Optimasi Waktu Inokulasi dan Level FMA pada Tanaman Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) | Optimization of Inoculation Time and FMA Level on Alfalfa Plants (Medicago sativa L.)

Alfalfa merupakan tanaman subtropis yang sulit beradaptasi di daerah tropis. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengevaluasi efektivitas pemberian fungi mikoriza arbuskula (FMA) berdasarkan waktu inokulasi dan level terhadap pertumbuhan tanaman alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Rancangan percobaan berupa Rancangan Acak Lengkap (RAL) faktorial 2 x 6 dengan 20 ulangan. Faktor I yaitu waktu inokulasi, meliputi persemaian dan pembibitan. Faktor F yaitu level FMA, meliputi kontrol positif, 0 g FMA (A50F0), 5 g FMA (A50F5), 10 g FMA (A50F10), 15 g FMA (A50F15), dan 20 g FMA (A50F20). Hasil penelitian menunjukkan waktu inokulasi dan level FMA berpengaruh nyata (P<0,05) terhadap morfologi tanaman. Tanaman dengan inokulasi FMA memberikan respon yang baik terhadap kolonisasi FMA, berat segar dan kering tanaman alfalfa. Kesimpulan bahwa inokulasi FMA efektif meningkatkan produktivitas tanaman alfalfa (kolonisasi akar, tinggi, jumlah daun, jumlah tangkai daun, jumlah cabang, diameter batang, berat segar dan kering, serta warna daun) dibanding kontrol dan tanpa FMA. Inokulasi FMA pada periode persemaian cenderung lebih efektif. Inokulasi FMA level 20 g pada periode persemaian memberikan hasil yang baik secara konsisten.

Alfalfa is a subtropical plant that is difficult to adapt to the tropics. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (FMA) application based on inoculation time and level on alfalfa plant growth (Medicago sativa L.). The experimental design is a 2 x 6 factorial completely randomized design (CRD) with 20 replications. Factor I is the time of inoculation, including nursery (I1) and seedling (I2). Factor F is FMA level, including positive control (A100F0), 0 g FMA (A50F0), 5 g FMA (A50F5), 10 g FMA (A50F10), 15 g FMA (A50F15), and 20 g FMA (A50F20). The results showed that inoculation time and FMA level had a significant effect (P<0.05) on plant morphology. Plants with FMA inoculation gave a good response to FMA colonization, fresh and dry weight of alfalfa plants. It is concluded that FMA inoculation effectively increases alfalfa plant productivity (root colonization, height, number of leaves, number of petioles, number of branches, stem diameter, fresh and dry weight, and leaf color) compared to control and without FMA. FMA inoculation in the nursery period tends to be more effective. FMA inoculation level of 20 g in the nursery period gave consistently good results.