Abstract—Objectives of the research were (1) find out the effect of biofertilizer on growth and yield of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.), (2) find out the ability of biofertilizer in combinations of different doses of NPK against productivity of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.).The research was conducted at Merjosari, Lowokwaru Subdistrict, Malang from November 2016 to February 2017. The research used Randomized Block Design (RBD), as well as 7 treatments and 4 replications for each treatment. Treatments of the research included P0 (Control), P1 (NPK 100 %), P2 (Biofertilizer 100 %), P3 (Biofertilizer 100 % + NPK 25 %), P4 (Biofertilizer 100 % + NPK 50 %), P5 (Biofertilizer 100 % + NPK 75 %), and P6 (Biofertilizer 100 % + NPK 100 %). Parameters of the research were plant height (cm), leaf area per plant (cm²), numbers of branching, numbers of fruit per plant, fresh weight of fruit (g), dry weight of fruit (g), and RAE. If any significant influence existed, it would be followed by comparative test among treatments using the Least Significant Difference (LSD) at level 5%. Results of the research showed that the application of biofertilizer solely tends to increase number of fruit and weight of fruit, but insignificant. The application of biofertilizer may increase number of fruit and weight of fruit along with the application of NPK, as shown by the application of 25% NPK, which may increase number of fruit up to 5.75 or 196 %, and weight of fruit for about 744.05 g/plant or 206 % in comparison with no application of fertilizer.
 

Index Terms—food security, sustainable agriculture, marginal land, extensivication

Cite:  Agus Suryanto, A. Hamid, and D. R. R. Damaiyanti, "Effectiveness of Biofertilizer on Growth and Productivity of Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)," Journal of Advanced Agricultural Technologies, Vol. 4, No. 4, pp. 368-371, September 2017. Doi: 10.18178/joaat.4.4.368-371