PERFORMANCE AND PRODUCTIVITY OF SWEET POTATO (Ipomoea batatas L.) TO BIOCHAR AND ECO-ENZYME APPLICATIONS

Abstract

Sweet potato, belongs to Convolvulaceae family, is a significant food source in Indonesia, and it contributes to food security by reducing reliance on rice and flour. Their vibrant colors, ranging from orange to purple, enhance visual appeal and signal their rich nutritional value. Sweet potatoes contribute significantly to human health, solidifying their status as a superfood. For this reason, the yield improvement of this commodity is essential. In this research, we investigated the application of biochar and eco-enzyme on performance and yield of sweet potato. This study was conducted at an Experimental Garden in Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Malikussaleh, from December 2023 to March 2024. The study employed Randomized Block Design (RBD), comprising 2 factors, biochar (0, 5 and 10 tons/ha) and eco- enzyme (0, 22.5 and 30 ml) with 3 replications. The results revealed that the application of biochar alone has significantly increased the tuber number and fresh weight per tuber between treatments, while the use of eco-enzyme alone only enhanced the primary branch. All variables show an increasing trend, but the results mostly are non- significant between treatments. This could be due to the shorter time of the study, lower dose used and individual (single) application between the two soil amendments.