Growth and Yield Performance of F1-Hybrid Sweet Corn (Zea mays saccharata) under Soil Drenching and Foliar Spray of Eco-Enzyme
Abstract
Sweet corn is a horticultural crop with high economic value and steadily increasing market demand. However, sweet corn productivity in Indonesia remains relatively low, ranging from 8 to 10 tons per hectare, well below its genetic potential of 12 to 15 tons per hectare. This low productivity is attributed to several factors, including soil fertility degradation caused by unsustainable cultivation practices, pest and disease infestations, and limited farmer access to quality agricultural inputs at affordable prices. Sweet corn plants respond well to inorganic fertilizers; however, long-term use of these fertilizers can degrade soil quality and fertility, reduce microbial activity, and increase production costs. Moreover, excessive reliance on inorganic fertilizers leads to soil nutrient imbalances, reduced organic matter content, and adverse environmental impacts. Therefore, efforts are needed to reduce this dependence, one of which involves utilizing eco-enzymes as an organic nutrient supplement. This study aimed to evaluate the growth and yield responses of Hybrid-F1 sweet corn plants to reduced NPK fertilizer doses, combined with eco-enzyme application via soil drenching and foliar spray. The study employed a Randomized Block Design with four replications and four treatment levels, comparing full NPK fertilizer doses, a 50% reduction in NPK fertilizer combined with eco-enzyme, and standalone eco-enzyme application. The results demonstrated significant improvements in fertilization efficiency, with the combination of a 50% reduction in NPK fertilizer and weekly applications of 1 ml/l eco-enzyme via soil drenching and foliar spray achieving optimal growth and production equivalent to full fertilization. Another important finding is that eco-enzyme can be used independently without inorganic fertilizers; plants still grew normally and produced ears, although yields were relatively lower. For best results, it is recommended to use a combination of a 50% reduction in NPK fertilizer dose and eco-enzyme application through both soil drenching and foliar spray. This approach not only reduces production costs by up to 50% but also promotes more sustainable and environmentally friendly cultivation practices.
Downloads
References
Amir, N., Marlina, N., Palmasari, B., Aluyah, C., & Aminah, I. S. (2022). Respon pertumbuhan dan hasil jagung manis (Zea mays saccharata Sturt L.) terhadap pupuk organik cair asal limbah buahan dan NPK di lahan kering. Agro Bali: Agricultural Journal, 5(3), 498–503. https://doi.org/10.37637/ab.v5i3.1027
Bapaimu, L. F., Djaja, I., & Sembiring, J. (2024). Respon pertumbuhan dan produksi tanaman jagung manis (Zea mays saccharata Sturt) terhadap pemberian pupuk kandang sapi di Kabupaten Merauke. INSOLOGI: Jurnal Sains dan Teknologi, 3(3), 234–242. https://doi.org/10.55123/insologi.v3i3.3415
Ermawati, E., Thesiwati, A. S., Diyanti, A. R., & Mahnia, S. P. (2023). Studi pengaruh pemberian eco-enzim terhadap pertumbuhan dan hasil tanaman jagung manis (Zea mays var. saccharata Sturt). Agrivet, 29(1), 39–46. https://doi.org/10.31315/agrivet.v29i1.9728
Haryoko, W., Mutia, Y. D., Karet, R. K., & Utama, M. Z. H. (2023). Kombinasi pupuk K dan kompos terhadap pertumbuhan dan hasil jagung manis (Zea mays var. saccharata Sturt). Pangan, 32(2), 121–128.
Hemalatha, M., & Visantini, P. (2020). Potential use of eco-enzyme for the treatment of metal-based effluent. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 716, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/716/1/012016
Jaya, E. R., Situmeang, Y. P., & Andriani, A. A. S. P. R. (2021). Effect of biochar from urban waste and eco-enzymes on growth and yield of shallots (Allium ascalonicum L.). SEAS (Sustainable Environment Agricultural Science), 5(2), 105–113. https://doi.org/10.22225/seas.5.2.3871.105-113
Johnson, V. J., & Mirza, A. (2020). Role of macro and micronutrients in the growth and development of plants. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences, 9(11), 576–587. https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2020.911.071
Kesmayanti, N., Asmawati, & Mareza, E. (2016). Efektivitas pupuk organik cair dan padat pada sistem budidaya jagung manis semi-organik di tanah Ultisol. Dalam Prosiding Seminar Nasional Dies Natalis ke-53 Fakultas Pertanian Universitas Sriwijaya (hlm. 978–979).
Kesmayanti, N., Purwanto, R. J., & Mareza, E. (2023). The adaptation of Ciherang rice variety roots to various levels of low nutrient stress in tidal swamp soils. Agrologia, 12(2), 239–245. https://doi.org/10.30598/ajibt.v12i2
Kesmayanti, N., Purwanto, R. J., Romza, E., Kalsum, U., Irmawati, W., & Putri, K. (2025). Effectiveness of eco-enzyme for increasing growth and production of shallot from vegetative seeds. Journal of Agriculture (JoA), 4(2), 106–114. https://doi.org/10.47709/joa.v4i02.6442
Kumar, S., Kumar, S., & Mohapatra, T. (2021). Interaction between macro- and micronutrients in plants (Review). Frontiers in Plant Science, 12, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2021.665583
Lubis, N., Wasito, M., Marlina, L., Girsang, R., & Wahyudi, H. (2022). Respon pemberian ekoenzim dan pupuk organik cair terhadap pertumbuhan dan produksi bawang merah (Allium ascalonicum L.). Agrium, 25(2), 107–115.
Mahbub, I. A., Tampubolon, G., Mukhsin, & Farni, Y. (2023). Peningkatan kesuburan tanah dan hasil padi sawah melalui aplikasi pupuk organik. Jurnal Tanah dan Sumberdaya Lahan, 10(2), 335–340. https://doi.org/10.21776/ub.jtsl.2023.010.2.17
Mandal, S., & Verma, D. (2024). Effect of eco-enzyme on growth, yield, and quality characters of different cultivars of radish (Raphanus sativus L.). Asian Journal of Microbial Biotechnology and Environmental Sciences, 26(1), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.53550/AJMBES.2024.v26i01.001
Nindita, A., Ikhsan, L. H., & Suwarto. (2024). Pertumbuhan dan produksi tanaman jagung manis (Zea mays var. saccharata Sturt) pada berbagai dosis pupuk majemuk NPK+Mg (8-9-39+3). Buletin Agrohorti, 12(2), 236–245. https://doi.org/10.29244/agrob.v12i2.56677
Novianto, & Bahri, S. (2023). Response of mustard (Brassica juncea L.) growth and production to application of eco-enzyme liquid organic fertilizer. Jurnal Agrotek Tropika, 11(1), 1–5. https://doi.org/10.23960/jat.v11i1.5773
Nusantara, E. (2020). Pembuatan eco-enzyme. Eco Enzyme Nusantara.
Puspadewi, S., Swandi, W. S., & Kurniawan, K. (2016). Pengaruh konsentrasi pupuk organik cair dan dosis pupuk N, P, K terhadap pertumbuhan dan hasil tanaman jagung manis (Zea mays L. var. rugosa Bonaf) kultivar Talenta. Jurnal Kultivasi, 15(3), 208–216.
Rahma, M. Y., & Andri. (2025). Pemanfaatan kompos batang pisang dan pupuk organik eco-enzim F2 mengkudu terhadap pertumbuhan dan hasil tanaman jagung manis (Zea mays saccharata Sturt). Jurnal Pertanian Agronitas, 7(1), 543–552.
Rahman, K. M. A., & Zhang, D. (2018). Effects of fertilizer broadcasting on the excessive use of inorganic fertilizers and environmental sustainability. Sustainability, 10(3), 759. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10030759
Roba, T. B. (2018). Review on the effect of mixing organic and inorganic fertilizer on productivity and soil fertility. Open Access Library Journal, 5, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1104618
Rochyani, N., Utpalasari, R. L., & Dahliana, I. (2020). Analisis hasil konversi eco-enzyme menggunakan nenas (Ananas comosus) dan pepaya (Carica papaya L.). Jurnal Redoks, 5(2), 135–140.
Rohmaniya, F., Jumadi, R., & Redjeki, E. S. (2023). Respon pertumbuhan dan hasil tanaman jagung manis (Zea mays saccharata Sturt) pada pemberian pupuk kandang kambing dan pupuk NPK. Jurnal Tropicrops, 6(1), 37–51.
Sidqi, I. F., Krestiani, V., & Yuliani, F. (2022). Pengaruh pupuk kandang ayam dan eco-enzyme terhadap pertumbuhan dan hasil tanaman kailan (Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra). Muria Jurnal Agroteknologi, 1(2), 13–21.
Sitompul, H. S., Maulina, I., & Situmorang, I. (2025). Analisis kandungan unsur hara pada eco-enzyme menggunakan jeruk (Citrus sinensis) dan nenas (Ananas comosus). Elektriese: Jurnal Sains dan Teknologi Elektro, 15(1), 40–44.
Soverda, N., Jasminarni, Swari, E. I., & Sihombing, P. (2023). Pertumbuhan dan hasil tanaman kedelai pada pemberian beberapa konsentrasi eko-enzim. Jagro: Jurnal Media Pertanian, 8(2), 169–176. https://doi.org/10.33087/jagro.v8i2.217
Tuhumury, N. C., Sahetapy, J. M. F., Matakupan, J., & Rijoly, S. M. A. (2024). Aktivitas antibakteri eco-enzyme terhadap bakteri yang diisolasi dari rumput laut terinfeksi ice-ice. TRITON: Jurnal Manajemen Sumberdaya Perairan, 20(1), 54–61.
Vama, L., & Cherekar, M. N. (2020). Production, extraction, and uses of eco-enzyme using citrus fruit waste: Wealth from waste. Asian Journal of Microbial Biotechnology and Environmental Sciences, 22(2), 346–351.
Yuliandewi, N. W., Sukerta, I. M., & Wiswasta, I. A. (2018). Utilization of organic garbage as eco garbage enzyme for lettuce plant growth (Lactuca sativa L.). International Journal of Science and Research.
Copyright (c) 2026 Novisrayani Kesmayanti, Ummi Kalsum, Edi Romza, Ruli Joko Purwanto, Widya Irmawati, Yani Purwanti
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with Jurnal Agronomi Tanaman Tropika (JUATIKA) agree to the following terms:
Authors retain copyright and grant the Jurnal Agronomi Tanaman Tropika (JUATIKA) right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0) that allows others to share (copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format) and adapt (remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially) with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in Jurnal Agronomi Tanaman Tropika (JUATIKA).
Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in Jurnal Agronomi Tanaman Tropika (JUATIKA). Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.
More Information
