Trichoderma harzianum Enriched Vertical Column Enhances Black Pepper Growth
Abstract
The method of pepper cultivation with vertical columns is more efficient and effective because it can be planted with more pepper cuttings compared to the conventional method with only one plant per stake so that the productivity of the plant is higher. The application of Trichoderma harzianum in the vertical column can increase pepper growth. The results of this study indicate that there is an increase in plant height, number of leaves, number of nodes, and number of lateral fruiting branches by applying Trichoderma 1x109/ml in the vertical column. Statistically, the interaction of column media and the addition of Trichoderma shows a significant difference in plant height. Trichoderma can increase nutrient uptake and act as an antagonist for plant pathogens. This microbe is able to dissolve phosphates and certain types of soil minerals. Consequently, the strain effectively increases the growth of pepper. It is important to maintain the suitability of the Trichoderma environment around the pepper so that the microbes continue to survive and provide benefits for plant growth in the long term.
Keywords
Download Options
Introduction
Black Pepper is a medicinal plant and spices with high value in foreign countries which plays an important role in the economy of Indonesia as it has been a leading export commodity in the plantation sector. Indonesia is also known as one of the largest pepper producers and exporters in the world and is incorporated in the International Pepper Community (IPC) along with other pepper exporting countries such as India, Malaysia, Brazil, Sri Lanka and Vietnam [1]. However, Indonesia'sposition as a pepper exporting country is currently weakening, occupying only the third position after it was recognized as the world’slargest pepper exporter for a few decades. This is caused by a dramatic decrease in the productivity and quality of national pepper and in intensive pepper development from other IPC members [2]. Thus, improving cultivation technology to increase productivity seems to be the viable option to restore the glory of pepper in Indonesia. The most basic improvement in cultivation technology is the provision of quality seeds and adequate parent plantations. The propagation technique of black pepper using the vertical column method is one of the alternative technologies because it is more efficient and faster [3]. This method is considered efficient and economical because it does not require large tracts of land and conventional stakes that are relatively expensive. Each column in the vertical column method can be used up to ten planting materials depending on the size of the column. Another advantage of using the vertical column method is the support stake which also serves as a medium for growing the vine pepper can be substituted with organic material so that the root can also help the absorption of nutrients from the degradation of the organic material.
This method does not require conventional stakes like those commonly used by pepper growers, but uses vertical columns made of 4 cm wire mesh covered with plastic and then formed cylindrical with a height of 2 m. The column section is then filled with organic material such as coconut coir, oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB), coconut charcoal, or other types of organic material that has been sterilized beforehand. Moisture is maintained in the range of 75-80% at 25-28ºC. This method is very efficient because in one column, several plant cuttings can be planted.
The use of organic material on column provides enough pores for oxygen and biological agents to develop. Biological agents that can be applied to organic column media are Trichoderma harzianum because they can act as antagonists of plant diseases and also playa role in increasing growth through auxin production.
The waste of organic material in West Kalimantan is relatively abundant resulting from the processing of oil palm or deep coconut. Therefore, in this study the media from organic material was combined with T. harzianum in order to decompose properly. In addition, it is also important to further investigate the optimum dosage of this type of organic material if it is used as a medium in the vertical column method for breeding pepper plants. The application of the vertical column method will also increase the productivity of pepper plants and efficiency inland use.
Conclusion
Some media such as oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB), coconut coir, coconut charcoal, and rock can be used as a vertical column media for black pepper. The application of T. harzianum suspension has a significant influence on pepper growth. This microbe involves several mechanisms to influence plant growth. Its ability to survive in the soil under suitable environmental conditions and the availability of organic material makes this fungus effective as a biofertilizer especially black pepper. This study shows the positive influence of these microbes on plant height, number of leaves, lateral fruiting branches, and the number of nodes.
The suggestion from this research is to be more selective in choosing the type of column media that will be used by considering the cost and potential of carrying certain types of diseases. The column media must also be sterilized first in order to eliminate the pests and diseases.
