THE EFFECTIVENESS OF LIQUID ORGANIC FERTILIZER PLUS BIOLOGICAL AGENTS AND PRE-PLANTING SEEDS BIO-MATRICONDITIONING ON THE GROWTH OF HOT PEPPER (CAPSICUM ANNUUM L.) IN A HYDROPONIC FERTIGATION SYSTEM

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of various liquid organic fertilizers plus biological agents integrated with pre-planted seeds bio-matriconditioning in increasing chili plant growth in a hydroponic fertigation system. The study was carried out in Jati Bali Village, Ranomeeto Barat District, Konawe Selatan Regency from June to October 2021. The study was arranged using a separate plot design in a completely randomized design. The main plot, liquid organic fertilizer (LOF) treatment, consisted of 8 treatments, namely control, LOF-N, LOF-P, LOF-K, LOF-NP, LOF-NK, LOF-PK, LOF-NPK. Sub-plots, seed bio-matriconditioning, consisted of 3 treatments, namely control, bio-matriconditioning Pseudomonas sp.SWRIIA02 and bio-matriconditioning Bacillus sp. CKD061. Thus there were 24 treatments and 72 experimental units (3 replications). Observational data were analyzed by analysis of variance. If the results show a significant effect, then it is continued with Duncan's Multiple Range Test α=0.05. The results showed that the integration of liquid organic fertilizer treatment plus biological agents and pre-planted seeds bio-matriconditioning was able to increase the growth of hot pepper in the hydroponic fertigation system. The interaction of LOF-NPK treatment and bio-matriconditioning Bacillus sp. CKD061 was effective in increasing the growth of hot pepper compared to the control and other treatment. In order to increase the growth of hot pepper with hydroponic fertigation systems, it is better to use liquid organic fertilizer plus biological agents which are integrated with pre-planting seeds bio-matriconditioning treatment using Bacillus sp. CKD061.