Respons Pertumbuhan dan Produksi Microgreens Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) terhadap Berbagai Media Tanam dan Konsentrasi Nutrisi AB Mix

Abstract

Okra is a plant with many benefits and has the potential to serve as a source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticancer, and antibacterial properties, making it a promising candidate for development as a natural, healthy functional food. The cultivation of okra as microgreens should be promoted because this method is easy to implement, has a short harvest time, and yields high-quality produce. Microgreens are generally consumed fresh without cooking, thereby preserving their nutritional content; okra, which is rich in beneficial compounds and promotes good health, is ideally suited for microgreen cultivation to increase its consumption. This study was designed as a factorial randomized block design with three replications. The first factor was the type of growing medium: E1 (vermiculite), E2 (cocopeat), and E3 (soil + compost). The second factor was the concentration of ABMix: V0 (control), V1 (200 ppm), V2 (300 ppm), V3 (400 ppm), and V4 (500 ppm). Data analysis was performed using ANOVA, and when a significant effect was found at the 5% level, the analysis proceeded to Duncan’s Multiple Range Test. The results showed that the use of different growing media and ABMix applications did not show a significant interaction on plant height, number of leaves, and dry weight of okra. The use of different growing media had a significant independent effect on plant height, number of leaves, and dry weight of okra, however ABMix application did not have a significant effect independently. Vermiculite was the optimal growing medium for okra microgreen growth, differing and significantly effect from all media treatments. Recommendation of best AB-Mix concentration could not be determined in this study, as the application did not yield significant effects on any of the measured parameters.

Keyword: ABMix, plant media, microgreens, morphology, okra