Vermicompost and arbuscular mycorrhiza application on growth and yield of Artemisia annua in the low land

Abstract

Artemisia annua L. is a medicinal plant that used to treat malaria. This plant contains artemisinin which can be used to remove parasites Plasmodium falciparum that cause malaria. The aim of this research was to observe the effect of Vermicompost and mycorrhiza on the growth of Artemisia (Artemisia annua L.). This research used Completely Randomized Design (RCD) with two factors and three times repetitions. The first factor was Vermicompost fertilizer doses: 0, 50, 100, 150 g plant-1 and the second factor was mycorrhiza doses: 0, 10, 20 g plant-1 which made 12 treatment combinations. The observed variables were plant height, total number of branches, days to flowering, root length, root volume, plant fresh weight, plant dry weight, and root infection percentage. Results showed Vermicompost fertilizer of 150 g plant-1 significantly affected plant height, number of branches, days to flowering and root volume. Mycorrhiza of 20 g plant-1 increased plant height, root length, root volume and root infection mycorrhiza. Both Vermicompost fertilizer and mycorrhiza at various treatment doses did not affected the fresh and dry weight of plants. There was no interaction between Vermicompost fertilizer and mycorrhiza on all variables.