Variation in Growth of Centella asiatica of Samosir – Indonesia Accession with Phosphorus Fertilizer Cultivated at Samosir Field

Abstract

Indonesia has a variety of biological natural resources. One of the plants that thrive is pegagan (Centella asiatica). This study aims to investigate the response of pegagan to phosphorus fertilizer on growth components and phytochemical content. This plant is very useful because of the bioactive content contained in these plants. This research was conducted using a single factor with six levels of P2O5 fertilizer dosage with a non-factorial randomized block design repeated 3 times. The levels of fertilizer dosage are 0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100 kg P2O5/ha. The application of phosphorus had no significant effects on growth component; length of petiole, total leaf area, number of stolons and biomass production of Centella asiatica in acid soil conditions. The doses of phosphorus given to Centella asiatica plants reaches 40 kg P2O5/ha (F2) in which the fertilized plants tend to offer higher results than those with no fertilizers. Centella asiatica can still grow well even though the land conditions are very acidic. The phytochemical screening of leaves and roots of Centella asiatica was studied and showed positive tests for saponin, tannin, phenolic, flavonoid, triterpenoid, steroid and glycoside and negative for alkaloid.