CULTIVATING HIGH-YIELD SHALLOTS: A STUDY ON PLANTING MEDIA AND ECOENZYME APPROACHES

Abstract

The demand for shallots in North Sumatra surpasses local production, primarily reliant on unsustainable inorganic fertilizers, which compromise long-term land productivity. To counter this trend, the integration of organic matter becomes imperative for enhancing and sustaining soil quality. Chicken manure compost, enriched with vital nutrients, emerges as a viable medium to enhance soil fertility and quality while avoiding the detrimental effects of chemical fertilizers. This study delves into the effectiveness of planting media and ecoenzyme treatment on shallot production. Ecoenzymes, generated through the enzymatic breakdown of vegetable and fruit waste in the presence of sugar and water using specific microorganisms, offer a sustainable solution. Infused with bacteria capable of organic matter decomposition, plant growth stimulation, and pest control, ecoenzymes present an eco-friendly strategy to bolster plant production. Enzymes like Trypsin, Lipase, and Amylase within ecoenzymes optimize plant development. The study investigates the combined impact of planting media and ecoenzyme treatment on shallot yield using a factorial randomized block design, with focus on wet tuber weight, dry bulb weight, and tuber diameter as key parameters. Results underscore the efficacy of a planting medium composed of 75% topsoil and 25% compost, which positively influenced shallot production. Conversely, ecoenzyme treatment and its interaction with planting media did not significantly affect shallot yield metrics, encompassing wet tuber weight, dry bulb weight, and tuber diameter. Drawing from prior research, the utilization of organic fertilizers for enhancing soil quality and productivity is well-established. Earlier studies by Tarigan and Sembiring (2017) and Saepuloh et al. (2020) corroborated the yield-improving attributes of organic matter and chicken manure compost. Ecoenzymes, as expounded by Thirumurugan (2016) and Utami et al. (2020), demonstrate potential in stimulating plant growth and controlling disruptive organisms. Notably, the solution's pH of 4 and diverse enzyme composition, including Trypsin, Lipase, and Amylase, facilitate organic matter decomposition in soil, liberating essential nutrients for plant assimilation, as highlighted by Hasanah (2021).