RESPON TERONG PUTIH (Solanum melongena L.) TERHADAP BERBAGAI DOSIS PUPUK KANDANG SAPI DAN KONSENTRASI PGPR AKAR BAMBU

Abstract

White eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is a promising horticultural crop that requires effective and sustainable nutrient management to improve its growth and productivity. This study evaluated the individual and interactive effects of cattle manure and bamboo root-derived Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria on the growth and yield of white eggplant. A factorial randomized block design was used, consisting of three cattle manure rates—0, 12.5, and 25 g per polybag—and four bacterial concentrations—0, 15, 25, and 35 mL per liter of water. The 12 treatment combinations were replicated three times, producing 36 experimental units. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance followed by a five-percent honestly significant difference test. Cattle manure had limited effects on most vegetative, generative, and biomass variables. The interaction between cattle manure and bacterial concentration significantly affected plant height only at 56 days after planting, with the highest value of 39.20 cm obtained from 12.5 g of cattle manure combined with 35 mL per liter of bacterial solution. The 35 mL per liter concentration produced the highest fruit number, fruit weight, fruit diameter, and fruit length, reaching 4.33 fruits per plant, 155.25 g, 8.58 cm, and 46.03 cm, respectively. Flower number, root dry weight, and shoot dry weight were not significantly affected. These results indicate that the response of white eggplant was more strongly associated with bacterial concentration than with cattle manure rate, while the interaction between both inputs remained limited. Bamboo root-derived Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria at 35 mL per liter therefore shows potential for improving fruit production and size, although further field validation under controlled environmental conditions is required before broader agronomic application