Compost of Yellow Creeping Daisy ( Wedelia Trilobata , L.) Weed to Increase Organic Tomato Yield

: Numerous weeds, including Yellow Creeping Daisy ( Wedelia trilobata ) are sources for compost. Compost efficacy is dependent on several factors, including the source of organic matter, the dosage, the application method, and the period of the application. The purpose of this study was to compare tomato ( Lycopersicum esculentum , Mill) growth and yield at various Yellow Creeping Daisy (YCD) compost doses and application times. The experiment employed a completely randomized design (CRD) with a factorial arrangement consisting of two factors. The treatment combinations were repeated three times. The first factor was the timing of compost application, which were two and one weeks prior to planting, and on planting day. The second factor was the dosage of compost, which was 0, 10, 20, or 30 tons/Ha. Application of YCD compost 1-2 weeks before tomato planting provided greater yield than at planting, as indicated by number of fruit, fruit diameter, and fruit weight per plant. Higher dose of YCD compost application increased the yield of tomato. Application of the compost 2 weeks before planting at 30 tons/ha resulted in the highest yield of tomato.


INTRODUCTION
Tomatoes (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill) are horticultural crop suitably grown in tropical and sub-tropical climates and on various soil orders, including Andosols, Entosols, Ultisols, and Vertisols.Most soils in Bengkulu Province, Indonesia, are classified as Ultisols.According to [1], the main obstacle of Ultisols is its low soil pH and high exchangeable Al, leading to phosphate fixation.Also, the soil has low nitrogen content.Low content of nitrogen in the soil is associated with a very intensive leaching process at humid tropical climate, resulting in low soil fertility.Therefore, it is necessary to increase the productivity of Ultisols, among others, through soil improvement (amelioration), fertilization, and the addition of organic matter.
In Bengkulu Province, tomatoes are primarily grown in Ultisols.However, the improvement Ultisols fertility is necessary to obtain satisfied yield of tomatoes.Incorporating organic matter of compost into the soil is a way to enhance soil fertility of the soil.Compost is an organic fertilizer made by decomposing the remains of living organisms (plants and animals).Compost can boost the physical and biological properties of the soil and provide nutrients [2] Compost improves structure (aggregation), Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC), water-holding capacity, and permeability and increases soil organic carbon.The agronomic value of compost is dependent on the quality and quantity of organic matter sources.These traits affect the rate at which organic matter mineralizes in soil, and thus the long-term effects on soil fertility.The slow release of nutrients from compost boosts crop yields in subsequent years [3].
Three months after applying compost Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon), the soil organic matter, C, P, Ca, and S content has increased [4].[5] Concluded that the yield of plants fertilized with Bermudagrass compost at a dose of 36 tons/ha increased by 15%.The application of compost and vermicompost on water spinach increased pH, organic matter, and soil nutrient content higher than synthetic fertilizers [6].Continuous application of compost increases N availability even though the N release process is slow [7].Organic materials such as plants, animals, and organic waste are sources of compost.Straw, legumes, rice husks, wood chips, twigs, leaves, manure, fruits, and vegetables, and municipal waste are examples of sources of compost [8] [9] [10].In addition, several types of weeds have the potential as a source of organic fertilizer.Yellow Creeping Daisy (YCD) (Wedelia trilobata L.) has a potential as source of compost [11].

Growing media
As planting media, Ultisols was compositely collected at the depth of 0-20 cm.Soil sample was air-dried and sieved with 2 mm screen and homogeneously incorporated.Each polybag contained 10 kg of soil and Yellow Creeping Daisy compost according to treatment.The mixture was homogeneously incorporated.The application of YCD was applied 2 WBP, 1 WBP and at planting at a dose of 0, 10, 20, and 30 tons/ha, respectively.The mixture was maintained moist throughout the course of the study by watering when necessary.

Planting
Tomato seeds were sown at one month old and had had three to four leaves.Each polybag constituted one seedling and was randomly placed 20 cm apart according to the research design.

Observed variables
The variables observed included plant height (cm), number of branches, number of fruit/plant, fruit weight/plant (kg), fruit diameter (cm), fruit hardness, and total sugar content ( 0 brix).

Data analysis
The data were statistically analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) at a 5% level of significance.Duncan's Multiple Range Test (DMRT) was employed to separate the application time treatment.The orthogonal polynomial at the 5 % was assigned for separating the compost dose treatment and interactions between treatments.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
YCD compost application at different times significantly affected all observed variables except plant height and fruit diameter.All of the variables were significantly affected by differences in compost dosage.On the variables number of branches, the number of fruit/plant, fruit weight/plant, fruit diameter, and fruit sugar content, there was an interaction between application time and YCD compost dose (Table 1).The application time of YCD compost did not affect plant height since low availability of nutrients from compost at early stage of plant growth.Compost is slow-release, which means that the nutrients required for plants, particularly nitrogen (N), has not been available in sufficient quantities to support plant growth.In addition to water, plants require protein as one of their building blocks.Nitrogen is necessary for protein production and plants require a large amount of nitrogen during their vegetative period to maintain their growth, including plant height.

Effect of Compost Application Time on Tomato Plant Growth and Yield
The effect of compost application time on tomato plant growth and yield, fruit hardness and sugar content is shown in Table 2. 4,37 a 3,13 b Note: numbers followed by the same letters at the same column are not significantly different at DMRT (5%).P1 = 2 weeks before planting; P2 = 1 weeks before planting; P3 = at planting date; PH = plant height, BN: branch number, FN: fruit number, FD: fruit diameter, FW: fruit weight, FH: fruit hardness, SC: sugar content.
Although the difference in compost application time had no significant effect on plant height or fruit diameter, compost applied before planting resulted in a higher number of fruits, a greater weight of fruits, and higher sugar content in the fruits than compost applied at planting (Table 2).

Effect of Compost Dosage on Plant Growth and Yield.
The improvement of the soil physical and chemical properties due to increasing compost dose, followed by a linear increase in plant height (Figure 1).YCD compost applied at a rate of 20 tons/Ha produced taller plants than at dose of 10 tons/Ha and control (unfertilized).There was no significant difference in plant height between the treatments doses of 20 tons/Ha and 30 tons/Ha.The tallest plant was resulted in medium fertilized with compost at the dose of 30 tons/Ha (79 cm), followed by 20 tons/Ha (72.77 cm), 10 tons/Ha (66.66 cm), and the lowest at 0 tons/Ha (64.66 cm).These findings suggest that YCD compost provides more nutrients to plants at a 20 -30 tons'/Ha dose.As [15] points out, plants that have met their nutrient requirements will grow upwards and become taller over time.According to [16], plant height differences are dependent on genetic and environmental factors such as light intensity, temperature, and nutrient availability.[17] concluded that the time of application of Azolla compost, 2 WAT, resulted in greater plant height, the number of leaves, leaf area per plant, and total dry weight of rice than at planting date.The application time of Azolla compost is related to the amount of nitrogen required for the vegetative growth of rice. Figure 2 illustrates the effect of application time and compost dose on the number of branches.

Figure 2. The interaction of application time and compost dose on the number of branches
The highest number of branches, namely 16 fruits, resulted from a 30 tons/Ha compost treatment applied two weeks before planting.The number of branches on each plant is one of the variables that affect the amount of fruit produced by each plant.The higher the number of branches on one plant, the higher the plant's chances to produce fruits [18].
Figure 3 shows the effect of application time and compost dose on the number of fruits/plants.Application of compost one week before planting provided an increase in the number of fruits as the compost dosage increased to 23 tons/Ha.Compost applied at planting time resulted in the lowest fruit weight.The best time for compost application is 2 WBP.Compost applied 2 WBP increased the number of fruits by increasing up to 30 tons/Ha compost doses.The nutrients provided by compost applied 2 WBP were superior to other treatments.Plants use nutrients optimally before entering the generative phase.Compost is a slow-release nutrient source for the soil.The best time to apply compost and dose was 1 WBP at 21.22 tons/Ha, which resulted in 13 fruits/plant.This study also revealed that the number of fruits increased with increasing compost doses at 2 WBP (Figure 3).It assumed that an increase in P2O5 in the soil is responsible for increasing the number of fruits.Compost applied at 2 and 1 WBP provided higher nutrients than compost applied at planting date due to available more time for compost to decompose.As a result, plant roots can absorb the early nutrients available in the soil for plant growth and yield performance.According to [19], mineralization of organic matter will increase plant nutrients and soil carbon followed by an increase in the content of humic and fulvic acids, thereby increasing available P in acid soil such as Ultisols.Phosphorous is necessary for the formation of flowers and reproductive organs for plants.Figure 4 illustrates the effect of application time and compost dose on fruit diameter.

Figure 4. Interaction of application time and compost dose on fruit diameter
The study revealed that 1 WBP at a dose of 13.73 tons/Ha produced fruit with the largest diameter of 3.75 cm as shown in Figure 4. Also, Figure 5 shows that the optimum compost application time and dose for fruit weight/plant were 1 WBP at a dose of 15.95 tons/Ha, resulting in the highest fruit weight of 0.38 kg. to increase at a compost dose of 23 tons/Ha to 30 tons/Ha.This is most likely since compost needs times to decompose in the soil before nutrients are available to plants.As a result, when plants enter the generative phase, nutrients are available for fruit formation.One of the main goals in farming practice is to achieve a high fruit weight/plant because the higher the fruit weight/plant, the higher the plant productivity.However, producing a large number of fruits/plants is required to produce a considerable fruit weight.The results of this study indicated that as the number of fruits/plants increased, the fruits weight/plants increased as well (Figures 3  and 5).This increase in fruit weight is associated with an increase in soil P from compost decomposition as required by plant.
According to [20], there is a correlation between plant vegetative growth and yield.The vegetative organs involved in assimilation (source) contribute to the user's organs (sink).Plant produces higher fruit will followed by heavier the fruit [21].According to [22], as the number and diameter of fruits increased, the weight of the chili fruit/plant increased as well.Figure 6 illustrates the effect of application time and compost dose on fruit sugar content.The study also revealed that the interaction between compost dose and application time resulted in a positive linear relationship on fruit sugar content (Figure 6).Compost applied 2 WBP at a 30 tons/Ha resulted in the highest fruit sugar content of 3.50 bricks.Fruit sugar content will increase as the fruit ripens and decrease as the fruit is stored [23].This study indicates the earlier compost is applied, the faster the nutrients required to increase sugar content are available.

Relationship between Growth Variables and Crop Yield
Tomato plant growth and yield variables are correlated, as shown in Table 3. Plant height, fruit number, fruit weight, and fruit hardness were all positively correlated with the number of branches.Taller plant increases number of branches, as a result, the number of fruits and their weight also increase.[24] reported that there was a relationship between the number of branches and fruit weight.The more branches, the higher the tomato fruit weight.The number of fruits positively correlated with plant height, branches, fruit weight, and sugar content.Thus, plant height, number of branches, and fruit weight influence the number of fruits produced.[25] reported that the number of fruits positively correlated with fruit weight, the more fruit, the higher the fruit weight.[26] also noted that the weight of the tomatoes increased with the number of fruits produced by the plant.Fruit weight positively correlated with plant height, branches, fruit number, sugar content, and fruit diameter.Thus, the plant height, branch number, fruit number, and fruit diameter determine tomatoes' weight.According to [27], all observed variables positively correlated with tomato fruit weight.The weight of the fruit increases as the number of fruits increases.
Applying Yellow Creeping Daisy compost 1-2 weeks before tomato planting provided a higher yield than at planting, as measured by fruit number, fruit diameter, and fruit weight per plant.2.
The application of a higher dose of Yellow Creeping Daisy compost increased tomato yield.Compost applied two weeks before planting at a 30 tons'/ha rate resulted in the highest tomato yield.

Figure 1 .
Figure 1.Relationship between plant height and compost dose.

Figure 3 .
Figure 3. Interaction of application time and compost dose on the number of fruits

Figure 5 .
Figure 5. Interaction of application time and compost dose on fruit weight

Figure 6 .
Figure 6.Interaction of application time and compost dose on fruit sugar content.

Table 1 .
Summary of analysis of variance Note: ns = not significantly different, * = significantly different, ** = highly significantly different

Table 2 .
Effect of compost application time on plant growth and yield.

Table 3 .
Correlation of Plant Growth and Yield Variables. ISSN: