THE EFFECT OF Azolla microphylla ADDITION ON HOAGLAND NUTRIENT SOLUTION TO GROWTH, CHOROPHYLL CONTENT, VITAMIN C CONTENT, AND FOOD FIBER OF ROMAINE LETTUCE (Lactuca sativa L. Var. longifolia) IN DEEP FLOW TECHNIQUE (DFT) HYDROPONIC SYSTEM

• Main Author: Ghaziya, Faras
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/43025
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

The use of organic fertilizer or legume plants could return organic material to the soil that experienced a decrease in fertility due to the overuse of anorganic fertilizer. Leguminose plants together with rhizobacteria have the ability to bind free N2 in the air and change it into N form that available to be used by the plants. Meanwhile, in other media except soil, for instance water, source of natural nitrogen fertilizer can be used by utilizing the symbiotic relationship between Azolla-Anabaena. One of the cultivation alternatives to enhance crop production is using Deep Flow Technique (DFT) hydroponic system. The symbiotic relationship of Azolla- Anabaena has been used as natural source of nitrogen for fertilizer in the cultivation of rice plants (Oryza sativa). This could become an alternative to the application of nitrogen in hydroponic nutrient solution replacing the utilization of chemical material, thus creating a more sustainable and environmentally friendly agriculture. The aim of this research is to determine the effect of addition of Azolla microphylla in the reservoir on growth rate based on leaf area and number of leaves, also its influence to chlorophyll content, vitamin C content, and food fiber content. This research used Complete Randomized Design (CRD) which contains of 3 treatments and 6 repetitions. The treatments were, addition of Azolla microphylla in the nutrient solution, i. e.: Hoagland solution (control/A), Hoagland solution with addition of Azolla microphylla (B), and Hoagland solution with addition of Azolla microphylla but minus N element (C). Statistical analysis used one-way ANOVA continued with Least Significance Difference (LSD) test. The result of the research showed the average of leaves number in the last observation for A, B, and C treatments were 15,4; 13,74; 3,8 leaves respectively; whereas the average of leaf areas for A, B, and C treatments were 69,91 cm2; 42,76 cm2 ; and 3,7 cm2 respectively. The result of chlorophyll content for treatment A, B, and C were 8,17 mg/L; 5,34 mg/L; 2,8 mg/L; vitamin C content were 59,74 mg/100g; 102,5 mg/100 g; 42,43 mg/100g; and crude fiber content were 1,79%; 1,58%; 2,42% respectively. According to that result, this conclude that the Hoagland full was the best treatment.