The Growth and Production of Maize (Zea mays L.) at Various Distance Planting and Biofertilization.

Abstract

Farmers habits in cultivating corn plants, including excessive use of chemical fertilizers and
pesticides, causing environmental pollution and decreasing soil quality, both chemical,
physical, and biological, which results in low production, therefore some efforts are needed
to remain productive, namely by using biological fertilizers to improve soil improvement and
improve spacing. This study aims to determine the growth and production of maize at various
distance planting and to apply biofertilization. The research was conducted in Sei Beras
Sekata Village, Deli Serdang in December 2019 to March 2020. The research used factorial
randomized block design, the first factor was various of distance planting 70 cm x 10 cm, 70
cm x 15 cm, 70 cm x 20 cm, and the second factor was biological fertilizer consisting of 0
g/ha, 400 g/ha, 800 g/ha, 1200 g/ha. The observed parameters were plant height, leaf area,
stem diameter, dry seed weight per plant, dry seed weight per plot, cob length, ear diameter,
number of seeds per cob and root dry weight. The results showed that planting distances 70
cm x 20 cm significantly affected the stem diameter, length of cob, ear diameter, number of
seeds per cob, weight of dried seeds per plant, and weight of dried seeds per plot. Biological
fertilizer has a significant effect on the diameter of the cob. There was no interaction between
the distance of planting corn and the application of biological fertilizer to the growth and
production of corn.