Flower Growth of Pepper (Piper nigrum L.) Variety Nyelungkup as Affected by Benzyladenine and Foliar Fertilizer Applications

Pepper (Piper nigrum L.) is an important commodity in Indonesia, particularly in the Bangka Belitung region. Flowering is an important stage in pepper production and may be influenced by plant growth regulators and nutrient availability. This study evaluated the effects of benzyladenine (BA) concentrations and foliar fertilizer rates on the flowering-related growth of the Nyelungkup pepper variety. The research was conducted in Beruas Village, Central Bangka Regency, from July to November 2025, using a split-plot design in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The main plots consisted of four BA concentrations (0, 10, 20, and 30 ml/L), while the subplots consisted of foliar fertilizer rates of 2 ml/L (P2), 3 ml/L (P3), and 4 ml/L (P4). BA significantly affected the numbers of productive branches, flowers, and leaves, whereas foliar fertilizer significantly affected the numbers of nodes and primordia. The BA × foliar fertilizer interaction was not significant for any observed variable. The 10 ml/L BA treatment had the highest means for productive branches and leaves, while the 2 ml/L foliar fertilizer rate had the highest mean for primordia. These results should be interpreted according to the significance tests for each variable.