Effectiveness of Cattle Manure Compost in Supporting Growth and Productivity of Edamame (Glycine max L. Merril)

Edamame has strong market potential in Indonesia, but its development is constrained by reliance on chemical fertilizers that increase production costs and may reduce soil quality. Organic materials such as cattle manure compost offer a sustainable solution by improving soil fertility while supplying essential nutrients. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different cattle manure compost application rates on the growth and yield of edamame. The experiment was conducted from February to May 2023 at the Teaching and Research Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Jambi University, using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with five treatments: 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 tons per hectare, each replicated five times. The application of compost significantly increased the number of filled pods per plant, fresh pod weight, and total yield, with the highest yield recorded at 20 tons per hectare, representing a 28.9 percent increase compared to the control. However, compost application did not significantly affect vegetative growth parameters such as plant height and the number of branches, likely due to moderate nutrient content and slow nutrient mineralization. Overall, cattle manure compost at 20 tons per hectare improved edamame yield and offers a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilizers for enhancing soil fertility and productivity. These findings highlight the potential of organic amendments to support more environmentally friendly and cost-efficient edamame cultivation systems.