Effect of the Combination of Cow Manure and Urea on the Growth and Yield of Purple Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.)

Abstract

Purple eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is an important horticultural crop widely cultivated in Indonesia. Efforts to increase eggplant productivity can be achieved through the use of superior varieties and optimal fertilization, including the combination of organic and inorganic fertilizers. This study aimed to determine the effects of cow manure and urea fertilizer, as well as their interaction, on the growth and yield of purple eggplant. The research was conducted at the experimental field of the Agricultural Extension Center (BPP) Kota Juang, Meunasah Dayah Village, Kota Juang Sub-district, Bireuen Regency, from January to April 2024. The experiment employed a factorial Randomized Block Design (RBD) with a 3 × 3 arrangement and three replications. The first factor was cow manure dosage (P0 = without fertilizer, P1 = 18.52 g/polybag, P2 = 37.04 g/polybag), and the second factor was urea fertilizer dosage (U0 = without fertilizer, U1 = 1 g/polybag, U2 = 1.5 g/polybag). Observed parameters included plant height and number of leaves at 15, 30, and 45 days after planting (DAP), flowering time, number of fruits, and fruit weight. The results showed that cow manure had a significant effect on plant height at 30 DAP but had no significant effect on other observed parameters. Urea fertilizer had a highly significant effect on plant height at 30 DAP and number of leaves at 45 DAP, but no significant effect on other growth and yield parameters. No interaction was observed between cow manure and urea fertilizer on all measured parameters.