Effects of Bokashi and Application of Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) as Foliar Fertilizer on Selected Soil Characteristics and Growth Performance of Pak Choy ( Brassica rapa subs chinensis)

Pak Choy has many advantages to human health such as anti cancer and can rise the vitamin consumption for human. The purpose of this study was to determine the optimum rate of organic fertilizer in the production of Brassica chinensis (Pak Choy). This study has two experiments which in greenhouse and in open field. As for the greenhouse, the experimental design used is completely randomized design (CRD) consisting of 5 Bokashi levels and each treatment is replicated three times. Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) also has 5 levels and it is applied by foliar application. The
interaction between Bokashi and MSG was investigated by 2×3 factorial experiment with 3 replications that was arranged in Completely Randomized Block Design (CRBD). The parameters evaluated were growth performance (height of the plants,diameter of branches, number of leaves and chlorophyll content), soil characteristics (soil organic matter, soil pH) and biomass production. The results show Bokashi with treatment 3 has better growth performance with the 16.9cm of height, 1.58cm diameter of branch, 10 leaf number, 38.7 chlorophyll content, 430g of fresh weight and 0.115g of dry weight. MSG with treatment 3 resulted the highest growth performance with 12.3 cm of height, 0.78 cm diameter of branch, 8 leaf number, 37.7 chlorophyll content and 128g of fresh weights. The soil organic matter and soil carbon in all treatments was decreased and shows no effect in applying fertiliser. Soil pH was consistent and shows
no effect in applying fertiliser. As for the experiment in open field, there were interactions between the Bokashi and MSG towards height of the plant and number of leaf. However, there is no interaction between Bokashi and MSG towards diameter of branch.