The growth and yield of Vietnamese coriander (<i>Persicaria odorata</i>) with NPK and goat manure

Vietnamese coriander ( Persicaria odorata ) is a perennial herb from the Polygonaceae family valued as a functional vegetable, for its culinary, and medicinal uses. To maximize its growth and yield, appropriate fertilization is essential. Two separate studies investigated the effects of NPK and goat manure fertilizers on Vietnamese coriander productivity using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD). The study was conducted from February to April 2024 in Bogor, Indonesia (6°35'36”S 106°46'21” E) ± 231 m asl. The first study focused on the effects of different doses of NPK 16:16:16 fertilizer. The experiment involved treatments of 0 (control), 2, 4, and 6 g NPK plant⁻¹, with three replications. Results showed that 6 g plant⁻¹ of NPK significantly enhanced leaf area and color. However, different NPK doses had no significant effect on the overall plant weight, although 6 g plant⁻¹ yielded the highest results across most variables, except leaf number at 8 weeks after planting (WAP). The second study explored the effect of goat manure doses, treatments included 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 g plant⁻¹, with three replications. The findings revealed that goat manure significantly improved plant growth and yield, with 40 g plant⁻¹ delivering the best results. However, the study noted that the optimum dose was not reached, as the growth response remained linear up to 6 g plant⁻¹ of NPK or 40 g goat manure plant⁻¹. Both studies highlight the importance of fertilizer management in optimizing Persicaria odorata cultivation, with NPK having higher productivity than goat manure applications.