Effect of giving biochar and chicken manure compost enriched with phosphate solubilizing fungi to the growth and production of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) in Andisol soil

Abstract

Phosphorus is considered a primary nutrient for plant growth and is needed to sustain optimum plant production and quality. This research aims to determine the effect of giving oil palm shell biochar and chicken manure compost enriched with phosphate solubilizing fungi on the growth of potato in Andisol soil. This research was conducted at the Laboratory of Soil Biology, Agriculture Faculty, Universitas Sumatera Utara. This research used Factorial Randomized Block Design with 2 Treatment Factors and 3 replications. First factor is oil palm shell biochar, namely; control, 210 g/plant, 315 g/plant, 420 g/plant. The second factor is chicken manure compost enriched with phosphate solubilizing fungi, namely; control, 25 g/plant, 50 g/plant, 75 g/plant. The interaction of oil palm shell biochar and chicken manure compost enriched with phosphate solubilizing fungi increased plant height, number of leaf stalks, number of tubers per plant, and tuber weight per plant.