Aplikasi Pupuk KCl dan Waktu Pemangkasan Pucuk terhadap Pertumbuhan dan Hasil Terung Ungu (Solanum melongena L.)

Abstract

Purple eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is a tropical plant widely cultivated in Indonesia. Potassium (K) plays an essential role in plant growth, fruit development, and improving plant resilience. The application of KCl fertilizer is expected to enhance these aspects, while shoot pruning aims to stimulate shoot and branch growth, thereby increasing flowering and yield. This study aimed to determine the best potassium dosage, the optimal shoot pruning time, and the best combination of both factors on the growth and yield of purple eggplant. The research was conducted at the Horticulture Field, Politeknik Negeri Lampung, from January to May 2024, using a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with two factors: KCl dosage (K1 = 5 g/plant, K2 = 10 g/plant, K3 = 15 g/plant) and pruning time (P0 = control, P1 = 14 DAP, and P2 = 28 DAP), resulting in 12 treatment combinations repeated three times for a total of 27 experimental units. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and continued with the Least Significant Difference (LSD) test at a 5% level. The results showed that KCl fertilizer application significantly affected fruit length and diameter, with the best result obtained from the 5 g/plant treatment. Shoot pruning significantly affected plant height and fruit diameter, where the best result was found in the non-pruned treatment. No significant interaction was found between KCl dosage and pruning time in improving the growth and yield of purple eggplant.