Evaluating Different Liquid Organic Fertilizer from Cattle Blood and Mulch Colors for Quality and Quantity Improvement of Garlic

Abstract

Garlic is widely used as a flavoring due to its sulfur and flavonoid contents. Successful garlic cultivation requires careful soil fertility management and effective weed control strategies. To address these challenges, applying liquid organic fertilizer made from cow’s blood and installing mulch are effective solutions. This study was conducted from April to June, 2024 in Temanggung, Indonesia with an altitude of 1100 meter above sea level (masl). The experiment followed a 4×4 factorial design in a split-plot arrangement with three replications. The first factor was the doses of liquid organic cattle blood fertilizer at 0 mL/plant, 6 mL/plant, 12 mL/plant, and 18 mL/plant. The second factor was mulch colors, including silver, black, transparent, and blue mulch. The results showed that higher doses of liquid organic cattle blood fertilizer (up to 18 mL/plant) reduced the sulfur content in garlic bulbs, potentially affecting flavor and storage properties. Furthermore, blue mulch resulted in the highest fresh and dry storage weight per bulb, largest bulb volume and diameter, and greatest yield per square meter. Interaction between cow blood liquid organic fertilizer and mulch color was presented in bulb volume per plant. Therefore, a combination of blue mulch and liquid organic fertilizer from cow blood up to 18 mL/plant can be applied to improve the garlic production, while a further study is needed to assess long-term effects on soil health and garlic quality.