Effect of chitosan application time on seedlings of various rambutan varieties (Nephelium lappaceum L.)

Abstract

Chitosan is a compound obtained from the extraction of marine crustaceans. Chitosan has an essential role in agriculture as a plant growth promoter. Research on the effect of chitosan application time on seedlings of various rambutan varieties aims to determine if there is an effect of differences in chitosan application time and varieties on the growth of rambutan seedlings. The research was conducted in March-June 2022 at the Screen House of the Faculty of Agriculture, Sebelas Maret University using a Randomize Completely Block Design (RCBD) with 2 factors. The first factor was aceh, binjai, and rapiah variety. The second factor is without chitosan application, morning chitosan application, afternoon chitosan application, morning and afternoon chitosan application. Chitosan application was done weekly with a concentration of 2 ml/L. The results showed that chitosan application time in the morning produces the highest plant height in all rambutan varieties. Rapiah gave the best results in plant height and root length, binjai gave the highest results in stem diameter and leaf area, while aceh variety gave the highest results in the number of leaves.