Pengaruh Persaingan Intraspesifik dan Interspesifik terhadap Pertumbuhan dan Hasil Tanaman Tomat (Solanum lycopersicum L.) dan Cabai (Capsicum annuum L.)

Abstrak

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and chili (Capsicum annuum L.) are high-value horticultural crops, but their productivity is influenced by competition for resources such as water, nutrients, and light. Competition can occur intraspecifically or interspecifically. This study aimed to analyze the effects of both types of competition on plant growth and yield. The experiment was conducted at the Field Laboratory of Politeknik Negeri Jember for approximately three months using a Randomized Block Design (RBD) with three replications. Intraspecific treatments consisted of 2, 3, and 4 plants per polybag for both crops, while interspecific treatments included combinations of 1 tomato + 1 chili (M1), 2 tomato + 1 chili (M2), and 1 tomato + 2 chili (M3). Observed parameters included plant height, fruit number, and fruit weight. The results showed that in intraspecific competition, 2 plants per polybag produced the best results. Tomato plants reached 75.4 cm in height with fruit weight of 850 g, while at higher density (4 plants), it decreased to 60.5 cm and 600 g. In chili, the highest plant height was 65.3 cm with fruit weight of 320 g, decreasing to 52.1 cm and 230 g. In interspecific competition, M1 treatment produced the best results, with tomato height of 70.1 cm and fruit weight of 780 g.