Growth response of Echinacea purpurea (L) Moench to biochar types and hormone doses

Abstract

Purple Cone Flower (Echinacea purpurea) is one of the introduced medicinal plants originating from America which has its native habitat growing in subtropical countries with optimal growth conditions of low temperature and full sun exposure. Problems that occur in climate change between subtropics and tropics, especially in Indonesia will have an impact on the less than optimal growth and development of plants so that it will reduce the production and quality of ekinase yields. One way to improve ekinase can suitable in Indonesia (especially in the lowlands) is by adding biochar as a soil enhancer and hormones. The aims to study the interaction between the addition of biochar and the level of hormone dose on the growth rate of ekinase. The research method used a Split-Plot Completely Randomized Block Design. The results show the interaction between the type of biochar and hormone dose. The best results were shown in the treatment of giving husk charcoal and 6 ml/L hormones of 27.67 cm for plant height and 89.67 cm2 for leaf area. The formation of the highest number of leaves was 26 in the treatment of husk charcoal and hormone 2 ml/L. The best results were wood charcoal and hormone treatment 6 ml/L of 0.1467 for the rate of photosynthesis and 0.02937 for the rate of transpiration. Treatment with a dose of 6 ml/L hormone can optimize the growth rate of ekinase.