International Journal of Environment, Agriculture and Biotechnology (IJEAB) Vol-4, Issue-4, Jul-Aug- 2019

http://dx.doi.org/10.22161/ijeab.4433 ISSN: 2456-1878

Performance of Compost from Waterthyme

(Hydrilla verticillata) in Bok Choy Growth
(Brassica chinensis)
Raudatul Dahliana Safitri1, Yuspihana Fitrial2, Fatmawati2, Agung Nugroho 3*
1
Department of Natural Resources and Environmental M anagement, Post Graduate Program, LambungM angkurat University, Indonesia
2
Faculty of Fisheries, LambungM angkurat University, Indonesia
3
Department of Agro-industrial Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, LambungM angkurat University , Indonesia
*Email: [email protected]

Abstract— Waterthyme (Hydrilla verticillata) has a rapid growth rate in freshwater, especially rivers and
irrigation channels, hence it becomes a disturbing factor and needs periodic cleaning.Dry H. verticillata
contains nitrogen of 3.29%, phosphorus of 0.52%, and potassium of 6.34%.The utilization of H. verticillata as
compost has great potential, but there has not been found intensive research on the subject.This study aimed to
examine the ability of H. verticillata as an alternative raw material for compost fertilizer in the bok
choygrowth.This study used a Randomized Complete Block design (RCB) with a single factor by analyzing the
data using ANOVA and continued with further tests u sing Least Significant Different (LSD).P0 (control) was
100% soil, P1100% cow manure, P2 100% waterthyme, and P3 50% waterthyme + 50% cow manure.Bok Choy
have optimal growth (88 g plant mass, 5g root mass) in compost applications with a composition of 100%
waterthyme (H. verticillata) with a moisture content of 21.24%, pH 8.50, C 9.09%, C/N ratio 4.07, N 2.25%, P
1.38%, K 1.38%, and organic matter 15.67%.
Keywords— Hydrilla verticillata, compost, bok choy, alternative material.

I. INTRODUCTION year - 1, or more); and can block and damage natural

Bok choy vegetables are popular among wetlands[3].
Indonesian, consumed by all people from the lower to the H.verticillata has a moisture content of 90.42%
upper class. Bok choy can grow well both in the lowlands (wb) [4] with the organic carbon content of 14.47% (wb)
and highlands. It has high economic value after cabbage, [5], and the nitrogen content of 45% (wb), so it has the
cauliflower, and broccoli. Bok choy is estimated to come potential to be used as compost fertilizer.
from China and has been cultivated since 2500 years ago, Compost is one of the organic fertilizers used in
then spread widely to the Philippines and Taiwan[1]. agriculture to reduce the application of inorganic
Its growth is affected by the type of fertilizer fertilizers.Compost can improve the physical properties
used. Farmers usually use chemical fertilizers to get and microbiology of the soil [2].Composting is the
maximum growth and yield but ignore the side effects [2]. process of converting biodegradable residues into
Therefore, to replace this habit, pne alternative solution is hygienic and stable products. Compost from H.
by utilizing organic fertilizer from Hydrilla verticillata verticillate contaminated with heavy metals can be
water thyme. applied to plants. The remains pollutants such as heavy
The Riam Kanan Reservoir is utilized by the metal that is harmful to the environment and other
government and the local community for a water elements will be transformed into less harmful
reservoir, power plants, aquaculture, agriculture, mining, substance[6].
transportation, and others.The utilization of the Riam The utilization of organic materials is currently
river might brings negative impact on water quality considered the best effort in improving the productivity of
[2].The high pollutant load discharged by the community marginal soils, including acid soils.Compost contains
causes a surge in thegrowthofH. verticillata. Nitrogen, nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphate in the form of
Phosphate, pH, metals, and sunlight can accelerate the argon, protein, and humus complexes, whichare very
growth of waterthyme [2].H.verticillata can grow at high difficult to absorb by plants [7].Some ways that have been
densities (more than 10 tons of dry weight per hectare - 1 done to improve nutrient status in compost are such as

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International Journal of Environment, Agriculture and Biotechnology (IJEAB) Vol-4, Issue-4, Jul-Aug- 2019
http://dx.doi.org/10.22161/ijeab.4433 ISSN: 2456-1878

adding natural ingredients of bone flour, dried blood Soil Processing

flour, banana bark, and biofertilizer [2].Em4 was The soils used came from the Practice Land. The soil was
discovered by Higa and James in 1997.Fermentation of then separated from the attach leaf trash or dirt
organic substance by effective microorganisms (EM) Seed Nursery
produces lactic acid and amino acids, which can be The nursery media consisted of a mixture of soil and cow
absorbed directly by plants as antibiotics that can manure with a ratio of 2:1.The seeds were spread evenly
suppress the growth of harmful microorganisms . and then covered with soil thinly and watered.At the age
of ±14 days, the seeds were transferred into the polybag.
II. RESEARCH METHOD
The materials used in this study were Hydrilla Preparation of Planting Medium
verticillata, cow manure, tub soil, palm sugar, EM4 Preparation of planting media using three replications,
activator liquid, and Bok choy seeds (Brassica oleracea). five treatments, and one control. Each combination with a
The tools used were large plastic bags (trash bag), tarps, different type of treatment was put into a 5 kg polybag,
weight balance, stationery, plastic clips, gloves, scissors, size 35 cm x 35 cm, with a certain concentration of cow
stirrers, buckets, measuring cups, label papers, and pH manure, waterthyme compost, and soil with a ratio of
meter. 1:2:1.
The research design used a Randomized
Complete Block design (RCB) consisting of 6 treatments. Planting and Maintenance
Treatments are presented in Table 1.BasedonTable 1, The seeds of cauliflower and lettuce were grown for ± 14
eachtreatmentconsistedofthreereplicationshencethere were days before being transferred to a polybag that had been
18 treatment units. Data from observations on various filled with cow manure, compost, and soil that has been
treatments were analyzed using theANOVA test with the left for one night. Polybags containing soil media, cow
help of SPSS 19 with a significance level (α) <0.05.If manure, and compost were given holes with the same
there is a difference (significant effect), then it will be depth, and each hole was filled with bok choy seeds and
followed by the Least Significant Difference Test (LSD), watered.Maintenance was done twice a day at morning
but if there is no difference (no significant effect), further and evening. Maintenance includes watering and cleaning
analysis is not needed. weeds.
Table 1. Formulationofcompostfertilizertreatment
Treatment Concentration Comparison Data Collection
Data collection was done once a week. The changes
Po 100% soil
observed were as follows:
P1 100% cow manure
Plant Height
P2 100% H. verticillata
Plant height was measured from the surface of the
P3 50% H. verticillata + 50% cow manure
planting medium to the growth point, measured using a
ruler.
Research Implementati on
Leaf Counting
Composting processing
Leaves counting was carried out during the growth period
Compost production was based on a
and calculated once a week during the planting period.
predetermined concentration.Rice bran and Em4 solution
The calculated leaves were those that have opened
as a starter were added to ingredients that have been
perfectly, consisting of stems and leaves.
mixed with certain concentrations before and then
fermented for 14 days.During the fermentation, compost
Leaf Width
was reversed.To maintain the temperature in the range of
Leaf width was measured during the growth period and
40-50ºC, the fermenter should always be opened and
was carried out once a week during the planting period by
reversed, after the temperature drops, the fermenter is
using a ruler from the surface of the planting medium
closed again.
tothegrowingpoint.
Compost that has been fermented for 14 days
and mature compost has the criteria of being odorless
Weight of plant canopy and fibrous roots
anddark in color [8]. The compost was then tested for
Measurements were conducted after the harvest period.
Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K)
The plant canopy and fibrous roots were weighed using a
content.The mature compost was then applied as a
digital analytical balance.
growing medium for Bok choy plants.

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International Journal of Environment, Agriculture and Biotechnology (IJEAB) Vol-4, Issue-4, Jul-Aug- 2019
http://dx.doi.org/10.22161/ijeab.4433 ISSN: 2456-1878

III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS Po

15.00
Chemical Composition of Compost Fertilizer

Number of leaf
13.00 P1
The observation showed that waterthyme
11.00 P2
compost (Hydrilla verticillata) contained Nitrogen (N),
9.00 P3
Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K).The compos tanalysis
7.00
based on several treatments I spresented in Table2.
Table. 2. Analysis of compost fertilizers based on SNI 5.00
First Second Third fourth
2004 week week week week
Average T reatment SNI
No Examination Unit
2004 Fig.1: Number of the leaf.
Po P1 P2 P3
1 N % 0.29 2.23 2.25 0.99 0.4 The RiamKanan Reservoir is utilized by the
2 P % 0.02 0.39 0.56 0.53 0.1 government and the local community for a water
3 K % 0.04 0.63 1.38 0.32 0.2 reservoir, power plants, aquaculture, agriculture, mining,
6.80- transportation, and others.The utilization of the Riam
4 7.46 8.15 8.5 7.95
pH 7.49 river might brings negative impact on water quality
[2].The high pollutant load discharged by the community
Basedon Table2, it is identified that several causes a surge in thegrowthofH.verticillata. Nitrogen,
parameters are in accordance with SNI 2004 quality Phosphate, pH, metals, and sunlight can accelerate the
standards.These parameters are used to determine the growth of waterthyme [2].H.verticillata can grow at high
quality of H.verticillata compost.Compost application can densities (more than 10 tons of dry weight per hectare - 1
improve soil physical properties and year - 1, or more); and can block and damage natural
microbiology[8].Nutrient content in compost such as wetlands[3].
nitrogen and phosphate is in the form of complex The highest P2 valuewas 14.08 in thefourthweek
compounds of argon, protein, and humic, which are v ery (W4), andthelowestvalue Po was 10.67 (Figure 1). 100%
difficult to absorb by plants [7].Nitrogen (N) from NPK is of H. Verticillata compost produces the highest value
required by plants for the growth of shoots, stems, and compared to100% soil(Po).It is possible because P2 has a
leaves.Phosphorus (P) functions in stimulating the growth higher N content (2.25%) than the research conducted by
of roots, fruits, seeds, while Potassium (K) to increase Marwan et al. [13] (1.37%).The content of N in Po was
plant resistance to pests and diseases [9]. A good pH range only 0.29%. This is what causes the difference in the
for plants based on SNI-2004 is between 6.80-7.49, while number of leaves in Bok choy.
based on the Department of Agriculture 2011 is between Diameter of the Leaf
4-9. In that range, plants can grow optimally. Leaf diameter is a determinant in the absorption of
Number of the Leaf sunlight so that the photosynthetic rate is determined
Leaves are the place where photosynthesis takes based on leaf diameter.The wider the diameter of the
place, which is to convert sunlight energy into a food - leaves, the more sunlight will be absorbed so that the rate
producing source used in the growth, development, and of photosynthesis is also higher.On the contrary, the
production of harvesting materials [10]. smaller the diameter, the less amount of sunlight absorbed
Statistical analysis showed that all treatments in photosynthesis [10].
have no significant effect on the number of leaves (α ANOVA statistical analysis showed that all
<0.05) with a significance value on the First Week (W1) treatments have a significant effect on leaf diameter (α
of 0.926, W2 of 0.891, W3 of 0.968, and M4 of 0.631.It is <0.05) with a significance value on the First Week (W1)
presumed that the concentration of compost fertilizer did of 0.017, W2 of 0.014, W3 of 0.022, and W4 of 0.017.It
not affect the number of leaf plants based on the ANOVA may be caused by a varied amount of N element uptake in
test, but it affected the number of nutrients contained in each treatment [12].
it.[11]. The BNT further test (p-value <0.05) showed
that the leaf diameter with the treatment of 100% soil
concentration was 5.28.This treatment was significantly
different from the treatment of 100% waterthyme
compost, namely 7.26.Increased in diameter indicates that
the sunlight absorption rate is increasing so that the
photosynthesis process continues rapidly [10].

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International Journal of Environment, Agriculture and Biotechnology (IJEAB) Vol-4, Issue-4, Jul-Aug- 2019
http://dx.doi.org/10.22161/ijeab.4433 ISSN: 2456-1878

10.00 Po
Figure 3 shows that Po has the lowest weight value of
le aft width (cm)

8.00 P1
25.67 grams, while the highest value is in P2 of 93.75
6.00 P2
grams.Po with 100% soil concentration produces the
4.00 P3
lowest value. This is presumably due to the availability of
2.00
balanced or unbalanced macro and micronutrients, and
0.00 NPK content.Nutrients availability is very needed in plant
First Second Third fourth
week week week week growth.NPK nutrients will increase Bok choy weight, and
Fig.2. Leafdiameterofbok choy. it indicates optimal growth [15].
Weight of the Roots
Figure 2 shows an increase in the diameter of Bok choy
The fresh weight of roots determines plant
leaves from the first week (W1) to the seventh week growth based on the amount of nutrient uptake and will
(W7).It is estimated that Bok choy has adapted since the
affect the development of plants based on the
planting period.The analysis showed that N content in
photosynthetic on leaves [16]. ANOVA statistical
H.verticillata waterthyme compost was 1.74%.Other analysis showed that all treatments did not significantly
researchers found that the N level in H.verticillata
affect the fresh weight of plant roots (α <0.05) with a
waterthyme was 1.37% [13], while in cow manure was
significant value of 0.255.It is likely due to the identical
0.41% [6]. amount of macro, micro, and water uptake, so that root
The highest value in P2 (8.21 cm) was obtained
growth becomes uniform.In addition, the treatment
in the fourth week (W4), and the lowest value of Po was concentration did not affect the amount of K nu trient
5.52 cm.P2 with the application of 100% H. verticillata
prepared in the media [1].
waterthyme compost has the highest value compared to
5.00
Po 100% soil.It is in line with the content of N in P2 of
4.00
Root Mass (g)

2.25% and Po of 0.29%.N element will affect leaf

diameter, stem growth, number of leaves, roots, and 3.00
others [14]. The variation in the average leaf diameter is 2.00
due to the comparison between different treatments and 1.00
the number of N elements in compost. 0.00
Weight of the Plant Po P1 P2 P3
Plants that absorb optimal macro and Treatments
micronutrients will promote optimal growth.In addition,
Fig.4: Weight of bokchoy’s roots.
the high availability of nutrients will increase the growth
of vegetative organs, so that plant growth becomes
Figure 4 shows that the application of 25% cow
optimal, whereas low nutrients will result in non-optimal
manure produces a root weight of 4.20 grams.It is higher
growth[5].
compared to the application of 100% soil, which is only
ANOVA statistical analysis showed that all
1.82 gram. Variations in plant weights are caused by
treatments had no significant effect on plant fresh weight
variations in the type of planting media.The lowest value
(α <0.05) with a significant value of 0.100.It is possibly
is considered to occur because of the nature of the so il,
due to the comparison of the concentration between
which cannot bind water [1].The high value is caused by
treatments based on nutrients found in the g rowing
the availability of nutrients and sufficient water so that the
media.Availability of N elements will affect plant weights
growth and rooting weight are good.Availability of NPK
[14].
nutrients will increase the weight of Bok choyroots [15].
100.00
Plant Mass (g)

80.00 IV. CONCLUSION

60.00 The NPK content in P1, P2, and P3, is in
40.00 accordance with SNI 2004 except for Po. The best
20.00 treatment is obtained from the application of 100%
0.00 compost from H. verticillata waterthyme. The parameters
Po P1 P2 P3
produced are higher than the application of cow manure
Tretments
or soil.
Fig.3: Weight of bokchoy.

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International Journal of Environment, Agriculture and Biotechnology (IJEAB) Vol-4, Issue-4, Jul-Aug- 2019
http://dx.doi.org/10.22161/ijeab.4433 ISSN: 2456-1878

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