ИСТИНА

Organic matter is needed in the soil as an essential component for good plant growth. While most of the paddy field in Bali is a shortage of organic matter so that the productivity of land for rice is very low. Therefore the effects of commercial humic product Lignohumate AM® (LH) on plant growth, yield, and grain quality were evaluated in a field trial using traditional wet rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivation in Bali, Indonesia. The experimental design included insecticidal sprays with beta-cyfluthrinat 100, 50, and 0% of recommended application rates, either alone or in combination with LH. The LH treatments (LHT) was applied for seed pre-treatment before sowing. For non-LH treatments (NLHT), equal amounts of water were used. Plant growth variables and substances contents of the treated rice were recorded. The data were variant analysed according to a randomized complete design and the differences among treatments were compared by Duncan Multiple Range test at levels of 1% and 5%. No significant effects on plant height, number of tillers, leaf number, leaf area or rice yield were recorded. LH stimulated root growth at early stages of plant development, promoted chlorophyll synthesis in leaves, and increased 1000-grain weight and number of grains per hill. Due to the increased level of chlorophyll, LH application promoted an increase in carbohydrate levels and amylose content in rice.