Applications of various concentrations of seaweed liquid organic fertilizer (Ulva sp) on growth of Benalu Batu cuttings (Begonia sp).

Among the herbal plants that have been identified in Indonesia, one of them is Benalu Batu or Begonia sp. Begonia sp is a new endemic plant species from the family Begoniceae which has antioxidant activity. This study aims to determine the effect of applying seaweed liquid organic fertilizer (LOF) at different concentrations on the growth of benalubatu plant. This research was conducted at the screen house of the Permanent Nursery of the Palu-Poso Watershed and Protected Forest Management Center, Tadulako University, Palu during July to September 2022. This research was arranged in Randomized Block Design (RBD) with different concentration levels of seaweed liquid organic fertilizer consisted in six levels of treatments ; R0 = control, R1 = 25ml/L, R2 = 50ml/L, R3 = 75ml/L, R4 = 100ml/L, and R5 = 125ml/L. The results showed that applying seaweed LOF affected the benalubatu plant seedling. The R4 treatment had a significant effect on time of emergence of the first shoots, the time of the first bud break, and root length. However, hadno effect on the number of shoots [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]