The Effect of Spacing and Weeding Time on growth and production of Bawang Sabrang (Eleutherine Americana Merr.)

The potential of sabrang onions as a medicinal plant for industrial scale is very large because these plants can grow and adapt in all climates and types of soil with a relatively short harvest time (3-4 months). This research aim was to determine the effect of spacing treatment and weeding time as well as their interaction with the growth and production of sabrang onions (Eleutherine americana Merr.). Penelitian ini dilakukan di Fakultas Pertanian, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan dengan ketinggian + 32 meter di atas permukaan laut, yang dimulai pada bulan September hingga Desember 2017. The research design used was Factorial Randomized Group Design with two factors. The first factor is the spacing with 3 types, namely: 10 cm x 20 cm; 15 cm x 20 cm; 20 cm x 20 cm and the second factor is the time of weeding with 4 types, namely: Weeds are weeded up to 28 days after planting, then weeds are left to harvest; Weeds are weeded up to 56 days after planting, then weeds are left to harvest; Weeds are weeded up to 84 days after planting, then weeds are left to harvest; Weeds are weeded up to 14 days after planting, then weeds are left until harvest. The observation parameters were plant height, number of leaves per clump, number of tubers per clump, tuber wet weight per clump, tuber dry weight per clump, tuber wet weight per plot, tuber dry weight per plot, and weed wet weight. The research results showed that the treatment of spacing significantly affected the number of leaves at 6 & 7 weeks after planting and the number of tubers. The treatment of weeding time significantly affected the number of tubers and weed wet weight per plot. Interaction treatment between spacing and weeding time did not significantly affect all observed parameters. The best result obtained was at a spacing of 20 cm x 15 cm or weeding time up to 84 days after planting, then weeds are left until harvest.