Effect of Goat Manure Dosage and Watering Frequency on Growth and Yield (Brassica juncea L.) Aerobic System

Abstract

Green mustard (Brassica juncea L.) is an economically valuable leafy vegetable, yet its productivity in Indonesia has declined due to excessive use of inorganic fertilizer and inadequate water management. This study aimed to determine the effects of goat manure organic fertilizer dose and watering frequency, both individually and in combination, on the growth and yield of mustard grown under an aerobic cultivation system. Using a factorial randomized block design with two factors—goat manure dose (0, 10, and 20 tons per hectare) and watering frequency (daily, every two days, and every three days) the experiment was carried out in Nyurlembang Village, West Lombok Regency. Nine treatment combinations were replicated three times across 27 experimental plots. Plant height, leaf number, leaf area, fresh weight, and dried weight were among the characteristics noted. According to the findings, watering every two days consistently resulted in the best growth in plant height, leaf number, and leaf area, while a fertilizer dose of 20 tons per hectare provided the highest plant height and leaf area at the final observation stage. Although the interaction between the two factors was not statistically significant, the combination of the highest fertilizer dose with watering every two days descriptively showed the best performance, indicating a practical synergy between nutrient availability and water sufficiency. It can be concluded that appropriate management of organic fertilizer dose and watering frequency can serve as an efficient and environmentally friendly cultivation strategy for mustard under an aerobic system.