Response of Two Varieties of Shallot (Allium ascalonicum L.) to Sulfur Addition in a Floating Raft Hydroponic System

This paper contains information about the effects of differences in varieties and concentrations of sulfur given to shallots cultivated hydroponically. Currently, shallot cultivation in open fields has challenges that must be faced, such as the narrowing of agricultural land and disease due to planting off season which can affect the quantity and quality of shallots. Therefore, hydroponic cultivation of shallots using a floating raft system is a solution that can overcome this problem. Variety selection and fertilizer management are factors that can increase shallot yields. One of the varieties that can be used is the Super Phillip and Tajuk varieties. The increase in yield that can be done is by adding sulfur from MgSO4. Sulfur can increase the weight of shallot bulbs because sulfur plays an important role in increasing the translocation of assimilates to enlarge the bulbs, forming essential amino acids, forming protein, and giving shallots a rich aroma and level of spiciness. This research aims to obtain the optimum concentration of sulfur to obtain good quantity and quality of shallots in the floating raft system.