OPTIMIZATION OF NPK FERTILIZER DOSAGE WITH THE ADDITION OF BIOFERTILIZERS IN IMMATURE OIL PALM (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) PLANTS

Abstract

NPK fertilizer can leave residue on plants, making its use less environmentally friendly. Biological fertilizers consisting of live microorganism inoculants are needed to balance and optimize the use of NPK fertilizer on immature oil palm plants. This research aims to determine the effect of giving biological fertilizer to optimize the dose of NPK fertilizer, which has the best effect on the growth of immature oil palms (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.). The research was conducted in February – June 2024 at the Ciparanje Experimental Garden, Universitas Padjadjaran, using a randomized block design (RBD) with five treatments repeated five times, including NPK fertilizer 750 g/plant; biological fertilizer 1,000 g/plant; NPK fertilizer 600 g/plant and biological fertilizer 1,000 g/plant; NPK fertilizer 450 g/plant and biological fertilizer 1,000 g/plant; NPK fertilizer 300 g/plant and biological fertilizer 1,000 g/plant. The results of the research showed that giving a combination of 300 g/plant NPK fertilizer and 1,000 g/plant biological fertilizer had a good effect on the parameters of height and number of leaves of immature oil palm plants, giving a combination of 450 g/plant and 1,000 g/plant biological fertilizer also had a good effect on stem diameter parameters and leaf chlorophyll index of immature oil palm plants.