Application of cogon grass (Imperata cylindrica) and melastoma (Melastoma malabathricum L.) compost to increase the production of wild chilli pepper (Capsicum frutescens L.) on ultisol soil

Capsicum frutescens L. is classified as an annual plant or a short-lived plant. Wild chili pepper is a type of herbaceous plant that has wood, branches and grows upright. The efforts to develop and increase the yield of wild chili pepper to achieve the desired results are inseparable from the problem of low ultisol soil fertility. This study aims to determine the effect of cogon grass leaf and melastoma leaf compost on the yield of wild chili pepper on ultisol soil. This research was carried out in the greenhouse, Mokoau Village, Kendari City, Southeast Sulawesi. This study used a factorial randomized block design (RBD). The first factor was cogon grass leaf compost (A) consisting of four levels of treatment, namely (A0) 0 g polybag-1, (A1) 300 g polybag-1, (A2) 400 g polybag-1, (A3) 500 g polybag-1. The second factor was melastoma leaf compost, which consisted of four treatment levels, namely (M0) 0 g polybag-1, (M1) 300 g polybag-1, (M2) 400 g polybag-1, (M3) 500 g polybag-1. There were 16 treatments, each treatment was repeated three times so that 48 treatment units were obtained. Parameters observed were: plant height, number of leaves, number of fruits planted, the weight of fruits planted. The results showed that the interaction of cogon grass leaf and melastoma leaf treatment (A3M3) had a better effect on all treatments.