Mycorrhizal inoculation and application of chicken manure to increase sweet potato production in acidic soil

Abstract

Increased production of sweet potato can be done by expanding the planting in acid soil. Efforts to increase soil fertility and improve acid soil characteristics while maintaining environmental balance by inoculation of mycorrhizae and the use of chicken drum fertilizer. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the growth and production of sweet potato on the application of mycorrhizae and chicken manure in acid soil. The study was conducted in Simalingkar B, Medan Tuntungan sub-district, Medan city, North Sumatra Province, from July to November 2021, using a 2-factor randomized block design. The first factor is the inoculation of mycorrhizae with 2 levels, namely without giving mycorrhizae and giving mycorrhizae 20 g/planting hole. The second factor is the application of chicken manure with 4 levels, namely 0 tons/ha, 37 tons/ha, 42 tons/ha and 47 tons/ha. The results showed that the mycorrhizal treatment had a significant effect on the degree of mycorrhizal infection. The treatment of giving chicken manure significantly affected the degree of mycorrhizal infection, the number of tubers per sample, tuber weight per sample, and harvest index. The interaction of mycorrhizal treatment and chicken manure had a significant effect on tuber weight per sample.