The effectiveness application of urea fertilizer coated with compost of empty oil palm bunch in tablet formula on growth, yield, and N content of celery

Abstract

Celery is classified as a minor leave vegetable. Nitrogen sufficiency is then important for gaining maximum growth and quality. The objectives of this study were: 1. to compare the effectiveness of the application of two Nitrogen formulas on the growth and yield of celery. 2. to determine the optimum dose of Nitrogen on the growth and yield of celery. 3. to evaluate the content of leave Nitrogen due to the different source of Nitrogen fertilizer. The research was conducted at the Experimental Station University of Bengkulu from February to April 2021. This study used a Completely Randomized Design which was arranged in Split Plot. The main plot was the formula of Nitrogen, consisting of granule urea and tablet urea (in the form of urea and oil palm bunch mixture). The sub-plot was the Nitrogen doses consisted of 0 kg/ha, 69 kg/ha, 138 kg/ha, 207 kg/ha, 276 kg/ha. No interaction was found to influence the growth and yield of celery. Treated plants using granule urea showed as equally effective as tablet urea on the growth and yield of celery. The optimum N dose for plant fresh weight was 175.96 kg N/ha which resulted 84.48g/plant fresh weight. The excessive Nitrogen fertilizer application reduced plant growth, yield as well as Nitrogen content in plant tissue.