Optimization Growth, Yield and Secondary Metabolites Quality of Kencur (<i>Kaempferia galanga L.</i>) with Various Levels of Shade and Sulfur Fertilizer

Abstract

Kencur can grow well in the lowlands or upper lands with loose soil which does not contain much air. The quality of yield  of kencur rhizome is determined by its maturity level. An addition of sulfur and the provision of shading could  increase the quality and yield of rhizome. The purpose of this study was to study and determine the response of two  accessions to the application of sulfur fertilizer and different shade treatments in increasing yield and quality of the  rhizome. The research was conducted from December 2020 to June 2021 in Jatikerto Agro Techno Park of Brawijaya  University, Malang. A split-split-plot design was used in this study. The design consisted of main plots at 25% and 50%  shades, subplots: Banyuwangi and Blitar accessions, and sub-subplots: 0, 60, 90 and 120 kg ha-1 MgSO4. The yields  obtained indicated that there were interactions between treatments that occured in dry weight parameters of the  rhizome, total plants and kencur productivity. By contrast, other treatments such as fresh weight only interacted in the treatment of accession and sulfur fertilizers without the presence of shade treatment. In both accesions, an increase in  sulfur fertilizer doses could increase the percentage of total antioxidant activity. However, the antioxidant content was  higher at 25% shade compared to that at 50% shade. The dose of sulfur fertilizer at both the shade and accession used  was able to increase ethyl p-methoxycinnamate content.