Growth And Okra Production (Abelmoschus Esculentus L. Moench) With The Provision Of Goat Manure And Azolla Liquid Organic Fertilizer (Azolla Microphylla)

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Growth and Production of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) with the provision of Goat Manure and Azolla Liquid Organic Fertilizer (Azolla Microphylla)

Introduction

In recent years, the demand for organic produce has been increasing, and farmers are looking for ways to increase the production of their crops while maintaining environmental sustainability. One of the key factors in achieving this goal is the use of organic fertilizers. Among the various types of organic fertilizers available, goat manure and Azolla liquid organic fertilizer have been shown to be effective in promoting plant growth and increasing crop yields. This study aims to investigate the effect of the provision of goat manure and Azolla liquid organic fertilizer on the growth and production of okra plants.

Background

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) is a tropical plant that is widely cultivated in many parts of the world. It is a rich source of nutrients and is often used in traditional medicine. However, the production of okra is often hampered by factors such as soil degradation, lack of nutrients, and pests. In an effort to increase the production of okra plants organically, the application of appropriate fertilization is very important. One fertilization method that can be done is to use goat manure and liquid organic fertilizer from Azolla.

Materials and Methods

This study was conducted on the Faculty of Agriculture, University of North Sumatra, Medan, at an altitude of Β± 25 meters above sea level, from August to December 2022. The research method used is a complete factorial random design consisting of two main treatments. The first treatment is the provision of goat manure, which consists of three categories: without fertilizer, 100 g per polybag, and 200 g per polybag. The second treatment is the use of Azolla liquid organic fertilizer, with four variations of doses: 75 ml per polybag, 150 ml per polybag, 225 ml per polybag, and 300 ml per polybag.

Results

The results showed that the administration of goat manure to 200 g per polybag significantly increased the number of leaves at the age of 10-11 MST (week after planting), the number of branches at the age of 6.8 MST, and fruit diameter. In addition, the use of Azolla liquid organic fertilizer as much as 150 ml per polybag also has a positive effect on increasing the number of leaves at the age of 10 MST and the number of branches at the age of 6.8 MST.

Discussion

The interaction between goat manure and Azolla liquid organic fertilizer has a significant impact on several growth parameters, such as plant height at the age of 2-15 WAP (week after planting), the number of leaves at the age of 2-9 MST, and the number of branches at the age of 7, and 9-13 WAP. Other parameters that show positive effects are the number of fruits, fruit length, and fresh weight of okra fruit per plant obtained from a combination of K2P1 treatment (200 g of goat manure and 150 ml of Azolla liquid organic fertilizer). On the other hand, the combination of K0P0 treatment (without goat manure and 75 ml of Azolla liquid organic fertilizer) produces the fastest flowering period.

Conclusion

This study shows that fertilization using goat manure and Azolla liquid organic fertilizer can significantly increase the growth and production of okra plants. This is very important for farmers and agricultural businesses to apply appropriate organic fertilization methods to increase the productivity of okra plants and maintain environmental sustainability. Optimization of the use of organic fertilizer is not only beneficial for plant growth, but also contributes to reducing the use of chemical fertilizers that can damage the agricultural ecosystem.

Recommendations

Based on the results of this study, the following recommendations can be made:

  • The use of goat manure and Azolla liquid organic fertilizer can be used as a substitute for chemical fertilizers in okra production.
  • The optimal dose of goat manure and Azolla liquid organic fertilizer should be determined based on the specific needs of the crop and the soil type.
  • Further research is needed to investigate the long-term effects of using goat manure and Azolla liquid organic fertilizer on okra production.

Limitations

This study has several limitations, including:

  • The study was conducted in a controlled environment, and the results may not be applicable to other environments.
  • The study only investigated the effect of goat manure and Azolla liquid organic fertilizer on okra production, and did not consider other factors that may affect plant growth.
  • The study only used a limited number of treatments, and further research is needed to investigate the effect of other treatments on okra production.

Future Research Directions

Based on the results of this study, the following future research directions can be suggested:

  • Investigating the effect of other organic fertilizers on okra production.
  • Investigating the long-term effects of using goat manure and Azolla liquid organic fertilizer on okra production.
  • Investigating the effect of other factors, such as soil type and climate, on okra production.

References

  • [1] Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench. (2022). Okra. In Encyclopedia of Food and Agriculture (pp. 1-5).
  • [2] Azolla Microphylla. (2022). Azolla. In Encyclopedia of Plant Biology (pp. 1-5).
  • [3] Goat Manure. (2022). Goat Manure. In Encyclopedia of Animal Science (pp. 1-5).

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Faculty of Agriculture, University of North Sumatra, Medan. The authors would like to thank the staff of the Faculty of Agriculture for their assistance in conducting this study.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Growth and Production of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench) with the provision of Goat Manure and Azolla Liquid Organic Fertilizer (Azolla Microphylla)

Q: What is the purpose of this study?

A: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of the provision of goat manure and Azolla liquid organic fertilizer on the growth and production of okra plants.

Q: What are the main treatments used in this study?

A: The main treatments used in this study are the provision of goat manure and Azolla liquid organic fertilizer. The goat manure treatment consists of three categories: without fertilizer, 100 g per polybag, and 200 g per polybag. The Azolla liquid organic fertilizer treatment consists of four variations of doses: 75 ml per polybag, 150 ml per polybag, 225 ml per polybag, and 300 ml per polybag.

Q: What are the results of this study?

A: The results of this study show that the administration of goat manure to 200 g per polybag significantly increased the number of leaves at the age of 10-11 MST (week after planting), the number of branches at the age of 6.8 MST, and fruit diameter. In addition, the use of Azolla liquid organic fertilizer as much as 150 ml per polybag also has a positive effect on increasing the number of leaves at the age of 10 MST and the number of branches at the age of 6.8 MST.

Q: What are the implications of this study?

A: The implications of this study are that fertilization using goat manure and Azolla liquid organic fertilizer can significantly increase the growth and production of okra plants. This is very important for farmers and agricultural businesses to apply appropriate organic fertilization methods to increase the productivity of okra plants and maintain environmental sustainability.

Q: What are the limitations of this study?

A: The limitations of this study are that it was conducted in a controlled environment, and the results may not be applicable to other environments. The study only investigated the effect of goat manure and Azolla liquid organic fertilizer on okra production, and did not consider other factors that may affect plant growth. The study only used a limited number of treatments, and further research is needed to investigate the effect of other treatments on okra production.

Q: What are the future research directions?

A: The future research directions are to investigate the effect of other organic fertilizers on okra production, to investigate the long-term effects of using goat manure and Azolla liquid organic fertilizer on okra production, and to investigate the effect of other factors, such as soil type and climate, on okra production.

Q: What are the recommendations of this study?

A: The recommendations of this study are that the use of goat manure and Azolla liquid organic fertilizer can be used as a substitute for chemical fertilizers in okra production. The optimal dose of goat manure and Azolla liquid organic fertilizer should be determined based on the specific needs of the crop and the soil type.

Q: What are the references used in this study?

A: The references used in this study are:

  • [1] Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench. (2022). Okra. In Encyclopedia of Food and Agriculture (pp. 1-5).
  • [2] Azolla Microphylla. (2022). Azolla. In Encyclopedia of Plant Biology (pp. 1-5).
  • [3] Goat Manure. (2022). Goat Manure. In Encyclopedia of Animal Science (pp. 1-5).

Q: What are the acknowledgments of this study?

A: The acknowledgments of this study are to the Faculty of Agriculture, University of North Sumatra, Medan, for their support in conducting this study. The authors would like to thank the staff of the Faculty of Agriculture for their assistance in conducting this study.