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ABSTRACT
The seaweed extract offers numerous benefits to plant growth and has been widely used recently due to its advantages for vegetation. This seaweed extract contains growth hormones such as cytokinins, auxins, and gibberellins, which promote cell division, enhance root and shoot growth, and strengthen plant structures such as roots. A study was conducted to investigate the effects of using the liquid organic fertilizer derived from Eucheuma cottonii seaweed extract in enhancing the growth, yield, and quality of Chinese cabbage Brassica rapa l. The experiment involved two treatments which are seaweed extract liquid fertilizer (ERL) and a control without fertilizer (TB). The application rate of the fertilizer was 100ml per treatment per polybag each week. The seaweed Eucheuma cottonii was used in a 1:3 ratio, and the fermentation process lasted for two months, maintaining a suitable pH range of 6-7. The experimental design was a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with four replications for each treatment type. The significant differences were determined using Statistical Analysis System (SAS), and mean comparison using Least Significant Difference (LSD) method. The results of the study showed significantly in plant height, leaf area, plant fresh weight, leaf number, and SPAD values at p ≤ 0.05 under the ERL treatment compared to the TB. This indicates that the application of seaweed extract provides essential nutrients and a balanced composition that enhances plant physiological growth. Therefore, the liquid organic fertilizer from Eucheuma cottonii seaweed extract is highly effective in boosting the growth and quality of leafy vegetables like Chinese cabbage. It serves as a suitable and eco-friendly alternative to meet agricultural and food production needs in Malaysia.
Keywords: Liquid organic fertilizer, seaweed, leafy vegetables
