Impact of mico-seed cookies with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the growth, yield, and chemical composition of Gynura procumbens

Abstract

The mico-seed cookies incorporated arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and functioned as an organic conditioner in the soil to enhance nutrient availability through symbiotic impact on the plant at the root system level. The aim of the research was to evaluate the effect of mico-seed cookies on the growth rate, yield, and forage chemical characteristics of Gynura procumbens. The research was conducted in a randomized complete block design with four treatments of mico-seed cookies application (a control group (without mico-seed cookies), and three groups that used mico-seed cookies with diameters of 4 cm (53 g), 5 cm (84 g), and 6 cm (130 g)). The research site was located at IPB University in Bogor, Indonesia, on soil with an acidic pH range of 3.93-4.45. The results showed that the mico-seed cookie improved the direct planting system of G. procumbens indicated by the increasing seedling rate, growth rate, and forage yield. Additionally, the mico-seed cookies triggered the bioactive compounds production. The research concluded that the application of the mico-seed cookie direct planting system to G. procumbens resulted in a statistically significant enhancement of the seedling percentage (up to 15%), colonization (up to 70%), growth rate (25-30%), yield (42-44%), and forage chemical characteristics, especially on trigger bioactive compounds. G. procumbens has potential as forage based on biomass production and high-quality nutrient, especially leaf protein content that reaches up to 25%.