The effect of biological fertilizer application on soil fertility, heavy metals reduction and eggplant yield on the rice field of Bantul regency

Abstract

Biofertilizer contains microorganisms which promote the adequate supply of nutrients to the host plants and ensure their proper development of growth and regulation in their physiology. They are in being promoted to harvest the naturally available nutrients and biological system of nutrients mobilization. This research aims to determine the effect of Silitech biofertilizers on soil fertility, heavy metal reduction and eggplant yields. The study was conducted in Piyungan District–Bantul on dry season of 2019. Research design was used a Randomized Complete Block Design with 7 treatments and 4 replications. Each treatment was applied in a plot size 8 m x 1.2 m and given a plastic mulch. The kind of treatments are: P0 (Control), P1 (100% NPK based on fertilizer recommendation), P2 (100% Biofertilizer), P3 (Biofertilizer + 25% NPK), P4 (Biofertilizer + 50% NPK), P5 (Biofertilizer + 75% NPK), P6 (Biofertilizer + 100% NPK). The result of study showed that application of Biofertilizer +75%NPK had a significant effect on increasing eggplant yield., dry plant biomass and the levels of C, N, P and K about 26,92 - 32,76% compare to the control treatment as well as increasing some micro elements, such as Ca, Mg, B, Zn and Mo compared to the treatment that given only 100% biological fertilizer and Biological fertilizer + 25% NPK but it was not significantly different from the application of Biological fertilizer + 100% NPK. Moreover, The Silitech biofertilizer also can reduce the levels of heavy metals content of Hg, Pb and Cd as much as 30.76-46.15%, 29.45-39.81% and 35.1-47.5% respectively. which indicated by the decreased their content after harvesting eggplant.