The effect of fertilizer use on organic melon plants quality

Fertilizer is one of the important factors in plant cultivation, including melon plants. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of fertilizer use on the quality of organic melon crops. This study used an experimental design. Data in this study were collected through observations of several parameters that measure the quality of melon plant growth results. These parameters include flowering age, harvest age, stem diameter, fruit weight per plant, fruit flesh thickness, and taste test. Data obtained from observations were processed by statistical analysis, including analysis of variance, and further tests were carried out using the Honest Real Difference (BNJ) test at the 5% significance level. The results showed that the interaction between the use of Mutiara NPK fertilizer and Fortune liquid organic fertilizer showed no significant effect on all observation parameters. However, when considered separately, both Mutiara NPK fertilizer and Fortune liquid organic fertilizer had a significant effect on the observation parameters. Pearl NPK fertilizer significantly influenced all observational parameters, including flowering age, harvesting age, stem diameter, widest leaf area, fruit circumference, fruit weight per fruit, and fruit flesh thickness. The best treatment was observed when Pearl NPK was applied at 5 grams per plant. On the other hand, the main factor of using Fortune liquid organic fertilizer affected the parameters of flowering age, harvesting age, and widest leaf area. The best treatment in terms of liquid organic fertilizer was the application of Fortune at 8 ml per liter of water. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA license.

in the cultivation of plants, including melon crops.Fertilizer serves to provide the nutrients that plants need to grow and develop.
Previous research by Bariyyah et al. (2015) showed that the chlorophyll content of M1 plants is higher than other plants, but the highest sugar content is produced by M3 plants, and the highest thickness of fruit flesh is produced by the interaction of 60% bokashi: 20% cocopeat: 20% husk charcoal with a nutrient concentration of 4 g / L. Another study by Sangadji et al. (2021) found that giving bioboost with various concentrations affects the length of tendrils, number of leaves, fruit weight and fruit biameter of melon plants.Treatment with a concentration of 1100 ml bioboost + 400ml water (P4) can increase tendril length up to 108.34 cm, number of leaves 42.75, fruit weight 1.61 kg, and melon diameter 17.56 cm.
Similar research by Ayu et al. (2019) shows that the interaction of NPK Mutiara fertilizer and Nasa liquid organic fertilizer does not have a real effect on all parameters, but singly NPK Mutiara fertilizer and Nasa liquid organic fertilizer have an influence on the observation parameters.The main influence of NPK Mutiara fertilizer has a significant effect on all observation parameters, namely flowering age, harvest age, stem diameter, widest leaf area, fruit circumference, fruit weight per fruit, production per plot, and fruit flesh thickness.The best treatment is the provision of NPK Pearl 5K/plant (K1).While the main factor of applying Nasa liquid organic fertilizer affects the parameters of flowering age, harvest age, and widest leaf area.The best treatment is the application of liquid organic fertilizer Nasa 6 ml/l water (N2).
The novelty of this research is on the factors of different liquid fertilizer brands, namely Fortune.These results can be a guideline for farmers or individuals who want to improve the growth and quality of organic melons.They can choose the type of fertilizer and dosage that suits the needs of their plants, depending on the growth parameters they want to increase.In addition, this study also reinforces the importance of understanding and using fertilizers in organic farming, which can have a positive impact on crop yields and product quality.
The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of fertilizer use on the quality of organic melon plants.The research is expected to help readers gain more knowledge regarding the issue discussed, generally and specifically, especially the use of fertilizer on plants.

METHOD
This study used an experimental design.Experimental research is research that looks for causal relationships between independent variables and dependent variables, where independent variables are controlled and controlled to be able to determine the influence caused by the dependent variable (Ratminingsih, 2010).The data in this study was collected through observation of several parameters that measure the quality of melon plant growth.These parameters include flowering age, harvest age, stem diameter, fruit weight per plant, flesh thickness, and taste test.This study used a single-factor experimental design, where two factors were studied.The first factor is the application of NPK Mutiara fertilizer with four different treatment levels, namely 0, 5, 10, and 15 grams per plant.The second factor is the application of Fortune liquid organic fertilizer, also with four different treatment levels, namely 0, 4, 8, and 12 cc per plant.For each combination of treatments, three repetitions were carried out for a total of 48 experimental units.The data obtained from observations were processed by statistical analysis, including variety analysis, and further tests were carried out using the Honest Real Difference (BNJ) test at a significance level of 5%.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Plant growth is defined as the process of cell division followed by an increase in cell size.Plant growth is divided into two stages, namely the growth stage and the reproductive stage.Vegetative growth is a phase that begins with the formation of leaves during the germination period to the beginning of the formation of the genitals, that is, flowers.In the vegetative period, plants experience an increase in the number, volume, size, and shape of organs such as roots, stems, and leaves (Ghozali & Chusnah, 2021).Based on the results of observations that have been made, the observation variables used in this study were analyzed using variety analysis.The results obtained showed that there was an interaction between the two factors, namely the dose of NPK Mutiara fertilizer (V) and fortune liquid fertilizer (E) on observation variables including plant height (cm), leaf area index (cm), number of productive branches, number of fruits, fruit length, fruit weight, and nutritional content did not differ markedly.The results of research on the effect of NPK Mutiara (V) and fortune liquid fertilizer (E) doses on all observation variables are presented in the following (Table 1).  1) shows that the main influence on the treatment of NPK Pearl dose (V) and fortune liquid fertilizer concentration (E) has an intangible influence on the variables of plant height, leaf area index, number of productive branches, fruit length, and fruit weight, while the variable number of fruits has a very real influence.The following is a discussion of the results of research on the effect of fertilizer use on the quality of organic melon plants as a whole.
Based on the results of research conducted the effect of the interaction of doses of NPK Pearl fertilizer (V) and fortune liquid fertilizer (E) on the growth and yield of organic melons (Cucumis melo L.) showed different results not real against plant height variables.This can be because the two factors used do not affect each other so that they show real different results.The interaction between the two resulted in the highest average plant height of 54.33 cm in the combination of V2E3 treatment, while the lowest result was in the combination of V0E3 and V2E3 treatments which only produced an average height of 3.0 cm.It is suspected that the combination of treatment doses has optimally supplied the nutrients needed by eggplant plants, especially in the increase in height of eggplant plants.According to Pratiwi et al. (2019), the addition of organic fertilizer to plants will be optimally absorbed along with the increase in plant age.In addition, organic fertilizers require a relatively long time to be decomposed in order to be completely absorbed by plant roots in supporting plant vegetative growth.The availability of element N in NPK Mutiara fertilizer can play an active role in increasing the height of organic melon plants.Rahayu et al. (2020), explained that the role of element N in plant growth is as a vegetative formation of plants such as roots, stems, and branches, thus supporting the process of photosynthesis and photosynthetes produced by plants.
Based on the results of research conducted the effect of the interaction of doses of NPK Mutiara fertilizer (V) and fortune liquid fertilizer (E) on the growth and yield of organic melons (Cucumis melo L.) showed different results not real against the variable leaf area index.This can be because the two factors used do not affect each other so that different results are not real.The interaction between the two resulted in the largest average leaf area index of 255.554 cm in the V1E1 treatment combination, while the lowest result was in the V2E3 treatment combination which only produced an average leaf area index of 153.922 cm.This is thought to be caused by the size of the leaves on each plant is different.In addition, it is also caused by lighting factors on the leaves, where leaves that are exposed to less sunlight have thicker leaves and more number compared to leaves that are more exposed to sunlight.According to Sadewo et al. (2021), the greater number of plant leaves in shelter than in the open responds to differences in light intensity.The leaves have a larger surface in the shade than in the open.Shading gives a noticeable effect on the area of the leaves.Plants planted in the open have thicker leaves than in shelter.Wicaksono and Muhamad (2021), explained that the leaf area index also has a fairly close relationship with plant height and leaf area.By knowing the leaf area index of a plant, it can also be known the biomass content of the plant.The leaf area index has a correlation with the magnitude of the photosynthesis process carried out by plants, so that the high leaf area index in plants is increasingly active in carrying out the photosynthesis process.
Based on the results of research conducted the effect of the interaction of doses of NPK Pearl fertilizer (V) and fortune liquid fertilizer (E) on the growth and yield of organic melons (Cucumis melo L.) showed different results not real against the variable number of productive branches.This can be because the two factors used do not affect each other so that different results are not real.The interaction between the two resulted in the largest average number of productive branches, which was 16 branches in the combination of V2E3 and V3E3 treatments, while the lowest results were in the combination of V0E0, V0E1, V0E3, V1E0, V1E3 treatments which only produced an average number of productive branches of 5 branches.This difference in yield is caused by the difference in doses of NPK Mutiara fertilizer and fortune liquid fertilizer in each treatment.According to Makmur (2020), the more productive branches, the higher the production yield of organic melon plants.This productive branch is a place where organic melons stick so that the more productive branches, the more the number of fruits.The function of nitrogen nutrients is needed by plants to produce protein, leaf growth, metabolism, such as photosynthesis.Organic melon plants require nitrogen (N) nutrients in relatively large quantities.Organic melon plants require nutrients, especially N, P, and K because they are used for vegetative growth, namely the development of roots, stems, and leaves so that these elements must always be available in the soil.Nitrgen elements are very important benefits for growth, especially in the formation or vegetative growth of plants, such as branches.Branches that play an important role in plant survival are branches that are able to produce fruit or referred to as productive branches (Fanny et al., 2022).
Based on the results of research conducted the effect of the interaction of doses of NPK Pearl fertilizer (V) and fortune liquid fertilizer (E) on the growth and yield of organic melons (Cucumis melo L.) showed very real different results on the variable number of fruits.This can be because the two factors used influence each other so that different results are very real.The interaction between the two produced the largest average number of fruits, namely 5 pieces in the V3E3 treatment combination, while the lowest result was in the combination of V0E0, V0E3, and V1E1 which only produced 1 fruit.This difference in yield is caused by the difference in doses of NPK Mutiara fertilizer and fortune liquid fertilizer in each treatment.According to Hanifa et al. (2022), one of the substances contained in fertilizer plays an active role in increasing the number of foams, namely element P. Nutrient P functions in the process of early growth and final growth.Elemental phosphorus in plants can serve as raw materials for the formation of a number of proteins and play a role in physiological processes.The availability of sufficient P elements is needed for root growth, accelerating plant maturation, flowering and accelerating the formation of fruits and seeds and increasing production.Fertilizing organic melon plants with fertilizers containing balanced high P elements can result in high and good quality organic melon production.Fahmi et al. (2022), explained that excessive application of P elements will increase root growth that covers the crown and accelerate fruit ripening, while lack of P elements will result in stunted plants, dark green leaves, delayed fruit ripening and low header and root ratio.Element P is very helpful for root development and regulates flowering and fruiting so that this element can determine exactly fertilization and so is related to fruit quality.In addition, the presence of potassium elements in fertilizers is also very helpful in terms of photosynthesis.So, plants will get energy faster that can support all their activities ranging from growing stems, leaves to forming prospective fruits or flowers.On the other hand, the effect is also effective on water efficiency, the process of opening and closing plant leaf pores (stomata).So, if the lack of potassium levels results in slowing down of stomata to carry out photosynthesis.In addition, other functions of potassium are helping to overcome plant diseases, increasing resistance to extreme climates, balancing ions in plants, breaking carbohydrates, essential proteins as well as involvement in fruit formation (Akbari et al., 2022).
Based on the results of research conducted the effect of the interaction of doses of NPK Pearl fertilizer (V) and fortune liquid fertilizer (E) on the growth and yield of organic melons (Cucumis melo L.) showed different results not real on the variable fruit length.This can be because the two factors used do not affect each other so that different results are not real.The interaction between the two resulted in the largest average fruit length of 23 cm in the V3E3 treatment combination, while the lowest result was in the V1E0 combination which only produced an average fruit length of 14 cm.This is due to the influence of genetic factors that are more dominant than organic melon plants so that plants do not show a real influence on the treatment given and environmental factors such as rainfall and sunlight intensity that are not in accordance with organic melon plants.The increase in length in purple organic melons is influenced by nitrogen and potassium nutrients which play an important role in the process of photosynthesis, which can increase leaf area and accelerate the conversion of carbohydrates into protein so that they can be used to make up cell walls.Furthermore, forsfor elements are also useful for stimulating plant cell division and enlarging cell tissue (Prasetyo et al., 2022).Low nutrient availability is not sufficient for plant needs where organic fertilizers are generally very slow in providing nutrients to plants because it requires a long process to remodel organic matter to be used as compounds that can be absorbed by plants properly.Wuli et al. (2021), said that the application of organic fertilizer requires time for the decomposition process to be available to plants.
Based on the results of research conducted the effect of the interaction of doses of NPK Pearl fertilizer (V) and fortune liquid fertilizer (E) on the growth and yield of organic melons (Cucumis melo L.) showed different results not real against fruit weight variables.This can be because the two factors used do not affect each other so that different results are not real.The interaction between the two resulted in the largest average fruit weight of 197 grams in the V3E0 treatment combination, while the lowest result was in the V0E0 combination which only produced an average fruit weight of 115 grams.This is because the balance of nutrients is very necessary in the development of plant reproduction, especially in the process of increasing fruit weight.Fertilizer dosing has a significant effect on variables, this is due to the balanced nutrient content of N, P, and K. Nitrogen elements in plants can help the formation of amino acid compounds and carbohydrates in the process of photosynthesis for fruit formation.Karim et al. (2022) stated that sufficient nitrogen elements in plants can increase fruit weight, this is because nitrogen plays a role in increasing the growth of shoots and leaves which play a role in the process of carbohydrate and protein synthesis to be more efficient in fruits that are developing, so as to increase the number and length of individual cells and increase fruit size.In addition, other contents such as phosphorus and potassium are also needed in the process of plant growth.According to Nggolitu et al. (2017), phosphorus elements are able to increase the ability of roots to absorb nutrients such as N and K.Where the function of nitrogen and potassium as chlorophyll formers is useful in the process of photosynthesis, so that it can produce carbohydrates and proteins that are useful for fruit formation which can affect fruit enlargement which includes fruit size and weight, if the availability of phosphorus elements in the soil is available to plants it will increase the size and weight of the harvested fruit.Thus, the effect of balanced fertilizer doses given to plants in general can improve the physical, chemical, and biological properties of the soil and is able to provide significant results for increasing organic melon production both in quality and quantity.
Based on laboratory results carried out the effect of the interaction of doses of NPK Mutiara fertilizer (V) and fortune liquid fertilizer (E) on the growth and yield of organic melons (Cucumis melo L.) showed the results of nutritional content of water content (92.37%) and protein content (1.04%).Water content is one of the physical properties of the material that shows the amount of water contained in the material.The moisture content of the material indicates the amount of water content of the unity of the weight of the material.In this case, there are two methods to determine the moisture content of the material, namely based on dry weight (dry basis) and based on wet weight (wet basis).The moisture content of a dry base material is the weight of the material after undergoing heating (drying) for a certain time until it reaches a constant weight, while the moisture content of a wet base is the percentage of the water content of a material.Based on the moisture content (wet weight and dry weight) and wet material and material after drying, the drying ratio of the dried material can be determined.The amount of "drying ratio" can be calculated as the weight of the material before drying per weight of the material before drying per weight of the material after drying.It can be calculated by the formula: Drying ratio = weight of material before drying / weight of material after drying (Fillaili, et al. 2020).According to Sumbono (2016), factors that affect the moisture content of foodstuffs include the shelf life of ingredients, free and bound water, wet and dry base water content, water activity, absolute humidity and relative humidity, and physical properties of materials.
Protein levels are very important nutrients, because they have a close relationship with life processes.Protei serves as a source of energy that cannot be fulfilled by carbohydrates and fats, as well as a builder and regulator.Protein consists of elements such as C, H, O, and N that are not possessed by fats or carbohydrates.Protein molecules contain phosphorus, sulfur, and there are two types of proteins that contain metal elements such as iron and copper.Protein is very easy to experience physical changes and biological activities caused by the protein content in a food.Determination of protein levels is carried out using two methods, namely the Kjeldahl micro method by determining the amount of nitrogen contained in a material, and the biuret method by knowing the presence or absence of peptide bonds in a compound (Suhartono, 2017).Nisah et al. (2021), explained that protein content analysis was carried out to determine nutritional labeling, functional properties and determination of biological properties of protein, total protein content of a foodstuff, protein content resulting from protein isolation and purification, nonprotein nitrogen content, as well as amino acid composition and nutritional value of proteiN.Protein content analysis can determine the level of protein quality when viewed from a nutritional point of view and examine protein which is one of the chemicals biochemically, physiologically, rheologically, and enzymatically.Factors that affect the high and low percentage of protein levels are temperature, time, the optimum amount of ratio between water and collagen.Factors that affect protein levels during processing are caused by ongoing processing (Senja et al., 2020).

CONCLUSION
The interaction between the use of NPK Mutiara fertilizer and Fortune liquid organic fertilizer did not show a significant effect on all observation parameters, meaning that the combination of the two types of fertilizer did not produce a significantly different effect compared to the use of each fertilizer individually.However, considering the effect of each fertilizer separately, both NPK Mutiara fertilizer and Fortune liquid organic fertilizer exert a significant influence on several observation parameters.The use of NPK Mutiara fertilizer significantly affects all observed parameters measured, including flowering age, harvest age, stem diameter, widest leaf area, fruit circumference, fruit weight per fruit, and flesh thickness.The best results are seen when given NPK Mutiara fertilizer as much as 5 grams per plant (NPK1).On the other hand, the use of Fortune liquid organic fertilizer has an effect mainly on the parameters of flowering age, harvest age, and widest leaf area.The best treatment in terms of the use of liquid organic fertilizer is the application of Fortune as much as 8 ml per liter of water.This suggests that the choice of fertilizer type and dosage can affect the growth parameters of organic melon plants, although the interaction between the two fertilizers does not have a significant effect.

Table 1 .
The Effect of NPK Pearl (V) and Fortune (E) Liquid Fertilizer Doses on All Observation Variables