ABSTRACT
Application of Trichoderma asperellum as a biofertilizer to optimize plant growth in wick hydroponic systems

Kenanga Murni Abdul Razak1, Nur Ain Izzati Mohd Zainudin1, 2*, Nor Azwady Abd Aziz1, and Mohd Hafiz Ibrahim1
 
Hydroponic approaches are increasingly being applied in sustainable agriculture due to their efficient resource utilization and controlled environmental conditions. This study evaluated the potential of Trichoderma asperellum as a biofertilizer in a wick hydroponic system, which emphasis on its effects on plant growth, root development, and water and nutrient uptake in pak choy(Brassica rapa L. subsp. chinensis (L.) Hanelt). The treatment involving T. asperellum application prior to sowing, combined with full-strength nutrient solutions A and B, resulted in the highest colony-forming unit (cfu) counts, plant height (16.07 ± 2.62 cm), and number of leaves (14.33 ± 1.33) compared with the control and other treatments. In addition, these plants exhibited greater water content (0.51 ± 0.18) and chlorophyll content (32.00 ± 1.82 SPAD units; 16.05 ± 0.06 mg g-1 via spectrophotometer), indicating enhanced plant health and vigor. In conclusion, T. asperellum can significantly enhance the growth and development of pak choy in wick hydroponic systems, highlighting its potential as a sustainable biofertilizer for hydroponic agriculture.
Keywords: Biostimulant, chlorophyll content, microbial fertilizer, soil-free cultivation, Trichoderma species.
1Universiti Putra Malaysia, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
2Universiti Putra Malaysia, Institute of Plantation Studies, Laboratory of Sustainable Agronomy and Crop Protection, 43400, Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.
*Corresponding author (ainizzati@upm.edu.my)