Application of Liquid Organic Fertilizer from Rabbit Urine to Enhance the Growth and Yield of Kailan (Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra) in Hydroponic Cultivation

Abstract

Kailan (Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra) is a leafy vegetable from the cabbage family, believed to originate from China. It has thick, elongated dark-green leaves and offers various health benefits, including improving digestion and strengthening teeth. Despite its high market value and common use in Chinese restaurants, kailan is still rarely cultivated in Bukittinggi due to limited farmer knowledge and lack of extension services. In West Sumatra, it is also not widely consumed due to its low popularity.

This research was conducted for 3 months in a 100 m² experimental field at UPN Bukittinggi using 300 plants. This experiment applied two treatments: liquid organic fertilizer (LOF) from rabbit urine on 200 plants and a control (no treatment) on 100 plants. A total of 20 samples per treatment were randomly selected. Cultivation was carried out hydroponically using rice husk charcoal as a growing medium. The procedure included preparation of LOF from rabbit urine, seed preparation, planting, maintenance, and harvesting.

Statistical analysis showed that rabbit urine LOF significantly increased plant height compared to the control, but had no significant effect on leaf width, canopy width, stem weight, and overall yield. However, average values of all variables increased with LOF application. Yield with LOF reached 19 kg, compared to 11 kg in the control. The R/C ratio was 1.6 for the treatment and 1.007 for the control, indicating that the application of rabbit urine LOF is economically feasible.