Growth and Yield of Carrot (Daucus carota L.) in Lower Land Elevation of Lombok Island As Affected by Biofertilizer Aluh Nikmatullah (a*), Nia Khairunnisa (a), Riana Amalia(a), Karwati Zawani (a), M. Sarjan(b)
a) Faculty of Agroculture, University of Mataram, Jalan Majapahit 62 Mataram, 83217, Nusa Tenggara Barat, Indonesia
*)Corresponding author: aluh_nikmatullah[at]unram.ac.id
b) b) Department of Postgraduate Studies, University of Mataram, Jalan Majapahit 62 Mataram, 83217, Nusa Tenggara Barat, Indonesia
Abstract
Carrot is an important sub-tropical vegetable, and in the tropics it is commonly cultivated in high elevated mountainous areas to provide suitable environment (particulary temperature) for the optimum growth and productivity. Availability of suitable cultivation areas in Indonesia is limited whist demand for the crop is increased. This research evaluated growth and yield of carrot in warmer temperature of lower land elevations, and examined capability of biofertilizer to increase growth responses and yield of the crop under sub-optimal temperature conditions. The biofertilizer application may offer suitable green technology for production of carrot in lower latitudes, Three experiemnts were conducted in three different land latitudes. The first and second experiments were conducted in medium latitudes of 650 m above sea level (asl) and 550 m asl, while the third experiment was conducted in low land of 170 m asl. The experiments compared growth and yild of carrot plants with biofertilizer and without biofertilizer applications. The growth and (asl), growth and yield of carrot were enhanced by biofertilizer application when planted in ca. 650 and 550 m asl. The biofertilizer treated plants were taller, had a higher number of leaves, higher yield, carrot diameter and sweater than non treated plants. In low land, however, biofertilizer ad no effect to plant growth and yield although they were sweeter than untreated plants.
