Growth and Yield of corn on dryland farming inoculated with indigenous Trichoderma

KATRIANI MANTJA. Growth and Yield of corn on dryland farming inoculated with indigenous Trichoderma (supervised by Yunus Musa, Ambo Ala and Ade Rosmana). This research aimed to obtain indigenous Trichoderma spp. then to evaluate the effect of inoculation of the indigenous Trichoderma spp.; drought stress; and NPK fertilizer application on the growth and yield of dryland corn. This research stages: (1) Isolation and characterization of indigenous Trichoderma spp.; (2) test on the growing capability of indigenous Trichoderma spp.; (3) assessment on the role of indigenous Trichoderma spp. in the growth and yield of corn under water stress condition; and (4) study on the role of indigenous Trichoderma spp. along with application of NPK fertilizer on the growth and yield of dryland corn. Research results show: Maros indigenous isolate was Trichoderma harzianum (0.676x105 cfu); Jeneponto was Trichoderma longibrachiatum (0.523x105 cfu); and Takalar was Trichoderma koningii (0,278x105 cfu). Inoculation of the Maros??? Trichoderma harzianum at 80-100% of field capacity moisture was able to increase chlorophyll content; relative growing rate of 48-69 days after planting; and seeds weight per plant. Also, this Maros??? isolate under 40-60% of field capacity moisture, was able to increase seeds weight per plant. Inoculation of Jeneponto???s Trichoderma longibrachiatum along with application of 600 kg ha-1 NPK fertilizers was able to increase leaf area; absorption of N, P and K; and cob length. Correspondingly, inoculation of this Jeneponto???s isolate with 450 kg ha-1 NPK fertilizers was able to increase absorption of N, P and K. The role of indigenous Trichoderma spp. to corn in terms of resistance against drought and fertilizing efficiency was found to be significant only on the variables of Nitrogen, Phosphor and Potassium absorption; cob length and seed weight per plant. Keywords: Trichoderma, indigenous, corn, dryland farming