Growth and yield of purple pakchoi (Brassica rapa var. Chinensis) under different cultivation systems and plant population densities
¹Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sriwijaya, Jalan Raya Palembang-Prabumulih Km 32, Indralaya, Ogan Ilir 30662, South Sumatera, Indonesia
²Research Center of Suboptimal Lands, Universitas Sriwijaya, Jalan Padang Selasa No 524, Bukit Besar, Palembang 30139, South Sumatera, Indonesia
³Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Muhammadiyah Palembang, 13 Ulu, Seberang Ulu II, Kota Palembang 30116, South Sumatera, Indonesia
⁴Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Baturaja, Jalan Ratu Penghulu, Baturaja Timur, Ogan Komering Ulu 32115, South Sumatera, Indonesia
*Correspondence: blakitan60@unsri.ac.id
Abstract:
Rapid urbanization in Indonesia has converted productive agricultural land, thereby threatening national food security. Urban farming has emerged as a sustainable solution to address limited land availability. The increasing land constraints further limit the available cultivation area. Urban farming is a sustainable solution to land limitations for food needs of urban communities. Purple pakchoi (Brassica rapa var. Chinensis) is a leafy vegetable with high economic value, rich in anthocyanins, and has a short growing season; suitable for urban cultivation systems. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different cultuvation system; conventional and floating, with different population densities on the growth and yield of purple pakchoi. The experiment was arranged using a split-plot design. Growth variables included leaf and stem parameters, while yield variables included fresh and sry weight, also water conten of plant organ. The results showed that cultivation system significantly affected the number of leaves, leaf length and width, canopy diameter, and stem thickness. Plant population density siginificantly influenced all yield parameters. Higher population density reduced individual plant weight but increased total fresh weight per pot, indicating more efficient land use. However, plant morphology including leaf characteristics was not significantly affected by either factor. The highest yield per pot was obtained under conventional system with high population density (3 plant pot-1); 88.15 g pot-1. Overall, the floating cultivation system supported comparable growth to the conventional system. These findings suggest that optimizing cultivation system and plant population density can improve productivity of purple pakchoi in urban farming system.
Key words:
cultivation system, food security, plant density, purple pakchoi, urban farming