The effect of the consentration of macro-nutrient-liquid-foliar- NPK and dosage of NPK 15-5-15 fertilizer to improve the quality of red chilies (Capsicum annum L.)

The research objective was to known the concentration of NPK liquid foliar macro nutrient and the dosage of NPK fertilizer to improve the quality and yield of red chilies and benefit increase. The study was conducted in Batu City (923 m asl) from December 2018 to June 2019. The study used a Randomized Block Design with 4 (four) replications consist of 7 (seven) treatments and 1 (one) control, namely: F0 (without fertilizer), F1 recommended fertilizer (900 kg.ha⁻¹ NPK), F2 (225 kg.ha⁻¹ NPK + 0.5 ml.l⁻¹ NPK liquid foliar fertilizer), F3 (450 kg.ha⁻¹ NPK + 1.0 ml.l⁻¹ NPK liquid foliar fertilizer), F4 (675 kg.ha⁻¹ NPK + 1.5 ml.l⁻¹ NPK liquid foliar fertilizer), F5 (900 kg.ha⁻¹ NPK), F6 (1,125 kg.ha⁻¹ NPK + 2.5 ml.l⁻¹ NPK liquid foliar fertilizer), and F7 (1,350 kg.ha⁻¹ NPK + 3 ml.l⁻¹ NPK liquid foliar fertilizer). Data analyzed with ANOVA and DMRT (α=5%). The results showed that the treatment had a significant effect on plant height, number of leaves, number of branches, thickness of fruit pulp, and yields. The most economical treatment of Relative Agronomic Effectiveness or RAE has more than 100%. F4 (675 kg.ha⁻¹ NPK + 2 ml.l⁻¹ of NPK liquid foliar fertilizer) reached 102.27 % and F5 treatment (900 kg.ha⁻¹ NPK + 2 ml.l⁻¹ of NPK liquid foliar fertilizer) reached 117.90 %. Financial analysis showed that F5 is the most profitable. Treatment F5 (900 kg ha⁻¹ NPK + 2 ml.l⁻¹ NPK liquid foliar fertilizer) produced the highest R/C of 3.74.The quality of chili refer to thickness of fruit pulp treatment F5 reached highest was 1.72 mm.