Abstract: A pot experiment was conducted in a greenhouse to determine the effects of Bio-charcoal and Organic Fertilizer on the Growth of Mini Chinese Kale The experimental design was a randomized complete block with a 4x3 factorial arrangement.
Factor A was growing medium: soil, 10:2 soil:rambutan charcoal (v/v)10:1 soil:Eucalyptus charcoal (v/v), and 10:2 soil:rice-husk charcoal (v/v). Factor B was fertilizer:46:0:0, vermicast, and commercial bio-extract. Fertilizer applications began one week after
transplanting (WAT). Plants were harvested at three WAT. Physical and chemical properties of the growing media were measured before transplanting and after harvesting. Leaf number, stem diameter, and plant height were measured weekly. Fresh and dry weights were also determined.
Results showed that, 10:2 soil:rambutan charcoal and 10:2 soil:rice-husk charcoal increased plant growth (20.43 and 19.73 cm in height, 6.17 and 5.85 leaves, 3.69 and 3.87 mm in stem diameter, respectively). Moreover, Chinese kale grown in 10:2 soil:rambutan charcoal and applied with chemical fertilizer had the tallest plants (24.29 cm). Vermicast (18.04 cm) resulted in taller plants
compared to commercial bio-extract (17.34 cm).
Keywords:vermicast, rambutan charcoal rice-husk charcoal, Eucalyptus charcoal Bio-charcoal