The effect of giving organic lamtoro leaf fertilizer (Leucaena leucocephala) on the growth of citronella seedlings (Cymbopogon nardus)

¹ Postgraduate student, Department of Tropical Silviculture, IPB University, Bogor, West Java, 16680, Indonesia
² Department of Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry and Environment, IPB University, Bogor, West Java, 16680, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: zidnimaulamaulazidni@apps.ipb.ac.id

Abstract

Lamtoro leaf organic fertilizer can replace inorganic fertilizer for citronella plants to reduce production costs. This research aims to: (1) analyze the effect of applying lamtoro leaf organic fertilizer by composting, broadcasting, and incorporating on the growth of citronella plants; (2) analyze the best way of applying lamtoro leaf organic fertilizer on the growth of citronella plants. The experimental design used in this research was a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with one factor and four treatments, namely control treatment, lamtoro leaf compost fertilizer, fresh leaf fertilizer broadcasted, and fresh leaf fertilizer incorporated. Each treatment had five replications, so that 20 seedlings were observed. The research results indicated that the various application methods of lamtoro leaf fertilizer did not significantly influence on the height of the citronella plant, however, they signifanclty influence on the diameter of the plant, the number of leaves, the number of tillers, the fresh weight of the leaves and roots, and the dry weight of the leaves and roots. Lamtoro leaf compost led to the most significant improvement in citronella plant growth.