PERAN PUPUK HAYATI MAJEMUK TERHADAP PERTUMBUHAN DAN PRODUKTIVITAS JAGUNG MANIS (Zea mays L. Saccharata)

Sweet corn (Zea mays L. Saccharata) is a horticultural commodity with high economic value, yet its productivity is often constrained by low soil fertility and low fertilization efficiency. The use of compound biofertilizer is one alternative to improve nutrient use efficiency while supporting a more sustainable cultivation system. This study aimed to determine the role of compound biofertilizer on the growth and production of sweet corn. The study was conducted from July to october 2025 at the Indonesian Center for Biodiversity and Biotechnology (ICBB), Bogor, using a randomized complete block design with five treatments and five replications: control without fertilizer, 100% standard NPK, 100% NPK + compound biofertilizer, 75% NPK + compound biofertilizer, and 50% NPK + compound biofertilizer. The parameters observed included plant height, leaf number, stem diameter, yield components, and Relative Agronomic Effectiveness (RAE). The results showed that compound biofertilizer application significantly affected the growth and production of sweet corn. The 75% NPK + compound biofertilizer treatment gave the best response for most of the observed parameters and produced the highest RAE value of 233%. Compound biofertilizer contributed to improving the growth and production of sweet corn by increasing nutrient use efficiency and soil biological activity, so that the use of inorganic fertilizer could be reduced without decreasing plant productivity.