Effect of Organic Manure and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on Growth and Yield of Young Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.)

Abstract

Problems encountered in the development of herbal medicine industry is that most of the raw materials (80%) came from the forest or natural habitats and the rest (20%) of the results of traditional cultivation. Provision of raw materials still rely on the natural occurrence of genetic erosion has resulted in some important medicinal plants such as plant ginger, turmeric, kencur, and temulawak. Therefore, this research needs to be done in order to develop the cultivation of medicinal through strengthening technology to increase the production of industrial raw materials and herbal preparations. This research was conducted in the District of Wonogiri, Central Java, Indonesia. The research is focused to improve cultivation techniques of medicinal plants by using various types of organic manure (chicken, goat, and cow) combined with various doses levels of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) application. The purpose of this research is to gain a steady cultivation technology through the use of organic nutrients and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi so as to increase the production of ginger plants. The results showed that there is no interaction between application of the three types of organic manure (chicken, goat, and cow) with the level of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi dosage on the growth and yield of the young ginger. Chicken manure, goat manure, and cow manure having the same effect in improving the growth and yield of the young ginger, on the variables of plant height, number of leaves, number of tillers, plant fresh weight, plant dry weight, and the fresh weight of ginger rhizome. Mycorrhizal treatment at various doses (5, 10, and 15 g/plant) can increase the plant height, number of leaves, number of tillers, and fresh weight of ginger rhizome, but did not affect the fresh weight and dry weight of plants.