EFFECT MULCHING AND FERTILIZER ZA ON THE GROWTH AND PRODUCTION OF RED CHILI IN SELUMA LOWLANDS

The purpose of this research was to determine the effect of mulching and ZA fertilizer dose on the growth and
production of red chili in the lowlands. The research was conducted in farmers' fields Rimbo Kedui Village from
April to August 2011. The research used a factorial randomized block design (RBD) consisting of two factors:
first factor (I) used of mulch (M) with 3 types of mulch : M0 = Without mulch (control), M1 = Black plastic
mulch and M2 = Straw Mulching with a thickness of 5 cm each treatment, while second factor (II) dose of ZA
fertilizr with 5 levels: Z0 = without ZA (control), Z1 = 350 kg / ha, Z2 = 400 kg / ha, Z3 = 450 kg / ha, Z4 = 500
kg / ha. Each treatment was repeated 5 replicates. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance and tested further
by DMRT to determine differences between treatments. The results showed that the use of mulch significantly
affect the number of branches, stem diameter, yield plant and productivity with the highest value in the treatment
of black plastic mulch. Provision of ZA fertilizer significant effect on the productivity of pepper plants with the highest average value of 16.81 t / ha in the provision of ZA fertilizer with a dose of 400 kg/ha.