Evaluation of biofilm biofertilizer from the western slope of Mount Lawu for enhancing Andisol soil fertility in pakchoi (Brassica chinensis L.) cultivation

Year 2026, Volume: 15 Issue: 1, 35 - 44, 02.01.2026

Retno Rosariastuti , Addina Harir Nur Azka Evi Irawan Sumani Sumani , Purwanto Purwanto

https://doi.org/10.18393/ejss.1819557

Abstract

Prolonged and excessive application of chemical fertilizers risks degrading soil quality. Biofilm biofertilizers offer a potential solution, but research on their effectiveness in Andisol soils is limited. This research intends to assess the potential of biofilm biofertilizer from the western slope of Mount Lawu to improve Andisol soil fertility in pakchoi cultivation and reduce the use of chemical fertilizers. The study had a completely randomized design with 6 treatments and 4 replications in an experimental setting in the greenhouse. The treatment balanced the dose of biofilm biofertilizer and chemical fertilizer. Based on the results of the study, the application of biofilm biofertilizer from the western slope of Mount Lawu both as a single fertilizer and its balance with chemical fertilizers was able to enhance the fertility of Andisol soil and pakchoi yield. Treatment 25% biofilm biofertilizer + 75% chemical fertilizer (B) gave the highest results in CEC (39.82 cmol(+) kg-1 or 87.74% higher than the control), N-Total (1.29% or 34.38% higher than the control), K-available (0.4 cmol(+) kg-1 or 42.86% higher than the control), and plant fresh weight (28.08 g or 37 times higher than the control). Treatment 100% biofilm biofertilizer (E) gave the highest results in P-Available (0.65 ppm or 116.67% higher than the control), bacterial population (6.02 Log 10 CFU g-1 or 25.94% higher than the control), and fungal population (2.8 Log 10 CFU g-1 or 42.13% higher than the control). The results can lessen the need for chemical fertilizers by 25%-100%.

Keywords

Biofilm biofertilizer , soil fertility , chemical fertilizer , Andisol , pakchoi , Mount Lawu.

Supporting Institution

Universitas Sebelas Maret

Project Number

228/UN27.22/PT.01.03/2023

References

• Alemayehu, B., Teshome, H., 2021. Soil colloids, types and their properties: A review. Open Journal of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics 5(1): 8–13.
• Alyousif, N.A., 2022. Review of genetic analysis and mechanisms of phosphate solubilization by phosphate solubilizing bacteria. Marsh Bulletin 17(1): 8–21.
• Basak, B.B., Sarkar, B., Sanderson, P., Naidu, R., 2018. Waste mineral powder supplies plant available potassium : Evaluation of chemical and biological interventions. Journal of Geochemical Exploration 186(12): 114–120.
• Buddhika, U., Athauda, A., Seneviratne, G., Kulasooriya, S., Abayasekara, C., 2013. Emergence of diverse microbes on application of biofilmed biofertilizers to a maize growing soil. Ceylon Journal of Science (Biological Sciences) 42(2): 87–94.
• Dincă, L.C., Grenni, P., Onet, C., Onet, A., 2022. Fertilization and soil microbial community: A review. Applied Sciences 12(3): 1–20.
• Doifode, V., Nandkar, P., 2014. Influence of biofertilizers on the growth, yield and quality of brinjal crop. International Journal of Life Sciences 1(2): 17–20.
• Domene, X., Mattana, S., Hanley, K., Enders, A., Lehmann, J., 2014. Medium-term effects of corn biochar addition on soil biota activities and functions in a temperate soil cropped to corn. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 72(2): 152–162.
• Dotaniya, M.L., Meena, V.D., 2015. Rhizosphere effect on nutrient availability in soil and its uptake by plants: A review. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences India Section B - Biological Sciences 85(1): 1–12.
• Han, L., Sun, K., Jin, J., Xing, B., 2016. Some concepts of soil organic carbon characteristics and mineral interaction from a review of literature. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 94(3): 107–121.
• Hartati, S., Suryono, Purnama, L.S., 2019. The potential of potassium fertilizers in improving the availability and uptake of potassium in rice grown on entisol. Journal of Tropical Soils 24(2): 83–91.
• Haryadi, D., Yetti, H., Yoseva, S., 2015. Pengaruh pemberian beberapa jenis pupuk terhadap pertumbuhan dan produksi tanaman kailan (Brassica alboglabra L.). Jom Faperta 2(2): 1–10 [in Indonesian].
• Henagamage, A.P., Seneviratne, G., Abayasekera, C.L., 2021. Effect of biofilmed biofertilizers on potato yield through induced soil-plant interaction. Pakistan Journal of Agricultural Sciences 58(6): 1715–1723.
• Herath, L., Seneviratne, G., Jayasinghe, J.A.W.W., Senanayake, D.M.N., 2017. Microbial biofilms and mitigation of loss of agro-biodiversity in degraded soils. Journal of the National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka 45(4): 329–335.
• Hettiarachchi, R.P., Dharmakeerthi, R.S., Seneviratne, G., Jayakody, A.N., De Silva, E., Gunathilake, T., Thewarapperuma, A., Maheepala, C.K., 2014. Availability and leaching of nutrients after biofilm biofertilizer applications into a red yellow podsolic soil. Journal of the Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka 94(1): 43–53.
• Jeon, J., Lim, C.J., Kim, J.K., Park, S.U., 2018. Comparative metabolic profiling of green and purple pakchoi (Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis). Molecules 23(7): 1613.
• Krisanti, A.A., Choirunnafi, A., Septiana, N.O., Pratama, F.W., Amelia, F., Manjaswari, A., Septiningtyas, P.A., Wati, A.S., Satria, J.Y., Ani, I.L., Wibowo, T., Sugiyarto., 2017. The diversity of diurnal bird species on western slope of Mount Lawu, Java, Indonesia. Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity 18(3): 1077–1083.
• Kumar, A., Saharan, B.S., Parshad, J., Gera, R., Choudhary, J., Yadav, R., 2024. Revolutionizing Indian agriculture: the imperative of advanced biofertilizer technologies for sustainability. Discover Agriculture 2: 24.
• Li, X., Li, B., Wang, C., Chen, Y., Ma, P., 2020. Effects of long-term fertilization on different nitrogen forms in paddy along soil depth gradient. American Journal of Plant Sciences 11(12): 2031–2042.
• Malusá, E., Vassilev, N., 2014. A contribution to set a legal framework for biofertilisers. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 98(15): 6599–6607.
• Maurya, A., Kumar, P.S., Raj, A., 2022. Characterization of biofilm formation and reduction of hexavalent chromium by bacteria isolated from tannery sludge. Chemosphere 286(2): 131795.
• Monib, A.W., Niazi, P., Barai, S.M., Sawicka, B., Baseer, A.Q., Nikpay, A., Fahmawi, S.M.S., Singh, D., Alikhail, M., Thea, B., 2024. Nitrogen cycling dynamics: Investigating volatilization and its interplay with N2 fixation. Journal for Research in Applied Sciences and Biotechnology 3(1): 17–31.
• Mubarok, S., Kusumiyati, Zulkifli, A., 2016. Perbaikan sifat kimia tanah fluventic eutrudepts pada pertanaman sedap malam dengan pemberian pupuk kandang ayam dan pupuk NPK. Agrin 20(2): 125–133 [in Indonesian].
• Muthmainnah, Padjung, R., Nasaruddin, Asrul, L., Kurniawan, Setiani, U., 2021. Effect of compost application on soil fertility parameters and productivity of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.). IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 807: 042014.
• Posso, E.J.S., De Prager, M.S., Rojas, C.A.C., 2017. Organic acids production by rhizosphere microorganisms isolated from a Typic Melanudands and its effects on the inorganic phosphates solubilization. Acta Agronomica 66(2): 241–247.
• Premarathna, U.M.B., Seneviratne, G., Balasooriya, B.L.W.K., 2018. Effect of biofilm biofertilizer on agro-ecosystems: A network science approach. Proceedings of 17th Agricultural Research Symposium, 28 - 29 November 2018, Makandura, Sri Lanka.
• Purba, T., Tobing, O.L., Setyono., 2021. Pengaruh air kelapa (Cocos nucifera) dan pemberian berbagai dosis pupuk urea terhadap pertumbuhan dan produksi tanaman pakcoy (Brassica juncea L.). Jurnal Agronida 1(1): 98–109 [in Indonesian].
• Rosariastuti, R., Sutami, Nugraha, S., Amanto, B.S., 2023. Bacterial diversity in the western slopes of Mount Lawu, Karanganyar, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 24(4): 2125–2133.
• Rosariastuti, R., Wulandari, N.M.P., Nugraha, S., Irawan, E., Maro’ah, S., Sumani., 2024. Isolation and a potential test of fungal consortium as biofertilizer from Mount Lawu, Indonesia. International Journal of Agriculture and Biology 32(1): 35–42.
• Seneviratne, G., Kulasooriya, S.A., 2013. Reinstating soil microbial diversity in agroecosystems: The need of the hour for sustainability and health. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 164(1): 181–182.
• Setiawati, M. R., Linda, L. N., Kamaluddin, N. N., Suryatmana, P., Simarmata, T., 2021. Aplikasi pupuk hayati, amelioran, dan pupuk NPK terhadap N total, P tersedia serta pertumbuhan dan hasil jagung pada inceptisols. Jurnal Agro 8(2): 298–310 [in Indonesian].
• Setiawati, M. R., Pranoto, E., 2015. Perbandingan beberapa bakteri pelarut fosfat eksogen pada tanah andisol sebagai areal pertanaman teh dominan di Indonesia. Jurnal Penelitian Teh Dan Kina 18(2): 159–164 [in Indonesian].
• Sheoran, S., Kumar, S., Kumar, P., Meena, R. S., Rakshit, S., 2021. Nitrogen fixation in maize: breeding opportunities. Theoretical and Applied Genetics 134(5): 1263–1280.
• Sindhu, S.S., Sehrawat, A., Glick, B.R., 2022. The involvement of organic acids in soil fertility, plant health and environment sustainability. Archives of Microbiology 204: 720.
• Singh, S., Tripathi, A., Maji, D., Awasthi, A., Vajpayee, P., Kalra, A., 2019. Evaluating the potential of combined inoculation of Trichoderma harzianum and Brevibacterium halotolerans for increased growth and oil yield in Mentha arvensis under greenhouse and field conditions. Industrial Crops and Products 131(1): 173–181.
• Soil and Fertilizer Instrument Standard Testing Center, 2023. Indonesian Testing Center for Agricultural Instruments Standardization in Agricultural Land Resources. Agricultural Instruments Standardization Agency. Ministry of Agriculture, Bogor, Indonesia, 266p.
• Su, J.Q., Ding, L.J., Xue, K., Yao, H.Y., Quensen, J., Bai, S.J., Wei, W.X., Wu, J.S., Zhou, J., Tiedje, J.M., Zhu, Y.G., 2015. Long-term balanced fertilization increases the soil microbial functional diversity in a phosphorus-limited paddy soil. Molecular Ecology 24(1): 136–150.
• Sudadi, S., Putri, E.Y., Suntoro, S., 2020. The use of biofilmed biofertilizer to improve soil fertility and yield of upland kale (Ipomoea reptans) in vertisol. Planta Tropika : Jurnal Agrosains (Journal of Agro Science) 8(2): 83–92.
• Sunarjono, H., 2013. Bertanam 36 Jenis Sayur. Penebar Swadaya, Indonesia [in Indonesian].
• Sutami, Purwanto, Rosariastuti, R., 2021. The effectivity of Biduri combined with indigenous bacteria in mercury absorption. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 905(1): 1–10.
• Velmourougane, K., Prasanna, R., Chawla, G., Nain, L., Kumar, A., Saxena, A.K., 2019. Trichoderma-Azotobacter biofilm inoculation improves soil nutrient availability and plant growth in wheat and cotton. Journal of Basic Microbiology 59(6): 632–644.
• Vijayakumar, S., Gobinath, R., Kannan, P., Murugaiyan, V., 2024. Optimizing potassium mining in rice-wheat system: Strategies for promoting sustainable soil health - A review. Farming System 2(3): 1–16.
• Wang, Q., Jiang, X., Guan, D., Wei, D., Zhao, B., Ma, M., Chen, S., Li, L., Cao, F., Li, J., 2018. Long-term fertilization changes bacterial diversity and bacterial communities in the maize rhizosphere of Chinese Mollisols. Applied Soil Ecology 125(4): 88–96.
• Wang, Y., Zhu, Y., Zhang, S., Wang, Y., 2018. What could promote farmers to replace chemical fertilizers with organic fertilizers?. Journal of Cleaner Production 199: 882–890.
• Wani, S.A., Qayoom, S., Bhat, M.A., Sheikh, A.A., 2017. Effect of varying sowing dates and nitrogen levels on growth and physiology of scented rice. Oryza 54(1): 97–106.
• Wijayanti, R., Prasetya, B., 2018. Pengaruh pemberian urea terhadap laju dekomposisi serasah tebu di pusat penelitian gula jengkol, Kabupaten Kediri. Jurnal Tanah Dan Sumberdaya Lahan 5(1): 793–799 [in Indonesian].
• Xiao, X., Zhu, Y., Gao, C., Zhang, Y., Gao, Y., Zhao, Y., 2022. Microbial inoculations improved rice yields by altering the presence of soil rare bacteria. Microbiological Research 254(1): 1–8.
• Yahaya, S.M., Mahmud, A.A., Abdullahi, M., Haruna, A., 2023. Recent advances in the chemistry of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium as fertilizers in soil: A review. Pedosphere 33(3): 385–406.
• Yin, W., Wang, Y., Liu, L., He, J., 2019. Biofilms: The microbial “protective clothing” in extreme environments. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 20(14): 1–18.
• Zaremanesh, H., Akbari, N., Eisvand, H.R., Ismaili, A., Feizian, M., 2020. The effect of humic acid on soil physicochemical and biological properties under salinity stress conditions in pot culture of Satureja khuzistanica jamzad. Ecopersia 8(3): 147–154.
• Zhao, J., Ni, T., Li, J., Lu, Q., Fang, Z., Huang, Q., Zhang, R., Li, R., Shen, B., Shen, Q., 2016. Effects of organic-inorganic compound fertilizer with reduced chemical fertilizer application on crop yields, soil biological activity and bacterial community structure in a rice-wheat cropping system. Applied Soil Ecology 99(1): 1–12.