Effect of Different Doses and Sources of Potassium Fertilizer on Growth Rate and Time of Bulb Formation of Garlic (Allium sativum L.)

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to assess the effect of different potassium doses and fertilizer sources on growth rate and time of bulb formation of garlic (Allium sativum L.). The research was conducted in April to Agustus 2019 in Sidomukti Village, Bandungan District, Semarang Regency and at Ecology and Crop Production Laboratory, Faculty of Animal and Agricultural Sciences, Diponegoro University, Semarang. The research used a factorial randomized block design with three groups. The first factor was the dose of potassium fertilizer which consisted of a dose of 60 kg K2O/ha, 120 kg K2O/ha, 180 kg K2O/ha, and 240 kg K2O/ha. The second factor was the source of potassium fertilizer which consisted of KCl, ZK, and KNO3. Parameters that collect were time of bulb formation, growth rate, relative growth rate, and potassium absorption of bulb. The data obtained were analyzed by analysis of variance and obtained further by the Duncan test (Duncan's Multiple Range Test) at a significance level of 5%. The results showed that the application of ZK and KNO3 fertilizers at 240 kg K2O/ha had been able to increase the growth rate and the relative growth rate. The higher dose of fertilizer was increasing of potassium absorption of the bulb and made time of bulb formation getting slower.