Pengaruh EM4 dan Jarak Tanam terhadap Pertumbuhan dan Hasil Tanaman Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) dengan Irigasi Tetes

Abstract

The Humans like to consume sugar which is used for sweetness in food and drinks. Using too much sugar can lead to an unhealthy diet. The stevia plant (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) is an annual plant originating from Paraguay. This plant produces steviol glycosides which are 300 times sweeter than the sucrose produced by cane sugar. The content possessed by stevia has several positive effects on health, such as low calories, non-carcinogenic properties, and therapeutic effects. Stevia is also known to have good anti-tumor, anti-hypertensive, anti-diarrheal, anti-inflammatory, diuretic and immunomodulatory properties. EM4 (Effective Microorganisms 4) contains microorganisms that are beneficial to soil and plants, helping to improve soil fertility and soil structure. There are about 80 types of active microorganisms contained in EM4. Microorganisms will work effectively in fermenting organic matter contained in the soil. To increase productivity, one strategy that can be used is to regulate plant populations by determining the appropriate spacing. In this case, it is important to provide optimal plant growth conditions, so that they can grow well without competition. Proper spacing can increase plant productivity and avoid competition for water, nutrients, and sunlight