Integrating Mucuna bracteata into Biofertilizer Formulation for Sustainable Red Chili Cultivation

¹ University of Riau, Department of Agrotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, 28295 Pekanbaru, Indonesia
² Agricultural practitioners in Langsat Permai Village, 28763 Siak, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: isna.rahmadini@lecturer.unri.ac.id

Abstract

The use of organic fertilizer from plant waste combined with inorganic fertilizer and biofertilizer has a significant impact on the sustainability of environmentally friendly chili cultivation. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Mucuna bracteata-enriched biofertilizer on the growth performance and yield of red chili as an effort to achieve sustainable agricultural productivity. The experiment consisted of eight treatments and three replications, resulting in a total of 24 experimental units. The treatments were as follows: P1 = 100% NPK fertilizer; P2, P3, and P4 = 75% NPK fertilizer + decanter cake compost + biofertilizer (without M. bracteata, with 10%, 7.5%, and 5% M. bracteata, respectively); and P6, P7, and P8 = 50% NPK fertilizer + decanter cake compost + biofertilizer (with 10%, 7.5%, and 5% M. bracteata, respectively). The results showed that the combination of 75% NPK fertilizer (188 kg ha⁻¹) with 20 t ha⁻¹ of decanter cake compost and biofertilizer enriched with 10% M. bracteata produced growth and yield equivalent to 100% NPK fertilizer application. This finding indicates that the use of M. bracteata-enriched biofertilizer can effectively reduce the need for NPK fertilizer by up to 25% without compromising red chili growth and productivity.