EFFECT OF PLANT GROWTH PROMOTING RHIZOBACTERIA (PGPR) CONCENTRATION ON THE GROWTH OF MAIZE (ZEA MAYS VAR. SACCHARATA) AND SWEET POTATO (IPOMEA BATATAS VAR. RANCING) USING A POLYCULTURE PLANTING SYSTEM

• Main Author: Sulaiman, Helmi
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/82740
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Sweet corn (Zea mays var. Sacharata) and sweet potato (Ipomea batatas var. Rancing) are major carbohydrate-rich food crops in Indonesia, alongside rice. Facing global and national food security challenges and limited productive land, intercropping systems and the application of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) offer potential solutions. This research aimed to investigate the effect of varying PGPR concentrations on the growth of sweet corn and sweet potato in an intercropping system. The study employed a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with four treatments: intercropping of sweet potato and sweet corn with 0 g/L, 10 g/L, 20 g/L, and 30 g/L PGPR concentrations. Growth parameters for sweet corn monitored until 8 weeks after sowing (WAS) included plant height, stem diameter, leaf number, leaf area, chlorophyll content, and leaf nitrogen content. For sweet potato, parameters observed until 8 WAS included vine length, stem diameter, branch number, leaf number, leaf area, chlorophyll content, and leaf nitrogen content. Data analysis involved ANOVA followed by a DMRT test. Results indicated that varying PGPR doses did not consistently significantly influence the growth of either sweet corn or sweet potato in the intercropping system. This was attributed to various environmental factors limiting PGPR efficacy in open field settings, such as climate, edaphic conditions, microbial interactions, and others.