The Effect of Biofertilizer Dose on Growth and Yield of Four Maize Varieties in Indonesia

Maize is one of the most demanding food crops, but its current production is not sufficient yet. However, demand needs are met through imports. Furthermore, maize is mostly cultivated on marginal land, affecting productivity. Biofertilizer application is an effort to increase maize yield by improving soil quality. This study determines the effect of biofertilizer application in liquid and granule form with several doses on the growth and yield of four local maize varieties of Indonesia. The study was carried out using nested randomized complete block design with two factors, i.e., 7 biofertilizers (two formulas, i.e., liquid and granule with 3 levels of dosage) and 4 maize varieties. The field experiment was conducted in Tawangrenjeni, Turen, Malang, East Java. The results showed that the application of biofertilizers affects the growth and yield of several maize varieties. Granular biofertilizer at a dose of 150 g/plant showed the best growth and yield observed variables, and Bisi 99 showed the best performance compared with other maize varieties.