The Effect of Applying Organic Fertilizer MKP On the Growth and Production of Onion Plants (Allium Ascalonicum L)

Abstract: This research aims to determine the effect and the appropriate dosage of MKP organic fertilizer on the growth and production of red onion plants (Allium ascalonicium L). The research was conducted from November 2023 to January 2024 in Huta I Sirube-rube, Dolok Pardamean District, Simalungun Regency, at an altitude of 1400 m above sea level. The research used a non-factorial Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The factor of MKP fertilizer application consists of 5 treatment levels, namely: M0=Without treatment (control) M1=100Kg/ha, (20g/plot) M2=150Kg/ha, (30g/plot) M3=200Kg/ha, (40g/plot) and M4=250Kg/ha, (50g/plot). The parameters observed in this study include: Plant Height (cm), Number of Leaves (strands), Fresh Tubers Weight per Plant (g), Fresh Tubers Weight per Plot (Kg), and Dry Tubers Weight per Plot (Kg). The observation results were analyzed using analysis of variance at a 5% confidence level. The research results show that the application of MKP organic fertilizer has a significant effect on plant height at 2 and 6 MST, fresh tuber weight per plant, fresh tuber weight per plot, and dry tuber weight per plot, but has no significant effect on plant height at 4 MST and the number of leaves. The treatment of MKP organic fertilizer M4 250 kg/ha (50 g/plot) showed the highest plant heights at 2, 4, and 6 MST, which were 10.75 cm, 20.25 cm, and 32.50 cm, respectively. It also resulted in the highest number of leaves at 2, 4, and 6 MST, which were 16.67 leaves, 22.67 leaves, and 28.75 leaves, respectively. The heaviest fresh tuber weight per plant was 77.89 g, the heaviest fresh tuber weight per plot was 2.69 kg, and the heaviest dry tuber weight per plot was 2.50 kg.