Improvement of shallots (Allium ascalonicum) cultivation on paddy fields to increase shallots yields and farmers' income during the Covid-19 pandemic

Shallots productivity can be increased through improved cultivation by using high-quality varieties and organic fertilizers. The objective of the present study was to determine the growth and yields of shallots with the application of "Kompota"; the organic fertilizers enriched with microbes (Azospirillum sp, Azotobacter sp, and Aeromonas sp). The experiment was carried out from April to July 2020 in Panimbang Jaya village of Pandeglang Regency, Banten Province. The study used a randomized block design, consisting of 4 treatments and 8 replications. Treatment (P1): Urea 180 kg/ha+SP-36 100 kg/ha+NPK Phonska 500 kg/ha+KCl 60 kg/ha, (P2): chicken manure 5 ton/ha+Urea 180 kg/ha+SP-36 100 kg/ha+NPK Phonska 500 kg/ha+KCl 60 kg/ha, (P3): Petroganik 1 ton/ha+ Urea 180 kg/ha+SP-36 100 kg/ha+NPK Phonska 500 kg/ha+KCl 60 kg/ha, (P4): Kompota 1 ton/ha+ Urea 180 kg/ha+SP-36 100 kg/ha+NPK Phonska 500 kg/ha+KCl 60 kg/ha. The variety used was Bima. From the results, P4 gave the best plant growth with plant height 47.01 cm, the number of leaves 43.55 strands, the number of tubers 11.54 per clump, and gave the highest shallot yields (9.57 ton/ha). During the Covid-19 pandemic, with the average selling price of shallot bulbs of IDR 25,000/kg, farmers gained IDR 174.744.000/ha/season.