The effect of arbuscular mycorrhizae inoculation on growth and yield of red chili on the highland andisol soil

Abstract

One effort to improve soil fertility and plant productivity is through the inoculation of arbuscular mycorrhizae. Mycorrhizae plays a role in increasing the absorption of phosphorus elements in the soil. The study aimed to determine the effect of the inoculation of arbuscular mycorrhizae on increasing the growth and production of chili. The experiment was carried out in the highlands of West Bandung in 2017-2018. The experimental design used was a randomized completely block design (RCBD) with 5 treatments and 5 replications. The treatments consisted of control, 2 kg/m2 mycorrhizae in the nursery, 4 kg/m2 mycorrhizae in the nursery, 10 g/plant mycorrhizae at transplanting, and 20 g/plant mycorrhizae at transplanting. The mycorrhizae used was Glomus sp. in the form of inoculum (soil as a carrier). Variables observed included soil chemical properties, degree of root infection, vegetative growth, and yield of chili. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (anova) and continued with Tukey’s Honestly Significantly Difference (Tukey’s HSD) test at 5% significancy level. The results showed that the inoculation of mycorrhizae to andisol on low P soils increased soil P availability, degree of root infection, vegetative growth, and red chili production, but high doses hurt chili yields. The inoculation of mycorrhizae doses of 2 kg/m2 in the nursery and 10 g/plant at transplanting can increase red chili production by 13.19% and 15.59%. To see the effectiveness of mycorrhizae more clearly, it is suggested to test mycorrhizae on chili in the dry season and on marginal soils.