International Journal of Environment, Agriculture and Biotechnology

Vol-9, Issue-6; Nov-Dec, 2024

Peer-Reviewed International Journal
Journal Home Page Available:https://ijeab.com/
Journal DOI:10.22161/ijeab

Substitution of Inorganic Fertilizer and Biofertilizer

Application on Wetland Rice (Oryza sativa) Varieties
Inpari 32
Marvita Akhiri Rimbasari, Setyono Yudo Tyasmoro*, Karuniawan Puji Wicaksono,
Didik Hariyono*

Faculty of Agriculture, Brawijaya University, Indonesia

*Corresponding author: [email protected]

Received: 15 Sep 2024; Received in revised form: 14 Oct 2024; Accepted: 23 Oct 2024; Available online: 05 Nov 2024
©2024 The Author(s). Published by Infogain Publication. This is an open-access article under the CC BY license
(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Abstract— This research aims to determine the substitution of inorganic fertilizers using organic fertilizers
and biofertilizers (PGPR) in an effort to reduce farmers' dependence on inorganic fertilizers and reduce
subsidized fertilizers by the government. The research method used in this research is a factorial
experiment with 2 factors with 6 treatment combinations. The first factor is biofertilizer (PGPR), R0 =
without PGPR, R10 = 10 liters ha-1 PGPR and the second factor is P0 (farmers' habitual fertilization (400
kg ha-1 urea + 400 kg ha-1 NPK), P1 (100% inorganic (275 kg ha -1 urea + 250 kg ha-1 NPK)), P2 (75%
inorganic (206.25 kg ha-1 urea + 187,5 kg ha-1 NPK) + 25% organic (1,25 ton ha -1)) , P3 (50% inorganic
(137,5 kg h-1 Urea + 125 kg ha-1 NPK) + 50% organic (2,5 ton ha -1)), P4 (25% inorganic (68,75 kg ha -1) 1
Urea + 62,5 kg ha-1 NPK) + 75% organic (3,75 ton ha-1)), P5 (100% organic fertilizer (5 ton ha -1)).
Variables observed were plant length, number of tillers, grain contents per hill, weight of 1000 seeds,
productivity, leaf chlorophyll content and R/C ratio. The result shows that organic fertilizer and PGPR can
be used to substitute inorganic fertilizer at 25% to 50% of the recommended dose, especially in its effect on
yield. Meanwhile, substitution of 75% and 100% still not shows the effective substitution.
Keywords— biofertilizer, inorganic fertilizer, organic fertilizer, rice

I. INTRODUCTION improve soil physical and chemical properties and increase

Rice is a key food ingredient and a vital commodity for soil productivity. According to Atmaja et al., (2019),
food sustainability in Indonesia. As a contributor to the organic fertilizers derived from animal debris contain both
highest yield, the yield in East Java has declined from the macro and micro nutrients namely N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and
previous year, from 56.68 kha ha-1 in 2020 to 56.47 kha- others. Besides containing macro nutrients and micro-
ha-1 in 2021 (BPS, 2022). The cause of the decline in organic fertilisers also contain organic acids such as humic
yields in Eastern Java needs serious attention. One of the acid, fulvatic, organic and also enzymes that are not found
factors that greatly affects the productivity of rice is in inorganic nutrients.
fertilization. Padi cultivation practices are heavily The continuous use of chemical fertilizers also affects the
dependent on government-subsidized inputs of inorganic soil's biological properties, i.e. the presence of
fertilizers. Modern agriculture with uncontrolled inputs of microorganisms that are beneficial to soil and plants.
chemical fertilizers can reduce soil fertility which Therefore, it is necessary to add fertilizer that is capable of
ultimately reduces grain productivity. (Zhang et al., 2020). improving soil biology. PGPR is one of the groups of
Organic fertilizers can be used to improve the efficiency microbes that are beneficial as the best biokontrol agents
of the use of inorganic fertilisers. Organic fertilizers can to avoid the harmful effects of chemicals and help plant

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Rimbasari et al. Substitution of Inorganic Fertilizer and Biofertilizer Application on Wetland Rice (Oryza sativa)
Varieties Inpari 32

health (Ansari et al., 2019). In addition to being a tons ha-1)). The variables observed are plant length,
biofertilizer, the use of PGPR aims to accelerate the number of leaves, leaf size, number, dry weight, content
transformation of organic material into the nutrient per pile, weight of 1000 seeds, productivity, chlorophyll
available to plants. Bacteria provide nutrients to plants level, plant absorption, and R/C ratio analysis.
dissolving organic matter, transforming N air into
available forms (Widiyawati et al., 2014). Previous studies
III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
have stated that replacing 50% or more of the inorganic
fertilizer content with PGPR is sufficient to maintain PGPR treatment and fertilizer substitution, both factors did
normal growth and development of plants. The use of not show any interaction on the parameters of plant length,
PGPR can be combined with conventional grape number of tillers and leaf chlorophyll content (Table 1).
cultivation methods without reducing harvest yields. PGPR application did not significantly affect the
(Kobua et al., 2021). parameters of plant length and chlorophyll content, but
significantly affected the number of tillers, while fertilizer
Fertilization technology combining inorganic and organic
substitution application significantly affected the three
fertilizer and PGPR is expected to be a solution to
parameters.
fertilization problems and able to restore soil fertility so
that grain productivity can be improved. The results of observations of plant length showed no
interaction between PGPR treatment and inorganic
The introduction of the paper should explain the nature of
fertilizer substitution, likewise there was no significant
the problem, previous work, purpose, and the contribution
effect between plant length in the treatment without PGPR
of the paper. The contents of each section may be provided
and with PGPR application. This is because the bacteria in
to understand easily about the paper.
PGPR in order to provide a direct or indirect impact on
plant growth require the formation of colonies in the soil
II. MATERIAL AND METHODES that are dynamic (Khoso et al., 2024). Fertilization
The research was conducted between October 2022 and treatment produced a significant difference in the
February 2023. The research site is in Jatimulyo inorganic fertilizer substitution treatment of 50%, 75% and
experimental land, Brawijaya University Agricultural 100% organic on plant length in the treatment of farmer's
Faculty in Jatimulyo, Lowokwaru district, Malang city. habitual fertilizer doses and recommendations from the
The tools used in this study are Leaf area meter (LAM), Ministry of Agriculture, while the 25% fertilizer
SPAD, oven, analytical scales and cameras. The materials substitution showed no significant difference. The use of
used are grain seeds varieties inpari 32, inorganic fertiliser, inorganic fertilizers can be replaced by 25% organic
organic fertilizer and PGPR “MUPUS” manufactured by fertilizers, because organic fertilizers contain
HPT University of Brawijaya Laboratory. The inorganic macronutrients (N, P, K) and micronutrients needed by
fertilizer used are urea and NPK, and the organic material plants (Haruna et al., 2020).
used is a composite of four organic substances, namely, Plant production is greatly influenced by the number of
straw, husks, corn stover and corn cobs that have gone tillers because of its effect on the number of panicles
through a compositing process. produced (Deng et al., 2014). The results of observations
This study is a factorial experiment with two factors, the showed that the application of PGPR significantly
first factor is the aplication of PGPR while the second increased the number of tillers in rice plants, however,
factor is the substitution of inorganic fertilizer. The there was no interaction between the use of PGPR and the
research was carried out using a split plot design application of different doses of fertilizer (inorganic
consisting of a main and a sub plots. The research method fertilizer substitution). Kobua et al (2021) stated that plants
used in this study is a factorial experiment with 2 factors treated with PGPR have a better chance of withstanding
with 6 combinations of treatments. The first factor is R0 = external pressure, thus ensuring survival and increasing
without PGPR, R10 = 10 litres of ha-1 PGPR and the productivity. Plants given a certain amount of PGPR can
second factor is P0 (farmers’ habitual fertilization (400 kg form tough cells and have better metabolism throughout
ha-1 urea + 400 kg ha-1 NPK), P1 (100% inorganic (275 kg the stem area (Gray and Smith, 2005). The number of
ha-1 Urea + 250 kg ha-1 NPK)), P2 (75% anorganic (206,25 tillers in the fertilizer dose treatment (inorganic fertilizer
kg ha-1 Urea & 187.5 kg ha-1 NPK) + 25% organic (1,25 substitution) was significantly different in the 100%
tons ha-1) ), P3 (50% in organic (137,5 kg h -1 Urea and 125 organic treatment compared to other treatments. In the
kg ha-1, NPK ) + 50% organic (2,5 tonnes ha-1 )), P4 (25% inorganic fertilizer substitution of up to 75%, it was not
inorganic (68.75 kgha-1 Uria & 62.5 kg ha1-1 N PK) + 75% significantly different from the recommended dose of the
organic (3,75 tons ha- 1)), P5 (100% organic fertilizer (5 Ministry of Agriculture, and the highest number of tillers

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Rimbasari et al. Substitution of Inorganic Fertilizer and Biofertilizer Application on Wetland Rice (Oryza sativa)
Varieties Inpari 32

was in the farmer's habitual fertilization. This shows that seed formation, so that the more photosynthate and
the availability of nutrients greatly influences the assimilates produced, the more seeds will be produced.
formation of tillers. The number of tillers will increase the The number of tillers formed will increase the amount of
amount of grain formed on the panicle, this will increase grain formed on the panicle, thus causing an increase in
the weight of grain per plot. Seeds come from the results the weight of grain per plot (Widiyawati et al., 2014).
of photosynthate and assimilates that are translocated for
Table 1. Effect of PGPR and inorganic fertilizer substitution on vegetative growth
Substitusi pupuk anorganik Plant length per clump Number of tillers Chlorophyll index
dan PGPR) (cm) (mg g-1)
R0 90,77 14,3 a 30,1
R10 92,33 17,4 b 26,8
HSD 5% ns 2,5 ns
P0 97,83 d 18,8 c 32,4 b
P1 96,83 d 17,8 bc 32,2 b

P2 93,17 cd 17,2 bc 32 b
P3 91,17 bc 16 bc 30,1 ab
P4 87,67 ab 14,8 b 29,2 a
P5 82,67 a 11 a 28 a
HSD 5% 5,39 2,1 2,7
Description: The numbers in the table followed by the same letter do not show significant differences based on the 5% HSD
test, HST = Days After Transplanting, HSD = Honestly Significant Difference, tn = not significant. R0 = Without PGPR,
R10 = PGPR 10 Lha-1, P0 = farmer's fertilizer dose, P1 = recommended dose of the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture, P2
= 25% inorganic fertilizer substitution, P3 = 50% inorganic fertilizer substitution, P4 = 75% inorganic fertilizer substitution,
P5 = 100% inorganic fertilizer substitution (100% organic)

Leaf chlorophyll levels in plants that were given PGPR between N fertilizer and total leaf chlorophyll content.
applications and those that were not showed no significant Nitrogen is an important component of protein and nucleic
difference. Chlorophyll levels in the treatment of farmer's acids for cell formation and the function of chlorophyll in
customary fertilizers and the Ministry of Agriculture's carbohydrate synthesis (Mondal et al., 2023).
recommendations were the highest. This is in accordance Interaction on the percentage of filled grain per hill (%)
with the high nutrient content, especially the higher N parameter did not occur between PGPR and fertilizer
content compared to other treatments, likewise the leaf substitution treatments. There was no significant
chlorophyll levels in the organic fertilizer treatment alone difference between PGPR and no PGPR treatments on the
were the lowest. This difference in chlorophyll levels will percentage of filled grain per hill. Likewise, in the
certainly have an impact on the difference in the formation fertilizer substitution treatment, the percentage of filled
of photosynthates produced, thus affecting both vegetative grain per hill ranged from 81.9% - 85.5%. The percentage
and generative growth. Chlorophyll in leaves affects the of filled grain per hill above 80% indicates the ability of
reflection of infrared light which is one of the factors in plants to provide assimilates which is certainly influenced
increasing plant production (Mukhlisin and Soemarno, by several factors.
2020). Research reveals a direct positive correlation

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Rimbasari et al. Substitution of Inorganic Fertilizer and Biofertilizer Application on Wetland Rice (Oryza sativa)
Varieties Inpari 32

A A AA AA
87.00 A A A A

grain per clump (%)

Percentage of filler
A
82.00
A

77.00

72.00
P0 P1 P2 P3 P4 P5
Fertilizer treatment

(A)

(B)

(C)
Fig.1. Effect of fertilizer treatment and PGPR administration on yield parameters including percentage of filled grain per
hill (%), weight of 1000 seeds (g) and productivity. (A) Effect of fertilizer treatment and PGPR administration on percentage
of filled grain per hill (%). (B) Effect of fertilizer treatment and PGPR administration on weight of 1000 seeds (g). (C) Effect
of fertilizer treatment and PGPR administration on rice productivity (ton ha-1). P0 (farmers' habitual fertilization (400 kg
ha-1 urea + 400 kg ha-1 NPK), P1 (100% inorganic (275 kg ha -1 Urea + 250 kg ha-1 NPK), P2 (75% inorganic (206.25 kg ha -
1
Urea + 187.5 kg ha-1 NPK) + 25% organic (1.25 ton ha-1), P3 (50% inorganic ik (137.5 kg ha-1 Urea + 125 kg ha-1 NPK) +
50% organic (2.5 tons ha-1), P4 (25% inorganic (68.75 kg ha-1 Urea + 62.5 kg ha-1 NPK) + 75% organic (3.75 tons ha-1), P5
(100% organic fertilizer (5 tons ha-1).

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Rimbasari et al. Substitution of Inorganic Fertilizer and Biofertilizer Application on Wetland Rice (Oryza sativa)
Varieties Inpari 32

In the 1000 seed weight parameter, there was no treatment and the PGPR treatment and all showed results
interaction between PGPR treatment and fertilizer above 27.1 g, namely in the range above 29 g, which
substitution (Table 2). The weight of 1000 seeds in the means that the physical quality of the seeds produced is
PGPR treatment and without PGPR was not significantly very good. Factors of the rice grain filling process and
different, namely 29.2 g in the treatment without PGPR genetics (palea and lemma size) cause the fertilizer dose to
and 29.5 g in the treatment with PGPR. Likewise, in the have no effect on the weight of 1000 seeds (Widiyawati et
fertilizer substitution treatment, there was no significant al., 2014).
difference in the results of the 1000 seed weight. The 1000 Fertilization treatment significantly affected productivity,
seed weight parameter describes the physical quality of the but PGPR administration and its interaction did not
seeds produced by rice plants. The weight of 1000 seeds of significantly affect the variable (Figure 2.). Fertilization
Inpari 32 rice is 27.1 (Wahyuningrum et al., 2022). The treatment affected plant productivity, but was not
results of the study on the weight of 1000 seeds showed no significantly different. Reducing chemical fertilizers by
significant difference between the fertilizer substitution 75% did not reduce rice plant productivity.
Table 2. Farming business analysis
No. Treatment Total Cost (IDR) Revenue (IDR) R/C
1. Farmer’s fertilizer dose 25.900.000 49.920.000 1,92
2. Recommended dosage 25.234.750 47.840.000 1,89
3. 25% Inorganic fertilizer substitution 26.182.812 49.270.000 1,88
4. 50% Inorganic fertilizer substitution 27.156.250 48.490.000 1,72
5. 75% Inorganic fertilizer substitution 28.060.937 43.030.000 1,53
6. 100% organic 29.000.000 33.280.000 1,14
7. 100% organic (sold as organic rice) 29.000.000 61.440.000 2,11
* According to BPS (Indonesian Central Statistics Agency) data in 2018, the conversion of dry grain harvest to ground dry
grain was 83.17%, while ground dry grain to rice was 64.10%, with the calculation of the price of medium quality rice being
IDR 13,000.00.

R/C ratio analysis is a comparison of profits and costs used referred to in the text solely by a number enclosed in a
to determine business feasibility. The input-output data round bracket (i.e., (3) reads as "equation 3"). Ensure that
observed consists of the quantity and price of production any miscellaneous numbering system you use in your
inputs and the quantity and price of rice produced (Arianti paper cannot be confused with a reference [4] or an
et al., 2022). The calculation of the R/C value in this study equation (3) designation.
was carried out without adding PGPR costs considering
that there was no significant difference between treatments
IV. CONCLUSION
using PGPR and those that did not. From Table 3. Above,
the highest R/C value was obtained in the treatment of The results of the study showed that organic fertilizer and
farmer's habitual fertilizer, which was 1.92, then the PGPR can be used to substitute inorganic fertilizer 25% to
treatment of the recommended fertilizer dose from the 50% of the recommended dose, especially its effect on
Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture was 1.89. Substitution yield. While 75% and 100% organic fertilizer are not
of inorganic fertilizers of 25%, 50% and 75% resulted in effective in substituting inorganic fertilizer.
R/C values of 1.88; 1.72; and 1.53. The lowest R/C value
was in the organic fertilizer treatment, which was 1.14.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Overall, all fertilization treatments are still feasible
because they have an R/C value> 1. This research completed for requirement master degree
program at Brawijaya University. The authors say many
The first paragraph under each heading or subheading
thanks for research advisor and lecturer from the Faculty
should be flush left, and subsequent paragraphs should
of Agriculture, University of Brawijaya, who has
have a five-space indentation. A colon is inserted before an
supported this research.
equation is presented, but there is no punctuation
following the equation. All equations are numbered and

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Rimbasari et al. Substitution of Inorganic Fertilizer and Biofertilizer Application on Wetland Rice (Oryza sativa)
Varieties Inpari 32

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