OPTIMIZING MATURE COCONUT WATER APPLICATION ON THE GROWTH AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF THE PLANTING MEDIUM FOR ARABICA COFFEE SEEDLINGS

Abstract

Seedling is the initial stage of coffee cultivation. The use of inorganic fertilizers during nursery will require its costs. Fertilization cost efficiency can be achieved by finding alternative sources of nutrients. Coconut water derived from shredded coconut waste contains nutrients and growth hormones. This experiment aims to determine the effect of the method and frequency of coconut water application on the growth and chemical properties of Arabica coffee seedling planting media. The experiment was conducted in the Ciparanje experimental field, Faculty of Agriculture, Unpad, from April to August 2021. The experiment used a randomized group design (RAK) with nine treatments and repeated three times. The treatments used were urea fertilizer and coconut water application through the soil (twice a week, once a week, once every two weeks, once every three weeks) and through plants (twice a week, once a week, once every two weeks, once every three weeks). The experiment results showed that the three-weekly application of coconut water to the soil generally had the best effect on plant height and leaf number, and the once-weekly application of coconut water consistently had a favorable effect on the chlorophyll index. There was an increase in total N, available P, total P, and K₂O due to coconut water application, which maintained the pH of the planting medium.