi Kuning (V4). The second factor was the treatment of several levels of field capacity, namely K1 (80%), K2 (60%), K3 (40%), and K4 (20%). The observation parameters included plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, leaf area, age at male flowering, age at female flowering, root length at the end of the vegetative period, root length during the generative period, number of stomata, harvest age, yield per plant, and yield per plot. The results showed that the variety factor had a significant effect on plant height, stem diameter, age at male flowering, yield per plant, and yield per plot, but had no significant effect on number of leaves, leaf area, age at female flowering, root length at the end of the vegetative period, root length during the generative period, number of stomata, and harvest age. The field capacity treatment factor had a significant effect on plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, leaf area, male flowering age, yield per plant, and yield per plot. However, it had no significant effect on female flowering age, root length at the end of the vegetative period, root length during the generative period, number of stomata, and harvest age. Based on the study, the Srikandi Kuning (V4) variety produced the best results in each field capacity treatment: K1 (80%), K2 (60%), K3 (40%), and K4 (20%).