The Importance of Organic Fertilizer

Oct 13, 2025 by windailys.com 108 views

Growth and Production of Sweet Corn (Zea Mays Saccharata Sturt.) In Various Combinations of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizer

Introduction

The current condition of agricultural land is increasingly alarming, with many soils damaged due to non-sustainable land use and excessive use of chemical fertilizers. This has a significant impact on a decrease in soil productivity. To overcome this problem, it is essential to balance the use of chemical fertilizers with organic fertilizer. One of the main problems faced is the reduced content of organic matter in the soil. Soils that contain low organic matter tend to lose their ability to bind chemical fertilizers, resulting in decreased fertilization efficiency.

The Importance of Organic Fertilizer

Organic fertilizer consists of various types, such as manure, green fertilizer, guano, night soil, bone meal, fish meal, virgin flour, and kascing. Kascing is a compost produced from earthworm activity, in the form of a mixture of worm dung with the remnants of feed media. Organic fertilizers are essential for maintaining soil health and fertility. They provide essential nutrients to plants, improve soil structure, and promote beneficial microbial activity.

Research Methodology

Research on the effect of various combinations of fertilizers on the growth of sweet corn was carried out on the experimental land of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of North Sumatra (USU) in March to May 2011. This study used a random design of non-factorial groups with six different treatments, which included variations in the combination of kascing fertilizer and NPK fertilizer (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium).

Treatment and Parameters Observed

The treatment tested included:

K1: 100% Kascing fertilizer (80 g/plant)
K2: Cascing fertilizer 75% (60 g/plant) + 25% NPK fertilizer
K3: Cascing fertilizer 50% (40 g/plant) + NPK fertilizer 50%
K4: Cascing fertilizer 25% (20 g/plant) + 75% NPK fertilizer
K5: 100% NPK fertilizer
K6: Comparative compost 100% (80 g/plant) with 5% Rock Phosphate.

The parameters observed in this study include:

Plant height
Stem diameter
Leaf area
Flowering age
Harvest age
Root wet weight
Wet wet weight
Root dry weight
Dry weight of stems
Cob length
Production per sample and per plot

Results and Discussion

The results showed that the combination of the use of organic and inorganic fertilizers had a significant effect on all measured parameters, except for the flag leaf area, flowering age, and harvest age. This shows that the selection of the right type of fertilizer, as well as the proportion of its use, can increase the growth and production of sweet corn optimally.

Conclusion

Overall, this research provides important insights for farmers and agricultural practitioners in designing more efficient fertilization strategies. By utilizing organic fertilizer such as kascing simultaneously with chemical fertilizers, we can improve soil quality, increase agricultural productivity, and contribute to environmental sustainability. Therefore, the implementation of more environmentally friendly fertilization techniques is highly recommended in modern agricultural businesses.

Recommendations

Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are made:

Farmers and agricultural practitioners should consider using organic fertilizer such as kascing in combination with chemical fertilizers to improve soil quality and increase agricultural productivity.
The use of kascing fertilizer should be optimized to achieve the best results, taking into account the proportion of its use and the type of fertilizer used.
Further research should be conducted to explore the effects of other types of organic fertilizers on the growth and production of sweet corn.
The implementation of more environmentally friendly fertilization techniques should be promoted in modern agricultural businesses to contribute to environmental sustainability.

Future Research Directions

Future research should focus on exploring the effects of other types of organic fertilizers on the growth and production of sweet corn. Additionally, research should be conducted to investigate the long-term effects of using kascing fertilizer in combination with chemical fertilizers on soil health and fertility. Furthermore, studies should be conducted to explore the potential of using kascing fertilizer as a substitute for chemical fertilizers in modern agricultural businesses.

Limitations of the Study

This study has several limitations, including:

The study was conducted on a small scale, and the results may not be generalizable to larger scales.
The study only investigated the effects of kascing fertilizer in combination with NPK fertilizer, and did not explore the effects of other types of organic fertilizers.
The study did not investigate the long-term effects of using kascing fertilizer in combination with chemical fertilizers on soil health and fertility.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this study provides important insights for farmers and agricultural practitioners in designing more efficient fertilization strategies. By utilizing organic fertilizer such as kascing simultaneously with chemical fertilizers, we can improve soil quality, increase agricultural productivity, and contribute to environmental sustainability. Therefore, the implementation of more environmentally friendly fertilization techniques is highly recommended in modern agricultural businesses.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Growth and Production of Sweet Corn (Zea Mays Saccharata Sturt.) In Various Combinations of Organic and Inorganic Fertilizer

Q: What is the main problem faced by farmers in terms of soil fertility?

A: The main problem faced by farmers is the reduced content of organic matter in the soil, which leads to a decrease in soil productivity.

Q: What is kascing fertilizer?

A: Kascing is a compost produced from earthworm activity, in the form of a mixture of worm dung with the remnants of feed media.

Q: What are the benefits of using organic fertilizer like kascing?

A: Organic fertilizers like kascing provide essential nutrients to plants, improve soil structure, and promote beneficial microbial activity.

Q: What are the parameters observed in this study?

A: The parameters observed in this study include plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, flowering age, harvest age, root wet weight, wet wet weight, root dry weight, dry weight of stems, cob length, and production per sample and per plot.

Q: What are the results of this study?

A: The results showed that the combination of the use of organic and inorganic fertilizers had a significant effect on all measured parameters, except for the flag leaf area, flowering age, and harvest age.

Q: What are the recommendations of this study?

A: The recommendations of this study include using organic fertilizer like kascing in combination with chemical fertilizers to improve soil quality and increase agricultural productivity.

Q: What are the limitations of this study?

A: The limitations of this study include the small scale of the study, the lack of investigation of the effects of other types of organic fertilizers, and the lack of investigation of the long-term effects of using kascing fertilizer in combination with chemical fertilizers on soil health and fertility.

Q: What are the future research directions?

A: Future research should focus on exploring the effects of other types of organic fertilizers on the growth and production of sweet corn, investigating the long-term effects of using kascing fertilizer in combination with chemical fertilizers on soil health and fertility, and exploring the potential of using kascing fertilizer as a substitute for chemical fertilizers in modern agricultural businesses.

Q: What are the implications of this study for farmers and agricultural practitioners?

A: This study provides important insights for farmers and agricultural practitioners in designing more efficient fertilization strategies. By utilizing organic fertilizer like kascing simultaneously with chemical fertilizers, we can improve soil quality, increase agricultural productivity, and contribute to environmental sustainability.

Q: What are the potential applications of this study?

A: The potential applications of this study include the development of more efficient fertilization strategies for sweet corn production, the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices, and the improvement of soil health and fertility.

Q: What are the potential benefits of using kascing fertilizer?

A: The potential benefits of using kascing fertilizer include improved soil quality, increased agricultural productivity, and reduced environmental pollution.

Q: What are the potential risks of using kascing fertilizer?

A: The potential risks of using kascing fertilizer include the potential for contamination of soil and water with pathogens and heavy metals, and the potential for reduced crop yields due to the use of suboptimal fertilizer application rates.

Q: How can farmers and agricultural practitioners implement the recommendations of this study?

A: Farmers and agricultural practitioners can implement the recommendations of this study by using organic fertilizer like kascing in combination with chemical fertilizers, optimizing the proportion of kascing fertilizer used, and monitoring the effects of kascing fertilizer on soil health and fertility.

Q: What are the potential challenges of implementing the recommendations of this study?

A: The potential challenges of implementing the recommendations of this study include the high cost of kascing fertilizer, the lack of availability of kascing fertilizer in some regions, and the need for further research on the effects of kascing fertilizer on soil health and fertility.