The effect of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) on agronomic characteristics of clove seedlings of superior local variety of East Halmahera

Abstract

Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum L.) have taproots but during the dry season the plants suffer from drought. Increasing the surface area of plant roots in the nursery is very important to produce clove plants with roots that have a high absorption of water and nutrients from the soil. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on the growth of clove seedlings in the nursery and their nursery business. The research was conducted at a clove nursery in Telaga Jaya Village, South Wasile District, East Halmahera Regency, North Maluku from May to October 2020. The study used a Completely Randomized Block Design consisting of 4 treatments and three replications. The treatments were AMF doses: 0 g, 25 g, 50 g, and 75 g on each polybag. The results showed that the application of AMF increased plant height, number of branches, number of leaves, stem diameter, root length, and fresh weight of roots. East Halmahera clove nursery business had higher profits when using AMF than without AMF application.