Potential to increase the agronomic character and phytochemical content of aloe vera plant by application of integrated fertilizers in sandy soil

Background and Objective: Aloe vera plant provides a variety of compounds, minerals, phytochemicals and secondary metabolites content in the leaves. Therefore, this research was aimed to determine character agronomy and phytochemical content of Aloe vera L. plant by application of nitrogen fertilizer dosage and biofertilizers sources in sandy soil. Materials and Methods: The research was conducted in Bantul, Special Region of Yogyakarta Indonesia and arranged in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The first factor was two levels of nitrogen fertilizer dosages namely 200 and 300 kg haG1. The second factor was eight sources of biofertilizer and control (400 kg urea haG1, without biofertilizer) treatment. The variables observed were growth, yield, vitamin, amino acid content and activity antioxidant of Aloe vera L. plant. Statistical analysis of data was tested by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan’s Multiple Range Test at p<0.05. Results: The best results were obtained with a combination of 200-300 kg of urea and mycorrhiza, which had the same effect as the combination of 200-300 kg of urea with bamboo rhizobacteria on endophytic populations, growth, yield and amino acid content of Aloe vera leaves. Meanwhile, the highest concentration of antioxidant compounds (provitamin A, provitamin E and vitamin C) was obtained at a combination of urea dosage of 300 kg haG1 with mycorrhiza or PGPR. Conclusion: The result showed that there was an interaction between nitrogen fertilizer dosage and biofertilizer sources on all of the observed variables. Mycorrhiza could be used as a biofertilizer in an integrated management system to increase growth, yield and phytochemical content of Aloe vera plants in sandy soil.