Effect of Biofertilizer Formulation with Addition of Consortium of Microbes and Biosurfactant DEA Palm Olein to Growth of Cacao (Theobroma cacao) Seedling

Abstract

This study was to examine the response of biofertilizer formulation with the addition of consortium of microbes and biosurfactant DEA palm olein to the growth of cacao seedling. This research used randomized block design in factorial with two factors. The first factor was a biofertilizer formulation with addition of consortium of microbes consisting of seven levels: control; 2.5x107; 5x107; 7.5x107; 10x107; 12.5x107; and 15x107 CFU/mL. The second factor was the addition of biosurfactant DEA palm olein consisting of two levels, which are with and without the biosurfactant DEA palm olein. The result showed that the biofertilizer formulation with the addition of consortium of microbes was significantly affected the cacao height on 4 WAT (week after treatment), the leaf number on 6 and 12 WAT, and also in its root fresh weight parameters. The best level of the first factor was 5x107 CFU/mL. The respond of cacao height on 12 WAT and cacao root dry weight was significant to the addition of biosurfactant DEA palm olein. The best level of the second factor was with the addition of biosurfactant DEA palm olein.