Effects Of Chicken Manure And Mung Bean Sprout Extract On Growth And Yield Of Shallots (Allium Cepa Var. Aggregatum) From True Shallot Seed

The high cost of conventional inputs and soil degradation challenges in shallot cultivation have driven the search for effective organic alternatives, such as chicken manure and plant-based biostimulants like sprout extract. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of chicken manure and sprout extract on the growth and yield of shallots (Allium cepa var. aggregatum) derived from True Shallot Seed (TSS). The experiment was conducted from July to November 2024 in Karanganyar, Central Java, Indonesia, using a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with two factors: chicken manure dosage (0, 15, 30, and 45 tons ha⁻¹) and sprout extract concentration (0, 20, and 40 mL L⁻¹). Chicken manure application significantly improved the vegetative growth of shallots, with optimal results observed at 10–30 tons ha⁻¹. Conversely, mung bean sprout extract showed no marked influence on plant development or final yield, and no interactive effects between the two treatments were detected. Although the direct yield enhancement from chicken manure was moderate, with a 5–6% increase, it substantially boosted soil fertility and plant health. This study confirms that chicken manure is a valuable organic input for sustainable shallot cultivation, whereas the efficacy of the sprout extract as a biostimulant remains unconfirmed under the tested conditions. These findings underscore the efficacy of chicken manure as a soil amendment for sustainable shallot production, while highlighting the need for further optimization of sprout extract formulation and application timing to leverage its full potential as a biostimulant.