THE POTENTIAL OF ORGANIC FERTILIZER TO ENHANCE RICE SEEDLING GROWTH IN SUBAK BURUAN, PENEBEL DISTRICT, TABANAN REGENCY

Ni Made Intan Maulina

Ni Made Intan Maulina Universitas Udayana

Keywords: organic fertilizer, rice seedling, sustainable agriculture, Subak Buruan, growth response

Abstract

The use of organic fertilizer has gained increasing attention as a sustainable strategy to improve soil fertility and crop productivity while reducing dependence on synthetic inputs. This study aims to evaluate the potential of organic fertilizer in enhancing the growth of rice seedlings in Subak Buruan, Penebel District, Tabanan Regency, Bali. The research was conducted using a randomized complete block design with four treatments, namely control (without fertilizer), compost-based organic fertilizer, liquid organic fertilizer, and a combination of compost and liquid organic fertilizer. Each treatment was replicated three times. Parameters observed included plant height, number of leaves, root length, and seedling biomass at 21 days after sowing. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Duncan’s Multiple Range Test at a 5% significance level. The results showed that the application of organic fertilizer significantly affected all observed growth parameters. The combination of compost and liquid organic fertilizer produced the highest plant height (28.6 cm), number of leaves (5.4 leaves), root length (12.8 cm), and dry biomass (1.92 g seedling⁻¹). These findings indicate that organic fertilizer can effectively improve early rice growth by enhancing nutrient availability and soil biological activity. The use of organic fertilizer is therefore recommended as an environmentally friendly alternative to support sustainable rice cultivation systems in Subak Buruan.

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