The effect of chicken manure and beneficial microorganisms of EM-4 on growth and yield of kale (Brassica oleraceae acephala) grown on Andisol

Abstract

Organic manure and beneficial microbes as decomposers play an important role in improving the soil health and the plant growth on Andisol. Andisol is high in organic matter, but the organic matter can be washed away by erosion, especially in a wet area like Berastagi. A field experiment to investigate the effect of chicken manure and beneficial organisms had been conducted from July to September 2017 in Berastagi. The experiment was arranged as randomized block design, consisted of two treatment factors and provided with three replications. The first factor was the dosage of chicken manure (0, 10, 20, and 30 tons/ha) and the second was the dosage of beneficial microorganisms of EM-4 (0, 28.6 and 57.2 liters/ha). The respond (the plant height, total leaves, wet weight and harvested selling weight of the kale) were measured. All observed parameters were not affected by both the dosage of EM-4 and the interaction of dosage of chicken manure and EM-4. The increasing dosage of chicken manure gave a very significant effect on the plant height, total leaves on 20 days after planting, stem diameter on 15 and 20 days after planting, harvested wet weight and harvested selling weight, but had no significant effect on plant height on 5 days after planting and total leaves.