The results of the analysis of variance showed that the treatment had a significant effect (P<0.05) on leaf width, number of leaves, plant length, number of tillers and yield of forage dry matter. The mean value of the observations for each variable is shown in Table 1.
Leaf width
From Table 1, it can be seen that the leaf width in treatment F is wider, but not different from treatment D. Likewise, the leaf width in treatment E, C and B is not different. The smallest leaf width was obtained in treatment A (1.30 cm), while the widest was obtained in treatment F (1.75 cm). This increase in leaf width is due to mycorrhizal plants being able to increase the absorption of nutrients and water from the soil. Meanwhile, the biourine organic fertilizer in the soil is broken down by microorganisms that use it as a source of nutrition and energy. Organic fertilizers are also able to increase soil organic C content, nutrients, physical, chemical and biological properties of soil
(Sumarsono et al., 2005). The results of
Karti’s (2004) study concluded that giving arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on grass
Setaria plendida Stapf. resulted in significantly higher leaf area than without mycorrhizae. The factor that causes wider leaves in the biourine + AMF treatment is the K nutrient content in biourine organic fertilizer.
Tisdale and Nelson (1975) function to open and close the stomata, increasing water uptake by plants. The nutrient potassium also plays an important role in the photosynthetic process, because it directly increases the growth and area of leaves, increases CO
2 assimilation and increases the translocation of photosynthetic products out of the leaves.
Number of leaves
From Table 1, it can be seen that the number of leaves in treatment F was more, but not different from treatment D. Likewise, the number of leaves in treatment E, C and B was not statistically different. The least number of leaves was obtained in treatment A (61.56 leaves/clump), while the highest number was obtained in treatment F (101.55 leaves/clump). The increase in the number of leaves is caused by mycorrhizal plants that can increase nutrient and water absorption from the soil. Nutrients are transported by plant roots to the vegetative part for plant growth and development. According to
Smith and Read (2008) absorption of nutrients and water by mycorrhizal plants allows plants to produce new cells and hormones for plant growth. Furthermore, the plant becomes more fertile so that it produces more leaves. The application of organic fertilizers can increase the soil organic C content, a nutrient.
Tisdale and Nelson (1975) stated that potassium serves to help maintain osmotic potential, opening and closing stomata. Therefore, plants that contain enough potassium lose less water, so they can produce more leaves for growth.
Plant length
From Table 1, it can be seen that there is a significant difference (P<0.05) in the length of the C, E, B treatment plants with the F, D and A. The shortest plant length was obtained in treatment A (56.55 cm), while the longest was obtained in treatment C (65.33 cm).
Plant length increases with increasing biourine concentration. This is due to the increase in soil nutrient content. Organic fertilizers are also a source of nutrition and energy for soil microbes, so that the role of mycorrhizae will be more influential in increasing nutrient absorption by external mycelium. N, P and K nutrients in organic fertilizers have an effect on plant length. Elemental N functions to make plants green because they contain chlorophyll which plays a role in the photosynthesis process. The P element plays a role in strengthening the stems so they do not collapse easily and root development. Elemental K tends to remove the bad influence of N and reduces the plant ripening that is accelerated by P. While the energy provider for plant growth is sugar produced through photosynthesis
(Bidwell, 1979).
Number of tillers
Table 1 shows a significant difference (P<0.05) in the number of tillers in treatment D with other treatments. The highest number of tillers was obtained in treatment F (16.55 tillers/clump), while the lowest was obtained in treatment A (10.67 tillers/clump).
The increase in the number of tillers has a close relationship with the development of plant roots. Mycorrhizae help the roots to absorb nutrients and water. The external hyphae of mycorrhizal plants can increase the surface area of the roots and are able to enter the soil pores to absorb phosphate. Plant roots that develop due to the application of organic fertilizers will support the development of rhizomes and stolons. The more roots, the more tillers will be developed. The water content in plants and the aeration conditions of the planting medium are also factors that influence the formation of plant saplings. According to
Bidwell (1979), the percentage of water in plants affects the physiological activities of plants. Therefore, a good aeration condition of planting media will have a positive effect on the development of plant roots, so that the active absorption of nutrients by the roots goes well, so that the growth of more tillers.
Dry material yield
From Table 1, it can be seen that the dry matterial yield in treatment F is higher, significantly different from other treatments. The highest yield of forage dry matter was obtained in treatment F (2,253.60 kg/ha), while the highest was obtained in treatment A (1,651.65 kg / ha).
The yield of dry forage is closely related to the growth of the vegetative part of the plant (leaf width, plant length and number of tillers). The combination of biourine + AMF treatment showed better growth than other treatments. The oxygen consumption of mycorrhizal roots was 2-4 times greater than that of non-mycorrhizal plants. Therefore, it is better able to absorb mineral salts and supply exchangeable hydrogen ions. This causes mycorrhizal plant roots to have greater absorption kinetic energy. Nutrients and water that accumulate around the root area of the plant, will be translocated to the internal hyphae, then to the host network through the intracellular arbuscular, the better the root development, the better the translocation of water and nutrients from the soil to the plant, which means encouraging overall plant growth. Therefore, for maximum growth there must be enough leaves, which will absorb most of the solar radiation.
Beinroth (2001) mycorrhizae can increase the absorption of nutrients and water from the soil, which allows plants to produce new cells and growth hormones, improve soil aggregation so that the mass flow process runs better. Therefore, the arbuscular mycorrhizal mycorrhizal fungi are more able to influence the increase in dry matterial yield compared to those without mycorrhizae (
Smith and Read, 2008). However, the yield of forage dry matter is also a manifestation of various factors that influence plant growth and development, including genetic and environmental factors (
Bidwell, 1979). Therefore, in the same climatic conditions, soil fertility has more influence on plant growth and development
(Syafria et al., 2020). Mycorrhizal plants are more able to adapt than without mycorrhizae, because the influence of drought stress will not be permanent on mycorrhizal roots.
Husin et al., (2012) Mycorrhizal plant roots will quickly recover during periods of water shortage, because mycorrhizal hyphae have the ability to absorb water from soil pores when plants are no longer able to absorb water.
