Effectiveness of indigenous endomycorrhizal biofertilizer prototype on organic salak (Salacca zalacca) plantations and its effect on nutrient and carbohydrate content of leaves

Abstract

Organically cultivated salak ( Salacca zalacca ) on dry land had limited production in Bali. Typically, the fertilization was carried out using the leaves litter or other organic fertilizer because the fertility of the soil was low for salak plantations, and the nutrition for the tree was lacking. The present study aimed to analyze the effectiveness of indigenous endomycorrhizal biofertilizer prototype on salak plantations and its effect on the nutrient and total carbohydrate content of the leaves. The study used a randomized block design with nine replicates conducted at Sibetan village, Bebandem district, Karangasem regency, and Bali province. The treatment consisted of 3 levels, i.e., fertilization with leaf litters only as the farmers’ way/control (C), fertilization with indigenous endomycorrhizae biofertilizer prototype (P), and combination fertilization with leaf litters and indigenous endomycorrhizae biofertilizer prototype (PM). The spores of indigenous endomycorrhizae were used for making biofertilizer prototype isolated from soil and root samples in salak producing areas, i.e. Sibetan village. The results showed that P and CP significantly increases the chlorophyll content of the leaf, relative water content of the leaves, and number and weight of fruit per tree in comparison to C. Treatments P and CP also improved the fruit quality by increasing of the sweetness and weight per fruit. Thus, the indigenous endomycorrhizae biofertilizers prototype has a positive effect on water uptake and nutrient absorption as indicated by high N and P on leaf tissue and high total sugar, R-sugar, and sucrose content of the leaves. Keywords: biofertilizer, endomycorrhizae, organic, prototype, salak