Application of mulch and soil microbes to increase growth and yield of chili pepper.

Chili cultivation in dryland is constrained by limited water and low soil fertility. To overcome this can be done with the use of mulch and biofertilizers. This study aims to determine the combination of mulch and biofertilizers in increasing the growth and yield of chili pepper in dryland. The research was carried out in Sidera Village, Sigi Biromaru District, Sigi Regency, Central Sulawesi from July 2019 to April 2020. Soil microbial propagation was carried out at the Phytopathology Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, Tadulako University. The study used a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with 3 replications. The study consisted of 7 treatments, namely: MH0=control, MH1: straw mulch+Azotobacter sp., MH2: straw mulch+Pseudomonas sp., MH3=straw mulch+Azotobacter sp.+Pseudomonas sp., MH4=silver black mulch+Azotobacter sp., MH5=silver black mulch+Pseudomonas sp., MH6=silver black mulch+Azotobacter sp.+Pseudomonas sp. The variables observed were planted growth and yield. Data were analyzed by ANOVA. The results showed that the combination of straw mulch, Azotobacter sp. and Pseudomonas sp. (MH3) increased plant height, number of branches, number of leaves, leaf area, number of fruits, fruit weight, total chlorophyll content and speed of flowering time. Thus, the use of straw mulch and biofertilizers can support the growth and yield of chili plants, especially in dryland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]