ANALYSIS OF LEAF AREA INDEX AND RELATIVE WATER CONTENT OF WAXY CORN LEAVES INDUCED BY ACTINOMYCETES BIOSTIMULANT

Abstract

Waxy corn (Zea mays L. var. ceratina) is one of the important food crops in Gorontalo whose productivity is still limited. Low soil fertility and drought often become obstacles during its growth period. Indicators of leaf area index and leaf relative water content can be used as indicators of plant growth physiology. The purpose of this study was to examine the administration of Actinomycetes biostimulant with different doses on the leaf area index and relative water content of waxy corn leaves. Field experiments were conducted with a randomized block design, one factor with three replications. The doses of Actinomycetes Biostimulant used were: 0, 5, 10 grams/10 kg soil in a polybag. Observed variables: Leaf Area Index (LAI) at growth intervals of 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 days after planting, and leaf relative water content (RWC) at the age of 35 and 42 days after planting (DAP). Quantitative descriptive was conducted for data analysis. This study revealed that Actinomycetes biostimulant of 10 grams /10 kg soil in a polybag resulted in the highest leaf area index value of 4.00 cm² m^-1 at the age of 35 - 42 DAP and the highest relative leaf water content at 35 DAP of 66.52 %, while at 42 DAP, the highest RWC was 71.65 % in the control treatment. This shows that the  Actinomycetes biostimulant with different doses can provide different LAI and RWC.