ROLE OF BIOLOGICAL AGENT AZOTOBACTER-TRICHODERMA ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF CHILI (Capsicum annuum L.) IN A POT EXPERIMENT

Soil microbes have suggested to be used as agricultural input. Nitrogen fixing rhizobacteria Azotobacter is responsible to maintain nitrogen nutrition and plant growth whereas Trichoderma enable to reduce soil born plant diseases through antagonistic activity. The objective of this pot experiment was to determine the dosage and application time of carrier- based Azotobacter-Trichoderma inoculant which increase nitrogen availability in soil, as well as growth and yield of chili (Capsicum annuum L.). Chili transplants were grown in low fertility soil mixed with cow manure. Experiment was set up in split plot design which tested four inoculant dosage and three application time. The result showed that effect of biological agent on plant height at three and six weeks after transplanting was not significant. Inoculation of 7,5 g/pot carrier-based Azoto-Tricho at planting time followed by soil dressing with Azotobacter liquid inoculant at 10 day after planting significantly increased NO3 ­- in soil. Carrier-based Azoto-Tricho inoculant irrespective of dosage and application time increased plant yield. The highest yield, 290 g plant-1, was showed by plant treated by 7,5 g po­1t Azoto-Tricho at planting time followed by Azotobacter liquid inoculation. This pot experiment showed that carrier-based Azotobacter-Trichoderma inoculant has potential to be used as biological agent in chili production