Application of Mycorrhiza-based biofertilizer to increase yields of several varieties of small chili intercropped with peanut or shallot

Abstract

Mycorrhiza application in the nursery was reported to increase yield of “Dewata F1” chili in the field. This study aimed to examine the effect of mycorrhiza application in the nursery and intercropping with peanut or shallot in the field on growth and yield of several varieties of small chili. The experiment was arranged according to Split Split-Plot Design with three treatment factors, namely chili varieties as the main plots (V1=“Siung”, V2=“Sret”, V3=“Dewata F1”, V4=“Pelita F1”), mycorrhiza as the subplots (M0=without; M1=with mycorrhiza application), and intercropping as the sub-subplots (T0=monocrop, T1=intercropping with peanut, T2=intercropping with shallot). Results indicated that variety differences significantly affected all observation variables; so, did intercropping except for individual fruit weight, while mycorrhiza application significantly increased chili plant height, leaf number, fruit number, and fruit yield per plant. However, there were three-way interactions on fruit number and yield, with the highest fruit yield (55.96 g plant−1) was in “Dewata F1” chili biofertilized with mycorrhiza and intercropped with shallot, and the lowest average (7.72 g plant−1) was in monocropped “Sret” chili without mycorrhiza application. Therefore, nursery application of mycorrhiza is very important for high yield of chili in the field.