APLIKASI PHOTOSYNTHETIC BACTERIA TERHADAP PERTUMBUHAN VEGETATIF TANAMAN NILAM (Pogostemon cablin BENTH.)

Abstract

Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin Benth.) is an essential oil–producing plant with high economic value. The vegetative stage plays a critical role in determining biomass production potential. This study evaluated the effect of Photosynthetic Bacteria (PSB) fertilizer on the vegetative growth of patchouli. The experiment was carried out in Kinalawiran Village, South Minahasa Regency, using a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with four treatments: control (no PSB), PSB 10 ml/L, PSB 20 ml/L, and PSB 30 ml/L, each replicated six times. Growth parameters observed were plant height, stem diameter, and fresh weight. Results showed that PSB application significantly improved all measured parameters. The 30 ml/L treatment produced the highest growth response; however, the linear trend observed across treatments indicated that the optimum dose had not yet been achieved within the tested range. Further studies with higher concentrations are recommended to determine the optimal PSB dosage for maximizing vegetative growth in patchouli.

 Keywords: Patchouli, vegetative phase, PSB, plant growth