The Effect of Eggshell Organic Fertilizer on Vegetative Growth of Cayenne Pepper (Capsicum frutescens L)

Abstract

The large demand for cayenne pepper makes farmers need to make efforts to increase crop production by increasing the efficiency of using fertilizers. The alternative fertilizer comes from household waste, namely egg shells. This study aims to determine the effect of eggshell organic fertilizer on vegetative growth of cayenne pepper (Capsicum frutescens L.). The research method used was an experimental method using a completely randomized design (CRD) with 6 treatments and 5 replications. The treatments were P0 (control), P1, P2, P3, P4, and P5 respectively, the treatment of eggshell organic fertilizer with a dose of 0; 45; 60; 75; 90; and 105 g. The treatments were given 3 days after transplanting and harvesting the plants 35 days after transplanting. Data for each parameter was tested for normality, homogeneity test, and analyzed by 1 factor ANOVA. Furthermore, the LSD test was carried out to determine the difference in effect between treatments. The best application of eggshell organic fertilizer was P4 treatment for parameters of root length and plant wet weight, respectively, 20.10 cm and 17.96 g, and P5 treatment for parameters of plant height and plant dry weight, respectively 54.80 cm and 3.00 g. The percentage of root length and wet weight of P4 treatment plants to control were 130.52% and 269.67%, respectively, while the percentage of plant height and dry weight of P5 treatment plants to control were 139.79% and 282.49%, respectively. The application of eggshell organic fertilizer can increase the vegetative growth of cayenne pepper.