Key findings:

The study found that Nasa liquid organic fertilizer significantly affected various growth parameters of the Tymoti tomato variety, including flower appearance age, fruit set percentage, total flower and fruit numbers, total fruit weight, and sugar content. The optimal concentration was determined to be 3 ml/liter (P3).

What is known and what is new?

It is known that tomato productivity in the Tymoti variety is lower than optimal despite its adaptation to lowland conditions. This study introduces the new finding that applying Nasa liquid organic fertilizer significantly improves growth parameters and yield in this tomato variety. Specifically, it identifies the optimal concentration of 3 ml/liter for enhancing flower appearance, fruit set, total flower and fruit numbers, total fruit weight, and sugar content.

What is the implication, and what should change now?

The implication of this study is that using Nasa liquid organic fertilizer at a concentration of 3 ml/liter can significantly improve the growth and yield of the Tymoti tomato variety, enhancing overall productivity. As a result, tomato growers should consider adopting this specific concentration to achieve better yields and quality. This finding suggests a change in fertilization practices for lowland tomato cultivation, encouraging the use of optimized organic fertilizers to maximize productivity.

Tomato plants are popular horticultural crops in the world. Tomatoes have very many benefits, because they contain vitamins and minerals that are needed by the human body, The demand for market needs of tomatoes from year to year is increasing, so the need for efforts to improve the quality and quantity of tomatoes. Tymoti variety tomatoes are hybrid tomatoes originating from PT. East West Seed Indonesia is very well adapted to lowlands with an altitude of 60-350 Mean Sea Level (MASL). According to Daryanto et al., (2020) [1] the tymoti F1 variety has resistance to hot climates and viruses gemini disease. Tymoti tomato varieties have a short harvest life of 55 days after planting. Tomato productivity in East Java Province, Indonesia in 2017-2019 experienced fluctuating growth, in 2017 tomato productivity was 15.63 tons / hectare, in 2018 it was 16.40 tons / hectare and in 2019 it was 16.05 tons / hectare (Ministry of Agriculture, 2019). The productivity of tomatoes is still low when compared to the optimal productivity of tomatoes which can reach 50 tons / hectare, so it is necessary to increase the yield of tomato plants, through fertilizing Nasa liquid organic fertilizer.

The liquid organic fertilizer used is Nasa liquid organic fertilizer produced by PT. Natural Nusantara (Nasa). Nasa liquid organic fertilizer applied to plants should pay attention to the concentration applied. According to Juhaeti and Lestari (2017) [2] the concentration of liquid organic fertilizer applied to plants is higher, the more nutrients received. However, if the application of liquid organic fertilizer with excessive concentration, it will cause symptoms of wilt in plants. Nasa liquid organic fertilizer contains macro nutrients and micro nutrients as well as growth regulators that can stimulate growth, flowering and fruiting and increase plant resistance to pests and diseases. According to Romansyah et al., (2018) [3] liquid organic fertilizer has the advantage of being able to quickly overcome nutrient deficiencies, being able to provide nutrients quickly and without problems in leaching nutrients, and there are microbes that are good for plant growth.

The research was conducted at Green House located in Brejel Lor Village, Dawarblandong District, Mojokerto Regency with an altitude of ±.75 m above sea level with air temperatures ranging from 23℃-32℃. The research implementation time starts from January to April 2023. The tools and materials to be used are polybags measuring 40x40 cm, handsprayer, ruler, sieve, pruning scissors, drills, hoes, digital scales, ajir, raffia rope, labels, Tymoti F1 variety tomato seeds, Nasa liquid organic fertilizer, compost, Antracol fungicide, Urea fertilizer, SP-36 fertilizer, KCl fertilizer, Curacron 500 EC pesticide, and Water. This study is an experiment with a single factor prepared using a Complete Randomized Design (RAL), namely the concentration treatment of Nasa liquid organic fertilizer with 6 treatment levels consisting of control treatment (P0), 1 ml / liter (P1), 2 ml / liter (P2), 3 ml / liter (P3), 4 ml / liter (P4) and 5 ml / liter (P5), . The treatment was repeated 4 times, resulting in 24 experimental units. Each experimental unit consists of 3 polybags, each of which contains one tomato plant, so that there are a total of 72 sample plants.

Figure 1: Stages of Research

The parameters observed are the age of flower emergence, the percentage of fruitset, the total number of flowers, the total number of fruits, the total fruit weight and the analysis of sugar content. The data were analyzed using a variety (ANOVA) based on a non-factorial Complete Randomized Design (CRD). If the treatment has a real effect, a follow-up test is carried out using the Honest Real Difference (BNJ) test with a level of 5%.

Age of Appearance of Flowers 

The results of the variety analysis showed that the concentration treatment of Nasa liquid organic fertilizer had a very real effect on the age of the appearance of flowers of tymoti variety tomato plants.

Table 1. The average age of flowers appears

Remarks : Numbers accompanied by the same letter show no real difference (BNJ 5%) 

Table 1. Showing a BNJ yield of 5%, the treatment of Nasa liquid organic fertilizer concentration of 3ml/liter (P3) resulted in the fastest flower emergence age on average (19.92 hst), while the control treatment (P0) resulted in the longest flower emergence age with an average (23.42 hst). Nasa liquid organic fertilizer can trigger the intake of nutrients needed by plants, especially the content of phosphorus elements that can stimulate plant development, especially the age of flowers. According to Afianto et al., (2020) [4] the factor that affects the ability of plants to flower is the availability of nutrients related to energy supply for flower development. This is also supported by Mahulete (2014) [5] said that element phosphorus is very influential on the total number of flowers, the age of the first harvest and production per plant.

Total Interest Amount 

The results of the variety analysis showed that the concentration treatment of Nasa liquid organic fertilizer had a very real effect on the total number of flowers of tymoti variety tomato plants 

Table 2. Average Total Interest Amount

Remarks: Numbers accompanied by the same letter show no real difference (BNJ 5%)

Table 2 The 5% BNJ result showed that the treatment of Nasa liquid organic fertilizer concentration of 4 ml / liter (P4) resulted in the highest total number of flowers on average (51.58 florets) and was significantly different from the control treatment (P0) with the average number of flowers (46.33 florets), but did not differ significantly in the treatment of Nasa liquid organic fertilizer concentration of 3 ml / liter (P3) and the treatment of Nasa liquid organic fertilizer concentration of 5 ml / liter (P5). Nasa liquid organic fertilizer has phosphorus nutrients that stimulate flowering. According to Sari et al., (2019) [6] the flowering process in tomato plants is influenced by the availability of phosphorus nutrients in plants. This is in accordance with statement Wibowo (2018) [7] phosphorus nutrients are able to improve the structure of plant roots, which affects the ability of roots to take nutrients optimally.

Fruitset Percentage 

The results of the variety analysis showed that the concentration treatment of Nasa liquid organic fertilizer had a significant effect on the percentage of fruitset of tymoti variety tomato plants.

Table 3. Average Fruitset Percentage

Remarks : Numbers accompanied by the same letter show no real difference (BNJ 5%)

Table 3. BNJ yield 5% treatment concentration of Nasa liquid organic fertilizer 3ml/liter (P3) resulted in the highest percentage of fruitset with an average (66.27%) and in real contrast to the control treatment (P0) resulted in the lowest percentage of fruitset with an average (58.30%).Nasa liquid organic fertilizer contains potassium and phosphorus that increase the number of flowers and prevent flower loss. According to Sumaji (2020) [8], potassium plays a role in preventing flower loss and increasing fruit weight and quality, while the availability of phosphorus also affects flower formation and fruit ripening. 

Total Number of Fruits Harvested 

The results of the variety analysis showed that the concentration treatment of Nasa liquid organic fertilizer had a very real effect on the total number of fruits harvested by tymoti variety tomatoes.

Diagram 1. Average Total Number of Fruits Harvested

Diagram 1 showed a BNJ yield of 5% Nasa liquid organic fertilizer concentration treatment of 3 ml/liter (P3) produced the highest number of total fruits harvested per plant on average (34.08 pieces) and was significantly different from the control treatment (P0) which only produced the lowest total number of fruits harvested per plant on average (26.92 pieces). The application of Nasa liquid organic fertilizer can increase the number of fruits, because the nutrients needed by plants are available in sufficient quantities. According to Rohkhiminarsi et al., (2020) [9] tomato plants in the generative phase need sufficient phosphorus and potassium nutrients, so that they will produce a high number of tomatoes. Potassium nutrients play a role in nutrient absorption, transpiration, formation of protein and carbhohydrate and distribution of carbhohydrate to plant organs. This is in accordance with the statement of Kurniawan and Damanhuri (2018) [10] stating that potassium elements can maintain plant cell turgor, if cell turgor is maintained, the plant body will be stronger so that flowers and fruits do not fall off easily. 

Total Fruit Weight Harvest 

The results of the variety analysis showed that the concentration treatment of Nasa liquid organic fertilizer had a very real effect on the total fruit weight of the harvest of tymoti variety tomato plants

Diagram 2. Average Fruit Weight Total Harvest

Diagram 2 showed a BNJ yield of 5% Nasa liquid organic fertilizer concentration treatment of 4 ml / liter (P4) produced the highest total harvest fruit weight with an average (745.17 g) and was significantly different from the control treatment (P0) which only produced the lowest total harvest fruit weight with an average (594.00 g), but did not differ significantly from the treatment of liquid organic fertilizer concentration (P3) with an average (745.17 g) and (P5) with an average (759.67 g). The results of weighing fruit weights show that the application of Nasa liquid organic fertilizer treatment can increase the total fruit weight of plants, one of the main factors in applying Nasa liquid organic fertilizer is the right concentration. According to Juanda et al., (2018) [11] said that Nasa POC is a liquid organic fertilizer which if its use is done with the right concentration, it can increase the process of nutrient absorption optimally, so that weight production for crop yields increases. This is in accordance with Sulichantini's statement (2015) [12] plants produce maximum production results if the nutrients provided are in a balanced amount and in accordance with plant needs. The availability of sufficient nutrients can increase production, especially the weight of fruits per plant.

Sugar Content Analysis 

The results of the variety analysis showed that the concentration treatment of Nasa liquid organic fertilizer had a very real effect on the analysis of the sugar content of the fruit of tymoti variety tomato plants.

Diagram 3: Average Sugar Content Analisis

Diagram 3 showed a BNJ yield of 5% Nasa liquid organic fertilizer concentration treatment of 3 ml / liter (P3) produced the highest tomato sugar content on average (9.00 brix%) and was significantly different from the Nasa liquid organic fertilizer concentration treatment of 4 ml / liter (P4) produced the lowest tomato fruit sugar content on average (5.75 brix%), but not significantly different from the treatment of Nasa liquid organic fertilizer concentration of 2 ml / liter (8.50 brix%). Nasa liquid organic fertilizer contains element N, if too many elements cause low tomato sugar content, in Nasa liquid organic fertilizer treatment 4 ml / liter (P4) produces the lowest sugar content, but shows the highest total fruit weight. According to Tejada et al., (2008) [13]  the formation of sugar content is influenced by the content of N elements absorbed by plants from the growing media, if the absorption of available N elements is higher, it will reduce sugar levels, because it can affect the synthesis of sugar related to the hydrolysis of flour into sugar.

The effect of organic fertilizer concentration treatment look for Nasa has a real effect on the results of the age parameters of flower appearance, fruitset percentage, total number of flowers, total number of fruits, total fruit weight and sugar content analysis. The concentration of Nasa liquid organic fertilizer 3 ml/liter (P3) produces the age of flower emergence, the percentage of fruitsets, the number of total fruits harvested and the most optimal sugar content analysis, while the concentration of organic fertilizer search Nasa 4 ml/liter (P4) produces the total number of flowers, and the highest total harvest fruit weight.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The author thank to my lecturer Dr.Dra.Sutini, M,Pd and Ir.Didik Utomo Pribadi MP, besides that the author also thanked his fellow students of the UPN "Veteran" East Java Faculty of Agriculture who had helped in this research

Conflict of Interest:

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Funding: No funding sources 

Ethical approval: The study was approved by the Institutional Ethics Committee of Universitas Negeri Makassar

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