Chemical Characteristics of Eco-enzymes as Liquid Organic Fertilizer from Vegetable Waste and Its Impact to Improve the Growth of Red Onion (Allium ascalonicum L.) on Marginal Dry Land

Applying eco-enzymes and compost to improve plant growth on marginal dry land is an alternative to reducing chemical fertilizers.Moreover, utilizing agricultural waste as a raw material for producing eco-enzymes and compost is crucial for minimizing agricultural waste accumulation, which continues to rise with increasing population and agricultural activities.This research aims to produce eco-enzymes from vegetable waste as liquid organic fertilizer and examine their effect on the growth of red onion.Eco-enzyme production was carried out from July to October 2024, and a field examination of the impact of eco-enzyme on the growth of red onion was carried out from October to December 2024.The study included the chemical characteristics of eco-enzymes, marginal dry land properties (pH, nitrogen, C-Organic, nitrogen-total, phosphorus available, P2O5, K2O, and potassium levels), and red onion plant growth components (plant height, number of leaves, leaves area, and number of shoots Field experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of eco-enzyme application on the growth of red onion plants using a randomized block design (RBD).The treatment included: control (EK0), eco-enzyme 15ml/L water + sago pulp compost 10 ton ha -1 (EK1), eco-enzyme 25ml/L water + sago pulp compost 10tonha -1 (EK2), eco-enzyme 15ml/L water + sago pulp compost 15tonha -1 (EK3), eco-enzyme 25ml/L water + sago pulp compost 15tonha -1 (EK4), ecoenzyme 15ml/L water + sago pulp compost 20tonha -1 (EK5), and eco-enzyme 15ml/L water + sago pulp compost 20tonha -1 (EK6).Each treatment was repeated five times to obtain 35 experimental units.The study results showed that the nutritional content of eco-enzyme meets the requirements of a liquid organic fertilizer.The research site is classified as marginal dry land.Applying eco-enzyme and sago pulp compost fertilizer positively affects the growth of red onion plants.This study suggests that treating eco-enzyme 15ml/L water + sago pulp compost 20tonha -1 (EK6) have significant influences on plant height, number of leaves, leaf area, and shoot development.